Pacific Studies Journal
Abstract
This reflective essay explores the profound influence of Samoan tradition—particularly the sasa dance—on the author's identity and artistic practice. Through vivid childhood memories of her great-aunties' powerful and spiritually charged performances, the writer illustrates how traditional movement becomes a portal to ancestral connection and cultural affirmation. As a Samoan American artist, she uses these embodied experiences as inspiration for her installation-based storytelling environments, blending painting, sculpture, sound, scent, and space to express tradition as a living, multisensory force. Grounded in both memory and innovation, the essay positions tradition as a universal, transformative language that transcends cultural barriers and invites shared understanding through artistic expression.
Recommended Citation
Castro, Jewel
(2007)
"COMMUNICATING TRADITION IN SAMOAN AMERICAN ART: AN ARTIST’S REFLECTION,"
Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 30:
No.
1, Article 28.
Available at:
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol30/iss1/28
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