North Star : Healing Generations

PRESENTED BY CRENSHAW DAIRY MART GALLERY

On view from February 9, 2023 through March 11, 2023

MISSION STATEMENT FROM THE NORTH STAR CREATIVE DIRECTOR PATRISSE CULLORS

The North Star brand is the latest collaborative endeavor born from the Crenshaw Dairy Mart Gallery, Patrisse Cullors, Project Director of North Star, and Rita Nazareno, Creative Director of ZACARIAS 1925. The hand-woven line focuses on the movement to free Black women from incarceration. Black women are currently the fastest-growing population being incarcerated. Black women make up 13% of the country’s population but disproportionately represent 44% of women in jail, and 30% of the women’s prison population. Opposed to incarcerated Black men, Black women entering the prison system are frequently left unsupported and isolated. The new line, featuring a poem from previously incarcerated Black literary Nissi Berry, aims to support women in a way the system has not. Profits from each bag sold go directly to the movement to end the incarceration of Black women and put money back into the pockets of previously incarcerated Black female artists. This design of The North Star bag line is inspired by quilts made by enslaved Africans that were crafted to help lead them to freedom while navigating the Underground Railroad. According to “quilt code theory”, designs such as "wagon wheel," "tumbling blocks," and "bear's paw" were secret messages hidden in quilt patterns that helped direct enslaved Africans to freedom.

The official launch of this new carefully crafted bag line with intention will officially launch on February 9th, 2023, in time for the art-savvy Frieze LA crowd and local art community sold exclusively at the Crenshaw Dairy Mart Gallery. There will be a limited capsule of 40 bags for sale with four design SKUs.