I am super happy to complete the Februllage challenge a few days early. This creative journey has helped me establish a weekly and sometimes daily art-making practice. It has also helped me practice digital mindfulness and self-care, reduce stress and anxiety, and experience joy and gratitude.
One of the biggest takeaways is that I learned how to make digital collages for fun without judging myself. I also expanded my knowledge of Canva.
Most of the digital collages I made during the challenge have honored my loving + wise + well ancestors and living family members. I am including some in my new Ancestral Medicine Collection.
Last, the Februllage Day 28 prompt, made me think about the last children born in families, including my grandaunt Nancy Catherine Gartin Cobb (ancestor; my grandfather Robert’s baby sister), aunt Veronica Ann (“Ronnie”) Gartin Montgomery (ancestor; my mother Theresa’s baby sister), and first cousin Gail Lynne Gartin (my uncle Bob’s baby daughter). Each of them are the last daughters in their families. I created a digital collage to celebrate them. It is called “The Last Gartin Daughters: Nancy Catherine, Veronica Ann & Gail Lynne.”
I selected a vintage background and rose and changed some of the filters on the photos I included. The rose represents love and beauty. All of the Gartin daughters are beautiful and have been loved by their families in different ways.
Seven Ghanaian Adinkra symbols were added to the collage. See the list below.
- Akoma means “heart” and symbolizes love, goodwill, patience, faithfulness, fondness, endurance, and consistency.
- Ananse Ntontan means “spider’s web” and represents creativity and wisdom.
- Duafe means ‘wooden comb” and represents beauty, femininity, and cleanliness.
- Gye Nyame means “except God” and represents Creator’s omnipotence and supremacy.
- Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan means “love does not lose its way home” and represents the power of love.
- Sankofa means “go back and get it” and represents the wisdom of learning from the past so you can build for the future.
- Osram ne Nsoromma means “moon and star” and represents faith, love, harmony, and femininity.
Ananda Leeke 