Dr. Buz

Born on Saint Helena Island in South Carolina, Sam Doyle grew up among the Gullah community, descendants of enslaved Africans who have retained traditions from West Africa. Utilizing discarded materials such as sheet metal and wooden panels, Doyle documented moments in African American history and the local inhabitants of the island seen in Dr. Buz. A depiction of one of the community’s root doctors, Dr. Buz is painted in flat, vibrant colors with a three-dimensional component—a seashell. Doyle incorporates Dr. Buz’s well-known attribute, a conch shell, that he listened to for advice.