acrylic on canvas
 
36 x 36
 
Canary in the Capitol draws on the idiom “canary in the coal mine,” a symbol of early warning and hidden danger. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley recently invoked this metaphor to describe Black women’s economic struggles as an an early sign of the country’s financial health. Just as miners relied on canaries to detect toxic gases, Black women's experiences in society often foretell broader social and economic shifts. This shift is especially stark in the Washington, DC region,  a focal point of Black economic mobility since the Great Migration, largely due to the stability and opportunity of federal employment. The artist’s grandparents were part of this movement, relocating to Washington in search of new possibilities. The imagery in this work draws from photographs, memories, and stories rooted in their community, linking past aspirations with present-day inequities.