We’ve been here before: Balance from Ancestral Totems

Charles Morrison

Online exhibit beginning July 20th, 2020

Charles Morrison’s series of ceramic vessels, Ancestral Totems are embedded with a vocabulary of mark making that reference the ancient indigenous cultures of the world and their means of storytelling. Through the repetition of symbols and marks, Morrison activates the totems, transforming them into spiritual messengers from an ancient time. Unity, love and life are constant expressions throughout these works, while the phrases look within and we’ve been here before, remind us that we are more than here and now.

We’ve been here before: Balance from Ancestral Totems holds a sacred space for the practice of a Kemetic breathing exercise. This practice is centered around the power of the breath and the ability to restore balance and proper circulation to the body and brain through conscious breathing. By closing the right nostril while slowly inhaling for 9 seconds, holding the breath for 3 seconds, then releasing and closing the left nostril while exhaling for 9 seconds, we circulate oxygen and blood to both the left and right hemispheres of our brain, ultimately relieving stress, returning us to a balanced state of awareness and connecting us with the true essence of our being.

Employing clay, print, performance and social practice as a means of communication, Charles Morrison acts as a messenger bringing forth narratives cultivated through travel, meditation, research, spending time immersed in nature, and the exploration of Reggae music. This coalescence empowers Morrison to tap into the ancient DNA and Akashic records embedded within us, allowing him to share stories from a past time that serve as guidance and protection in the present.

View Charles Morrison’s, We’ve been here before: Balance from Ancestral Totems below and see the Ancestral Totems in more detail below.