Passaic Waves / oldest memories

The Newark skyline is reflected in the Passaic River, dressed in a collage of patterned fabrics. Each pattern is from a different culture that has contributed to the city's identity and energy, beginning with the native Lenni-Lenape people, and representing the waves of immigration throughout the centuries, from places like Nigeria, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, France, Russia, the Caribbean, and more. Inspired by the artist’s nostalgia for the patterned fabrics of her childhood home, these colorful waves honor Newark’s migratory profile, its historic past, and the diversity of cultures that create its vibrant community.