Jae Jarrell is a founding member of AfriCOBRA which actively sought ways to reflect positive representations of the African American experience and the African diaspora. The artist’s exceptional “Bird of Paradise Ensemble, Ode to Tie-Dyed Suede” is a culmination of elements spanning over 40 years which combine to create a historical whole, reflecting Jarrell’s long-standing dedication to the AfriCOBRA movement. This movement, whose influences can still be seen today, borrowed and adapted cultural and aesthetic tenants from the African continent, to create work that placed the Black identity and heritage in the forefront.

The jacket for “Bird of Paradise Ensemble, Ode to Tie-Dyed Sued” was cut, sewn and dyed in 1983 during Jarrell’s graduate studies at Howard University’s Textile Design program. Later, Jarrell stitched and dyed the “Bird of Paradise” suede appliqué to the jacket, adding in the signature AfriCOBRA Cool-Ade colors into the garment. In 2018, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the collective, Jarrell added a suede skirt. The skirt, which she had sourced from a purveyor of vintage clothing, was then hand-dyed with her signature tie-dye to match the jacket.

At this same time, Jarrell hand-carved the wooden crown and foot stand which hold both garments, as a statement piece in celebration of the 2018 50th anniversary of the AfriCOBRA collective. The entire installation is a culmination of decades of thought-leadership, innovation and honing of her craft.

The full installation of “Bird of Paradise Ensemble, Ode to Tie-Dyed Suede” debuted at the Cleveland Museum in Heritage: Wadsworth & Jae Jarrell. It was later shown in 2019 at AfriCOBRA: Nation Time, at the 58th Venice Biennale and was included in AfriCobra: Messages to the People at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami.