Picking Greens

24 x 24 in Acrylic on Canvas 

This painting captures an intimate moment of tradition, love, and legacy which depicts a grandmother teaching her granddaughter the art of “picking greens” by hand, just as it has been done for generations. With gentle hands and knowing eyes, she guides the child through the ritual of tearing collard greens from their tough stems. This simple yet sacred act is more than just meal preparation; it is a passing down of history, a lesson in patience, and a connection to the past that nourishes both body and soul.

Collard greens have long been a staple in Black kitchens, a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness carried from the Motherland and sustained through hardship and triumph. In this exchange between elder and youth, we see the unbroken thread of oral tradition. It is hard to find this wisdom in cookbooks but found in the hands and hearts of those who came before us.

As the granddaughter learns, she is not just preparing food, she is inheriting a legacy, understanding that the richness of her culture is woven into everyday rituals. This piece is a tribute to the power of intergenerational knowledge, the sacredness of Black culinary traditions, and the beauty of learning from those who have lived before us.