Research
My studio practice began by asking, “What does it mean to have a mother from St. Vincent and a father from Jamaica—the first and last Caribbean islands to be colonized?” Further, “What does it mean to be a person of the Black diaspora? What is the Black experience of First-generation Caribbean immigrants?”
These queries served as guides on a journey of self and cultural identity. As a result, my work pays homage to the ancestors—advocating for Black craftspeople, exploring Caribbean migration histories, and reimaging Black diasporic archival practices.
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Grounded & Free connects West African pottery traditions to Jamaican ceramics from the 18th century. Barnett reimagined clay as a tool for liberation from enslaved women because even under bondage, pottery provided moments to feel “grounded & free.”
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Travel trips to Ghana, Senegal and Jamaica exploring textile and clay traditions.
