Marissa’s work is inspired by the spiritual and cultural traditions of the African Diaspora. She paints goddesses who oversee various realms of the spirit and aspects of healing. Many of the deities Marissa paints appear to her in dreams and visions. She paints what she sees, then conducts historical research on the origins of what she has painted. Marissa blends her watercolor and acrylic paintings with textiles and objects she finds in nature such as seeds, branches, shells, and flowers from her garden.
Ritual and Self Care During a Global Pandemic
I took this moment of unraveling, doors closing, and life making a major shift as an opportunity to go within. There was literally nowhere else to go. Art making is a healing practice for me, and I leaned on it heavily to center myself and help my spirit survive this tumultuous time. I painted, I sang, I prayed, I read, I dreamed. This is what came.
My intention for the virtual exhibit is to bring all these pieces together to create an altar. I will also be incorporating lyrics from two Candomble Orixa songs. I got together with my Candomble community on zoom every Sunday to pray and sing, and it was another practice that helped ground me. I will be painting the lyrics on watercolor paper ( size 4.5 x 6”) and adding them to the altar.
