The current piece is a part
of an on going series of works that are driven by loss and the consciousness of
time. The loss of the direct link to my
Samoan heritage happened a few years ago with the passing of my father. In most cultures, the handing down of family
history, genealogy, chief titles, land, and personal possessions are key
components to understanding how one fits into its society.
With Samoan culture, this is very important. I know my relationship to kin can never be severed, but its the reality of knowing I am unable to acquire some of these components, something that my father would've passed on to me had I been more attentive and if we'd had more time. There were many things he shared with me and gave to me, but there are many things I did not get to learn.
Paper mulberry (or U'a) is a
traditional material used for making Siapo (tapa).
The turbid quality of the
material is meant to convey a vagueness that is intertwined with images of my
ancestry. Together it formulates a mixture I personally feel draws me closer to
understanding my placement in my family and culture.
After receiving an MFA at
returned home to
She is currently a professor
in the Fine Arts Department at the
Community College, and is
also an appointed member for the American Samoa Council on Art, Culture and
Humanities.
Meredith works in many
different mediums, with tapa making being one of her most favorite. It gives
her a chance to work with her Aunt Marylyn Pritchard and keeps her atune to the
art form that her grandmother and great grandmother used to make.
As an illustrator however,
Meredith's drawings can be viewed in the Samoan Word Book by Aumua Mataitusi Simanu
and Fata Simanu Klutz, one of a series of international language books
published by Bess Press of
Meredith has been featured
in a few documentaries such as The Samoan Heart,
directed by Ruth Tuiteleleapaga (Pacific Islanders in Communications), as well
as Ein Tag im Paradis, a short film about
American Samoa, directed by Georg Kellerman (Weltreisen German Radio and
Television).
Meredith enjoys
collaborating on big projects and was on the team for the newly built