T(h)reading Sands and Mountains, Opening May 3

Three years ago, Akintayo Akintobi left his native Nigeria to pursue an MFA at East Tennessee University in Johnson City. A solo showcase titled T(h)reading Sands and Mountains (or Ìlànà orí-okè àtiyanrin in Yoruba) will explore the cultural challenges Akintobi has faced while adjusting to the norms and conventions of Southern Appalachia. “The exhibit reflects … the need to unlearn certain aspects of my life in Nigeria and relearn life in the U.S.,” Akintobi tells Asheville Made. According to a press release, the artist will work with a range of materials, from sand to quilt patterns. “Mix or Match,” for instance, is a quilt made entirely from American blue denim jeans, onto which Akintobi has screen-printed Yoruba indigo batik patterns. The piece symbolizes how the artist has one foot in two worlds — how he is attempting to preserve his Nigerian identity while assimilating to his new home. “I hope these works can bridge a connection between both cultures despite their individual differences,” says Akintobi. “Everyone may be traversing different paths and phases in life, yet it’s a shared journey.”