An embroidered work by surrealist artist Madison Smith, 25, displays the American flag with the message âwhite supremacy is in every stitch of our country.â Smithâs work consists of pastel, yet striking colors alongside ethereal renderings of flowers and moths with phrases like âlet black girls be girlsâ and âlet black women cry.â
Last spring, Fayetteville residents Cheanie Kü and Simone Cottrell commissioned Smith to create a work of art to be publicly displayed in downtown Fayetteville outside the World Treasures store, which Kuâs mother owns. Smith had full artistic liberty over the project, and said she chose to ask a question for locals to interact with. Smith created a sculpture featuring a mirror and wooden letters spelling out a question: âDo you value black people as much as you value black culture?â