belle’s garden is an archive dedicated to creativity, preservation, and community.
behind the name.
belle is the name of the archivist’s great-grandmother. belleaner johnson, affectionately known as tuga or mama, was the family matriarch. in alice walker’s, in search of our mother’s gardens, she reminds us that black women often expressed their creativity through gardening. belle had a beautiful garden with a love for zinnias, petinuas, begonias, and red verbena. she passed her green thumb to her children and grandchildren, including the archivist’s father. belle’s garden is an archive that represents all that has come to fruition and an expression of the archivist’s own creativity and love for genealogy & black culture.
"Guided by my heritage of a love of beauty and a respect for strength -- in search of my mother's garden, I found my own." -- Alice Walker (1974)
about the creator.
hi! i’m olivia, a writer, archivist, and aspiring filmmaker residing in michgan. my inspiration for this work comes from a deep love for black history and culture. i’m interested documenting in the following:
the experiences of black folks residing in or from ann arbor
black gardeners & farmers
stories about gentrification, desegregation, and migration
black family photo collections
contact olivia to share your family’s photos and stories, or to request more information.