Public Art

The Butterfly Effect explores the evolution of blossoming African-American women coming out of their metaphorical cocoon. Once the cocoon breaks, the women flourish to make an enormous impact on their community. The photoshoot was in partnership with Shwetha Anand Designs for a collection she designed while studying textile and fashion design at SCAD. The model is Vetaliah Davis. ​​​​​​​
The Butterfly Effect explores the evolution of blossoming African-American women coming out of their metaphorical cocoon. Once the cocoon breaks, the women flourish to make an enormous impact on their community. The photoshoot was in partnership with Shwetha Anand Designs for a collection she designed while studying textile and fashion design at SCAD. The model is Vetaliah Davis.
The Land of Milk and Honey was inspired by renowned photographer Albert Watson’s striking portraits of Duckie Thot and Naomi Campbell — on display in the Albert Watson: The Light Behind the Lens exhibition at SCAD FASH. By positively photographing women of color, my intent is to deprecate the fashion industry’s systems and standards of beauty.
Jaylon Smith, presents The Land of Milk and Honey with fire in his eyes and soul. Its motif holds meaning for him: South Sudan, he says, has some of the most disastrous health indicators in the world. Between political conflict, economic suffering and a shortage of clean water, the world’s youngest country is deemed generally unsafe to live in. Smith seeks to illustrate the challenges faced by African women who migrate to the United States. Art and being African American are inseparable for him. The exhibit is a digitally enhanced photographic pairing using a medium format film camera with digital compositing and is part of the SCAD Key Light Alumni Photography Challenge 2021. Smith’s first art exhibit since 2019, The Land of Milk and Honey is a virtual exhibition showing August 22-29 on Doré Art Collective’s website.
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