Hold me close and hold me tight

‘Hold me close and hold me tight’ is a six foot sculpture of two looped braids and a wooden head, on how my body decreased in value due to the hair I chose to give up.  The doll-like mask freezes into an eerie smile, half, a dream-like a supposition of the future, half, a shell of protection from consequences of my actions. It reflects the conflict I feel in craving the beauty and sanctity of my culture yet wanting to be free from its binds. To push on the world until it moves for me and yet hold back enough so it doesn’t break. The artwork submitted is a photograph of the sculpture.