Photo of art installation on glass exterior of community center — A(spora) at Chavis Community Center. Photo credit: Jude McDonald

A(spora) | A SEEK Raleigh Project

Augmented Reality Installation by Jazsalyn at Chavis Community Center explores Gullah Geechee ancestral intelligence

Updated: Jul 21, 2025

The Gullah Geechee Corridor is a culturally significant region of West African descendants and a National Heritage area stretching along the coastal plains from North Carolina to Florida. Ancestral Intelligence refers to our earliest knowledge systems and the philosophies and traditions passed down from generation to generation within indigenous and diasporic communities. A(spora) references the root term ‘spore’ within ‘diaspora.’

Artist Statement

As a part of the digital landscape of A(spora), I have rendered microscopic imagery of indigenous African plant species (i.e. indigo and okra) to transform the corridor through collage, AR, AI, and 3D simulation technologies. Channeling my Afro-Carolinian lineage, the work carries hidden histories to communities within my hometown. Each scene visualizes the significance of ancestral agriculture on contemporary textile practices. Embracing the regenerative capacity of various organisms, knowledge systems, and African practices, A(spora) is a testament to the diaspora - flourishing in new environments despite displacement.

Interacting with the Artwork

Photo of hand holding iPhone displaying artwork on screen

A(spora) is an interactive installation, inviting local community members to explore its digital landscape. To view the augmented reality (AR) component, you will need to scan the QR code on the panel and enable camera permissions on your mobile phone. The artwork is on view on the windows of the Chavis Commmunity Center.

About the Artist

Jazsalyn (b. Raleigh, NC) is an Afro-Carolinian artist and researcher working where fiction and reality collide. Through alternative media and re-indigenization, she explores issues regarding data loss, memory restoration, and Ancestral Intelligence. Her artistic practice investigates novel technologies as tools to recover cultural heritage. Jazsalyn’s work has been supported by Serpentine Arts Technologies, New Museum, Pioneer Works, Creative Time, and more.

Instagram: @jazsalyn

About SEEK Raleigh

SEEK Raleigh is an experimental public art program by Raleigh Arts that engages the community through public art in City of Raleigh Parks, greenways, and/or community spaces. The program provides an opportunity for artists to introduce the public to new, unusual, and thought-provoking experiences through temporary public art.

Learn more and apply to the SEEK Raleigh artist call

About Raleigh Arts

Raleigh Arts, a part of the City of Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department, fosters and promotes the arts in Raleigh by administering the programs of the Raleigh Arts Commission and the Public Art and Design Board and supporting the Pullen and Sertoma Arts Centers.

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