Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend, Reviewed

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Sonya Clark, "Cotton to Hair," 2009; Bronze, human hair, and cotton, 14 ½ x 12 ½ x 5 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Heather and Tony Podesta Collection; © Sonya Clark; Photo by Lee Stalsworth
Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend
Digital exhibition at nmwa.org to June 27
On one level, some of Sonya Clark’s art is unassuming—a ball of hair might not be seen as extremely political. But once placed in an exhibition with an unraveling Confederate battle flag, reconsidering the narrative of a ball of hair is necessary. Hair is natural to most people; most of us have it. It comes in various colors and textures, but what should be a basic aspect of identity is actually very charged. Though stories about natural hair are featured in television and print news today, the politicization of hair predates even these media inventions. When Africans were captured into slavery, their identities were stripped from them, including the sense of pride and notions of beauty they had for their hair.

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