About the work

My grandmother was about my age when her family was expelled from the home and community they had grown to love in Uganda. They had to leave in a hurry with nothing. But, she was a clever woman, and sewed gold coins in the border of her saree, so they could rebuild wherever they made their new home. I created this art piece in her honor. She taught me that sometimes optimism looks like rainbows and butterflies and sometimes it's pointing your chin to the sun, one foot in front of the other.