Yamaya by Geraldine Gaines

Yemaya by Geraldine Gaines, shadow box, pastels on  black paper, beads, cowry shells, sea shells, coral stones, sand from Burj Al Arab public, beach Dubai, 14-3/4 x 8-1/4 x 2-1/4 inches

Ms Gaines is a native and long–time resident of Jersey City. She’s also an alumnus of New Jersey City University, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing in 2009. Ms Gaines, who has performed the art of traditional African drumming and dancing, has added mask carving to her portfolio. She uses old and new wooden doors as her canvas recreating elaborate African mask images on her doors. Resulting, Doors to the Past.​ The collection consists of several doors with mask-themed carvings overlying African–inspired fabric wax prints. Gaines creates her own original designs using geometric shapes similar to the wax prints. Gaines completes her carving by adding a dark contrasting color, which allows the image to pop off the surface.