A Clarksville native and proud Governor, Ashanté Kindle returns to the place where her dreams first took shape and her creativity nurtured—where the joy of experimentation was encouraged and refined. Growing up in a supportive, creative household, Kindle expressed herself through music, fashion, and hairstyling, gradually building trust in her ability to convey an imaginative interior. As she shaped her identity and faced challenges related to accessibility, she deepened her commitment to authentic self-expression. This journey is embodied in Ashanté Kindle: Building Castles in Air, a physical manifestation of the time, labor, and meditation invested in the work presented. Through this process, she takes pride in the freedom to express a true reflection of personal growth. 

       A cosmic force amongst contemporary artists, Kindle remains conscious of the creative conversations around her, producing timely and advantageous work. Inspired by many, including Sonya Clark, Howardena Pindell, and Lorna Simpson, she explores her autonomous voice from a collective subject matter. From the moment I met Kindle, she was open, vulnerable, honest, and relatable. I became increasingly invested in the work as we discussed her personal hair journey and artistic processes. Through the connection and spiritual exchange of our conversations, I began to understand how Kindle sought to solidify herself as an artist by creating honest work that truly mattered. Her sculptural abstractions are driven by a desire to explore her identity, spirituality, and the complex narratives of Black hair. This personal journey is reflected in Ashanté Kindle: Building Castles in Air, a utopian environment where there is comfort in dreaming and exploring the boundless freedom that black hair represents. In this homecoming exhibition, Kindle fills the gallery with multidimensional work, exploring the duality of polarizing ideas: creation in destruction, life in death, and motion in stillness.  This dynamic is vividly portrayed in Embrace in the Darkest Hour (Frame & Video), where Kindle evolves her known all-black acrylic paintings into a powerful satin frame and video installation. The movement of the sensual satin contrasts sharply with the stillness of structured acrylic paint and hardened hair accessories, pushing the conceptual boundaries of these materials in abstraction. This reinterpretation of the artist’s undergraduate work echoes the visuals of the Rorschach ink-blot test. It serves as a point of revelation, inviting viewers to meditate and unpack their thoughts and emotions. The freedom of movement—or its disruption—entrusts audiences to navigate the space without tethering themselves to one idea or another, inspiring us to set up shop, build our own castles in air, and release any obligation to define them. 

       Carefully curated constellations of Kindle’s circular pieces surround the central installation, acting as celestial maps to guide viewers through narratives of black hair. Encouraging viewers to experience the personally crafted symbols, elevated hair knockers, beads, and barrettes from all angles, the mounted Orb Constellation reinforces a guided movement often experienced in the artist’s unique technique. Dreamscapes in the Sky are memories of summer color highlights—an exciting and creatively inspired time for many Black women. Ellipsed Elegance’s striking cosmic balance of relief textured symbols and celestial colors based in black are both mesmerizing and curious. Narratives of black hair are woven into the constellations and experienced through the intricate scales of each work. This abstract journey reveals that black ceases to exist as a single entity; it demands duality and depth. 

       The veracity of Your Interstellar Dream Made Me a Reality is all too familiar. I watched and waited, witnessing Kindle’s commitment and perseverance in completing the work. A fertile point among the cosmic waves of her 2D abstractions, the 7-foot canvas takes on a nurturing persona. The earthly shape and foliage texture invites us to grow and water our own journeys. Stained with hair dye and layered with acrylic paints, the hints of pink and gold bring a comforting feminine presence, cautious not to overpower the energy of growth inherent in each viewer's interstellar dream. At the time, we were deep into our NXTHVN fellowship, I was in my short blonde hair phase, and Kindle's articulation of cultivating a healthy hair practice resonated deeply. Your Interstellar Dream Made Me a Reality simultaneously emphasized a shared yet individual experience of what it means to invest in the beautification and care of black hair. Unknowingly, Kindle offered me a deeper understanding of my journey, showing me that investing in the growth of my hair parades a strength in accentuating it. From then, my interstellar dream became a reality. 

       Kindle’s journey from childhood to her current practice is grounded by the duality of creative exploration and her teaching aspirations. Styling hair was her first act of autonomy and a foundation for her creativity, which now serves as a vessel for others to find their voices. This duality is fueled by her experience of learning differently from others, instilling a sense of responsibility to make her art accessible. Kindle fulfills this through gallery talks and community-focused workshops at museums and universities. Teaching diverse crowds how to use art to discover means of self-expression and incorporate it into their classrooms, she demonstrates the manipulation of paint, barrettes, and styling strips, revealing the techniques behind the crimps, coils, and waves seen in pieces like Emerald Dreams 2 and Dark and Lovely (A Glimmering Beauty). For Kindle, the simple childhood act of styling hair has evolved into a powerful tool for teaching and empowerment. 

       At Austin Peay State University, Kindle deepened her commitment to being a resource by immersing herself in supportive environments. Benefiting from the generosity of visiting artists and the Living Gallery community, which offered shared studio spaces, she thrived among a group of enthusiastic and inspiring artists. Kindle's focus on inclusivity and accessibility grew, making her work resonate with a broader audience. She uses hair as a universal symbol to offer viewers a connection through shared memories and emotions. Today, her practice continues a childhood creative exploration, blending creativity with education to create a space where people can dream, freely experiment, ask questions, and make personal discoveries. By combining personal experience with relatable themes, the work is both intimate and widely accessible, all while staying true to the dualities that shaped her own journey. 

      Exhibiting at universities makes Kindle feel more vulnerable and open, and this body of work explores the duality of those emotions. It reflects the contrast between her days as a student and her current role as an artist, highlighting both a sense of accomplishment and a renewed connection to her roots. In this full-circle moment, Kindle returns to Clarksville, where the realities she now exhibits were once merely dreamed, and invites family, friends, classmates, and visitors to engage in the transformative power of shared personal healing. The vulnerability of Ashanté Kindle: Building Castles in Air fosters a deeper connec- tion to a space that once nurtured her creativity and will undoubtedly inspire future generations to embrace their own stories, dream boldly, and build castles in the air as she continues to explore new cosmic realms with autonomy.