The Ancestors, Shelter In Place Prototype, 2022 “We cannot afford to leave our history behind, but we can be in control of how we carry it forward.” The final prototype of our Shelter In Place project, attempts to make space for a more abstract relationship with one’s forebears. Rooted in the Afro-diasporic tradition of keeping symbolic statuary at home, The Ancestors refers to how these objects of often unknown origin carry immeasurable meaning for a people who cannot trace their ancestry but who undoubtedly feel spiritually connected to precolonial African histories and ways of being. During the volatile summer of 2020, as we marched in solidarity for racial equity around the globe, we looked back to the necessary social unrests of the civil rights movement and recognized the sacrifices of those that came before us. While reflecting, we reinterpreted sacred objects through sketching, 3D modeling and prototyping to invite them into our reality. These life-size abstractions offer both contemplative distance and a sense of belonging. They remind us of where we come from and the need for communion: to be amongst like-minded others, share values, and be accepted for our humanity. Link in bio. @highmuseumofart @thenormalstudio @monicaobniski @headandhandpr @grahamfoundation @yalebooks @patricia_urquiola @glenn_adamson @beatricegalilee @michelleinthemix #bellhooks @bcstudentcraft @designwithinreach @bdbarcelonadesign @dedon_official @livingdivani @parachilna @rochebobois @salvatori_official @luceplan @dedarmilano @cahlinetompkins @joseph.coscia @justinskeensfilm #craftingdiversity #design #radicaldesign