February 9 | 7:30pm | Pier 17, 2nd Floor | Free
Join the Seaport Museum and Justice Jamal Jones for a captivating screening of their film essay, Notes on a Siren, which intertwines Black and African spirituality and offers a thought-provoking narrative on transformation. Jones will introduce the film and La Sirène, a mermaid from Haitian Vodou. Together we will see how through this work, the siren becomes a vessel to explore archetypes of modern Black Queerness and Transness, and a powerful symbol serving as a portal for transformation and transcendence.
Sign up today to hear Jones share the inspiration, research, and discoveries that shaped this groundbreaking 14-minute film. The evening will include a performance in which Jones will present their personification and embodiment of the siren through movement and artistic expression. A Q&A and reception with complimentary beverages will follow.
Content is appropriate for anyone ages 12 and up. Advanced registration is encouraged for this free event but walkups will be accommodated as possible.
Please Note This is a Past Program, Event, or Activity
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Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Access to the Museum’s historical ships and introduction galleries is not included with this event. To see more that the Museum has to offer, ask Museum staff about our Saturday and Sunday, 11am–5pm, Pay What You Wish General Admission tickets when you check in.
Pay What You Wish General Admission tickets include access to all current exhibitions on view in the introduction gallery space at 12 Fulton Street and access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. Free timed tickets for a tour of the 1908 lightship Ambrose are available separately at no additional cost.
This program will take place on the second floor of Pier 17 (89 South Street). As you walk on the south side of Pier 17, look for a red Museum flag and Museum staff members to direct you to the space. The use of this space has been kindly donated by Howard Hughes.
About the Speaker
Justice Jamal Jones is a filmmaker, actor, and writer based in New York City. As a Black Queer Alchemist, they integrate Black Feminist Queer theory alongside Black diasporic Spirituality, such as Vodou (Voodoo), into their work. Their debut film How To Raise a Black Boy, purchased by REVOLT, was a reimagining of Jones’ childhood linking their boyhood to their identity as a non-binary artist. The film was internationally recognized at over 30 film festivals, earning 10 awards. Justice was also a 2021 Sundance Ignite Fellow, and in 2022 was a commissioned director for MTV and Calvin Klein. Jones was also a guest on Good Morning America’s Hulu special “A Conversation Between Black Men,” where Jones was an advocate for Black Trans and Non-binary individuals. In 2023 Jones’ sophomore narrative “Crossroads Blues” is set for production with Valiant Pictures, alongside the release of “A Pill for Promiscuity,” an anthology to which Jones contributed, exploring queer sex in the age of pharmaceuticals. Jones enjoys dinner parties with friends, the occasional glass of green Chartreuse, and playing with their kitty Esu.
Ready for more?
Head over to our Programs and Events page to see what else is happening at the Museum. Sign up for an upcoming talk, learn more about visiting Wavertree, or explore our virtual offerings.