The Sea Islands Series exemplify the ways in which Weems weaves together her interests and formal studies in photography, folklore, and African-American history. The source of the images is the Sea Islands off the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. In the early 18th century these islands were home to thousands of African-Americans who maintained aspects of their cherished heritage while melding others with their new life circumstances. Weens reflects this in images which the artist herself photgraphed on that site, recording her impressions of surviving natural elements and artifacts as well as more recent expressions of the culture on these islands. In some images the artist herself is dressed in historical garb and has placed herself in a historical context. Text is often integrated into these works for both the meaning of the words and for pictorial value.

Source: NEWS January February 1997