Act One: Watering Possibilities and Reimagining Waste with Halima Afi Cassells

Take a walk with me and Halima Afi Cassells through her garden. Listen as we chat about her artistic journey, sustainability practices, and the Black women in her life that inspire her.

An award-winning, interdisciplinary, community-engaged artist, and mother of three, Halima is an avid gardener whose roots are deeply woven into the soil of Detroit, Michigan.

Halima’s deep connection to nature and how gardening has influenced her art practice resonated with me on a soul level and sparked new pathways in my brain; How can I reduce the harm being done to the planet? What habits do I need to shift to be in right relationship with nature?

An activist just as much as she is an artist, Halima demonstrates her commitment to environmental justice by using non-toxic materials, found objects, and advocating for a share economy. This discipline to reuse rather than consume is woven into Free Market of Detroit, a fashion exchange and upcycling swap lead by Halima, and her upcoming project at Eliza Howell Park, in collaboration with Sidewalk Detroit, which showcases her ability to transform trash into meaningful art.

Resources & Special Mentions:

• Halima Afi Cassels -

  • Website: https://www.halimacassells.com/

  • IG: halima_afi

  • Referenced Works

    • Swan Song

    • Eco-Art Residency

• Sidewalk Detroit

• Sydney James

• Shanna Merola

• Detroit References

  • Belle Isle

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