Working with the Tongva origin story of Taraaxashom or the Pleiades, Dorame created star maps of remembering, reconnection, and envisioning. In pointing to cosmic movement the artist asked the viewer to look up, to observe, find perspective, and reverence. Dorame also invited the viewer to look down, to know that the ground they stand on is Tongva land, and to reawaken this connection to our history to envision a more equitable future.

This installation was on display during the Winter Solstice, a time when ceremony pulls back the sun back into the sky to create longer days. The artist used cast concrete star stones, ochre, cinnamon, salt, shells stones, paint, and red yarn, traditional and contemporary cultural materials to map this story.

The plinth held a canvas with a star map of Taraaxashom (the Pleiades), six Tongva women who when they found out their partners were holding back food from the community, catapulted themselves into the sky to become the stars that created Taraaxashom (the Pleiades). The shade sails reflected a star map of Taurus, embodying the story of a man who brought home food for his partner and loved her so much he also sent himself up into the sky to be near her.

In re-telling Tongva stories and claiming land, the artist hopes to reclaim space and understanding of the original caretakers of Los Angeles, the Tongva people, and to proclaim, we are here, we are vibrant, we are thriving and we will not be silent.