Joyce Morrow Jones: Black Butterfly Exhibition

November 19, 2021 — January 2, 2022

As a culmination of her residency at moCa, Joyce Morrow Jones presents Black Butterfly, a collection of works that use textiles and found materials to explore cultural traditions from across the world, most often those of the African Diaspora.

Influenced by her Jamaican and African heritage, Morrow Jones’s work acts as a mode of visual communication to share the stories of her ancestors. Vibrantly colorful textiles, including Kente cloth and Ankara fabric, reflect traditions, evoke emotion, and spark memories, underscoring the messages of each artwork’s narrative to shape the viewing experience. In her work, Morrow Jones gives voice to her forbearers, exploring what it means to tell a story from the past and connecting a physical object to the passing of time.

Black Butterfly highlights the strength and resilience born out of adversity, a parallel to the Deniece Williams song from which it draws inspiration.

Morning light, silken dream to flight

As the darkness gave way to dawn

You’ve survived, now your moment has arrived

Now your dream has finally been born

Black butterfly, sailed across the waters

Tell your sons and daughters

What the struggle brings

Black Butterfly, set the skies on fire

Rise up even higher

So the ageless winds of time can catch your wings

– Deniece Williams