This photo was taken in 2007 at the African Festival in Brooklyn at the Commodore Barry Park. I don’t think I need to explain why I wanted to take the photo. Just in case you don’t see it, the long dreadlocks curled and styled complemented by the colorful necklace with matching earrings and handbag were just picture perfect.
Peacock Locks styled by Oraje. Photo by Mireile Liong
This photo was taken in 2007 at the African Festival in Brooklyn at the Commodore Barry Park. I don’t think I need to explain why I wanted to take the photo. Just in case you don’t see it, the long dreadlocks curled and styled complemented by the colorful necklace with matching earrings and handbag were just picture perfect.
It was in the top three of visitors and my friend Hillary’s favorite photo at my first exhibition at the Casa Frela Gallery. She loved it because the womand was so fashionable.
Like most of my photos, I didn’t know who was in the picture. It was just one of the few framed photographs in my office and I had no idea that I would meet this person again.
Then one day I happen to see this charming natural woman on Nate Burke’s show being featured for the most beautiful carpets I had ever seen. The colors, the patterns and the fabric were just outstanding. Of course I immediately wanted to feature this beautiful natural woman who was clearly an inspiration for her professionalism and her craft.
Not soon after I saw her in the gym, I congratulated her on the wonderful feature and we became facebook friends. At this point, I still didn’t know that it was her picture I had framed in my office. She wears her hair in a short natural so I didn’t even make the connection until one day I was just walking by that photo again as we all do with art that we have hanging on the wall. However this time my eye fell on the photo and it hit me, this is the lady from the carpets, this is the woman from the gym. I couldn’t believe it. Of course, I hit her up immediately and the rest is history.
The woman with the long curled and styled dreadlocks is Malene Barnett, owner of MB Carpets. Her portrait is part of the Going-Natural Exhibition. You can read an inspiring interview with Malene Barnett about her business and of course her hair.
This Natural Hairstyle image is part of Going-Natural.com’s traveling exhibition that features dreadlocks, cornrows, twists, twist outs, Afros and more. For more about our collection and upcoming exhibition visit The Pursuit of Nappiness.
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