Work samples
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Butterfly Kente Gourd Vase
The Butterfly Kente Gourd vase is an original work by Trustina that features the Kente cloth patterns, golden accents and two fancy butterflies. With this vase, I wanted to make some thing royal and rich, with a touch of delicate beauty. The butterflies accomplished the delicate beauty part. It has been sold and now has a new home.
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Prosper Gourd Lamp
The Prosper Gourd Lamp is an original work by Trustina which features a wide spectrum of colors that shine through as the lamp is lit. It is her way of saying to her patrons; live well and prosper. The lamp is powered by an electric plug and is fitted with an LED bulb for lighting.
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Trustina Sabah As Seeker of Smells In "See Also" By Submersive Productions
Trustina Sabah interacting with other actors and audience members as Seeker of Smells In "See Also" By Submersive Productions. See also was a site specific theater production staged at the Incredible Peabody Library in February 2020.
About Trustina
Trustina Fafa Sabah is a theater and gourd artist originally from Ghana who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. A year after her MFA degree in Theater Arts at Towson University, she discovered her love and talent for gourd art, and decided to pursue it.
In 2016, she discovered her love for gourd art through research and curiosity that led her to opening Gourds By Fafa… more
Gourd Lamps
These are original gourd lamps that have been made by Trustina.
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Fiery Countess Gourd Lamp
The Fiery Countess gourd lamp features a fancy-cut neckline and 3 flowers around it. One flower has red, orange and brown beading, a second one that is plain with no color and a third flower with same colors, deconstructed.
Available for PurchasePlease visit: https://gourdsbyfafa.com/gourd-market/fiery-countess-gourd-lamp to purchase.
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"Swaddle" Gourd Lamp
The Swaddle gourd lamp features swooping patterns that remind me of a swaddle. It projects energizing patterns when placed near a wall for your utmost visual enjoyment. The lamp is powered by an electric plug and is fitted with an LED bulb for lighting.
Available for PurchasePlease Visit: https://gourdsbyfafa.com/gourd-market/swaddle-gourd-table-lamp to purchase
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Lovely Energizing Gourd Lamp
The lovely gourd lamp is one with bright energizing light shining through. It is a small lamp that gives bright light. It is powered by an electric cable and fitted with an LED bulb for lighting.
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Patterns Gourd Lamp
The Patterns Gourd Lamp was made to celebrate geometric patterns. It projects overlapping circular shapes that repeat till they form other geometric shapes. The lap is powered by an electric cable and is fitted with an LED bulb for lighting.
Available for PurchasePlease visit: https://gourdsbyfafa.com/gourd-market/tree-o-life-gourd-lamp to purchase.
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Tree of Life Gourd Lamp
The Tree of Life gourd lamp featured the three of life in three styles all around the gourd, with a fiery glow around each tree. Techniques used include carving.
Original Gourd Art Work
These are works I have made between 2016 and 2023.
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Chief Sabah Gourd Vase
This vase features a portrait of a bird framed by gold leaves and flanked by the Ghanaian Kente Cloth. Unfortunately, the piece was stolen outside my home studio while drying it out in preparation for an exhibition.
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Ghana Map Gourd Vase 2023
This is a tall gourd vase made in 2023. I used red gold green, colors of the Ghanaian flag and made demarcations like one would see on a map. The vase is also embellished tastefully with rhinestones.
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Eye of The People Gourd Vase from The "Patina Strong" Collection
The Eye of the people Gourd Vase is made with inspiration from Native American art and my Ghanaian background. I have always been fascinated by the Zuni bear visually. Knowing it is the symbol of health and protection for the Zuni Pueblo people draws me to it the more. I made this vase as an homage to the Native American people.
The vase features the zuni bear symbol lodged in an eye and accented by the Kente cloth design from the Ashanti people of Ghana. Techniques I used include wood burning, carving, texturing and patina.
Available for PurchasePlease visit https://gourdsbyfafa.com/gourd-market/eye-of-the-people-gourd-vase to purchase
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Gourd Vases From The "Patina Strong" Collection 2021
The Patina Strong" Collection included several gourd vases made by Trustina which shared the common theme of patina. Trustina achieved the looks by juxtaposing her signature bright colors with the weathered effect that patina gives. Techniques used include carving, painting and the use of patina to create a (beautiful) weathered effect on different parts of the gourds in the collection.
Available for PurchasePlease visit https://gourdsbyfafa.com/ to see which vases are still available from this collection.
Theater Performance Work
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Trustina Teaching A Class at BCPL
Trustina Teaching A Class at BCPL
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Trustina Sabah As Aku Maxilla in H. T. Darling's Incredible Museum, 2017 and 2018
Trustina Sabah As Aku Maxilla in H. T. Darling's Incredible Museum, 2017 and 2018. The show was a site specific show produced by Submersive Productions and staged at the Peale, Baltimore.
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Trustina Sabah As Seeker of Smells In "See Also" By Submersive Productions
Trustina Sabah interacting with other actors and audience members as Seeker of Smells In "See Also" By Submersive Productions
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Trustina Sabah As "Madame" In Katalepsis 2023
Trustina As Madam in Katalepsis looking into her "womb". Katalepsis was produced by Submersive Productions in May 2023.
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Trustina Sabah in Mass Rabble 2019
Trustina Sabah in a dance pose during "Mass Rabble", a theater production By Submersive Productions