They Stem and They Bloom

Organized by Kristina Singleton

The Frank Ratchye Project Space is pleased to present They Stem and They Bloom, a solo exhibition by Root Division Studio Artist B Colleen. 

Cultivated in processes of healing and care, They Stem and They Bloom visualizes reality and dream state as intertwined states of being. In a world of overstimulation, artist B Colleen grounds themself in both realms through a search for serenity and belonging. 

Growing outwards from their hands, eyes, and mouth, lavender becomes a symbol of renewal- a gesture that began as a way to heal from within and extends as an offering to others. What grows with the artist is not kept but shared. Colleen returns to its form repeatedly, drawn to its organic fluidity and ability to transform, bend, and exist without constraints. Through vibrant color and contrasting ink, the artist moves between an equally vivid dream state and coexisting reality where lavender stems and blooms as a constant source of calm.

Childhood memories of their mother rubbing lavender on bug bites, and a lineage including their great-great grandmother — a curandera, or healer — infuse each piece with what is remembered, felt, and received. Calling upon dreams and ancestors, the exhibition creates space for guidance from within, in the relationship with those who came before, and with those who are here.