PAISHA THOMAS Ala: She who begins and ends the seasons | Ceramic clay, glaze | 2021

“Ala: She who begins and ends the seasons is made with a dark brown ceramic, high-fire clay, and glazed. This piece was thrown in five
parts starting with the globe which contains only the continent of Africa, Ala and her roots which embrace and cover the globe - or Earth.
After throwing the globe, the Venus form, head/neck, arms and water tray were thrown and attached. Ala was then bisque fired, glazed,
and glaze fired. Repeating the glaze and glaze firing a second time to add depth to the blue color of the roots, which were rolled into
coils, attached and sculpted before bisque firing.

In the Odinani tradition of the Igbo people of southern Nigeria, Ala means ‘of the earth‘ or the ground herself. The goddess Ala holds the
power to make the earth fertile, productive, abundant. She is the guardian of women and children. Ala’s characteristics are those found
in African people of the continent and the diaspora. The fruit that we have produced through innovating in every possible way has been
beneficial around the world. Technology, math and sciences, music, the arts, fashion, and film are only some of the fields in which the
intellectual and creative genius of Black human beings can be found. Although white supremacy has continued to systematically
oppress people of the African diaspora, we remain. We continue to create and build. We still bring joy through the works of our minds
and hands. We are resilient.”
-Paisha Thomas

Paisha Thomas, a storyteller, dedicates her vocal and visual artistic talents to singing songs of freedom, creating work which elevates
the beauty of the fat Black woman, and lifting up the need to end state-sponsored violence against Black people. As a descendent of
John Randolph’s Freed People, Thomas integrates her own ancestors’ struggle for reparations after the state of Ohio sanctioned a violent
hijacking of the land which Randolph purchased for them upon their freedom. As co-founder of Say It Loud Columbus, Thomas works to
combine music with protest in the movement for racial equality, while providing paid opportunities for musicians to participate. Through
a combination of pottery and sculpting, Thomas designs pieces which echo her values of liberation and self-worth. She currently serves
as Racial Justice Campaign Coordinator with Faith in Public Life, and as a freelance instructor discussing the role of the arts in social
justice movements.