Etherline Kendrick

Growing up in a Christian black household, I made many observations about how we interacted and savored memories. I soon learned about black identity and how cultural history shaped our viewpoints. In many of our families, the matriarch takes on much of the responsibilities in the home. Whether there's a father in the picture or not, the black mother is always deemed the most dependable figure. The memory of that very person continues to be of comfort even when they have transitioned.

As a child, I would spend the majority of my time with my grandparents while my mother and father were at work. The connection that I had specifically with my grandmother became a sacred treasure. As she aged, so did I. Soon, I realized that even though she seemed self-sufficient, her health began to decline rapidly. Inspired by her strength, I decided to photograph her in noble poses, emphasizing her presence in my life. My love for photography and her extensive collection of photographs that depicts several generations of women in the family became a focal point in my work.

"Etherline Kendrick" highlights the essence of honoring my grandmother's life and, at the same time, expressing the now emptiness that I feel without her. The preservation of family heirlooms and photographs has always been a critical component to uphold our history.