Anika Lopes/Ancestral Bridges Foundation

"Hats" is a public art project spearheaded by Anika Lopes, a Black and Afro-Indigenous milliner and founder of Ancestral Bridges. The project comprises 12 facilitated conversations with diverse community groups in Amherst, exploring the rich history of hat making. Anika's craftsmanship weaves together tradition, culture, and personal narratives, resulting in hats that embody the unique stories of Amherst's residents. From jazz roots to church traditions and the laborers at the Hills Hat Factory, each hat symbolizes a tangible link between the past and present. Accompanied by historical images, the hats are displayed in public spaces, inviting the community to discover these narratives. As universal connectors, the hats transcend fashion, symbolizing interwoven narratives globally. https://ancestral-bridges.org/ https://www.instagram.com/ancestralbridges https://www.Instagram.com/almillinery https://www.facebook.com/ancestralbridges?mibextid=eQY6cl