This exhibit is both an exploration of the folklore of anthropomorphized avian deities and archetypes of Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the spiritual practice of ancestor veneration which was presented across 2 rooms as the culminating exhibit at his residency at NYC Audubon on Governors Island, fall 2023. Room one features a central figure, the African Grass Owl, who’s brilliance shines so brightly that all who cross his path succumb to his lustrous vortex. The owl is universally one of the most widely revered birds in folklore traditions. In North America and Europe, they are often portrayed as an archetypal Sage character helping the hero along their journey. In Africa and parts of Arabia, a very different oral history persists. In these lands, owls are considered a bad omen associated with voodoo and negative forces. This series highlights the human experience, constructing folklore narratives through the anthropomorphizing of birds. It also leaves room for audiences to consider how societies come to perceive them in varying ways, by highlighting a lesser seen depiction of the often perceived benevolent and wise owl for US audiences through the lens of Africa. This was inspired by a residency Mohr did at Tafaria castle in Kenya, summer, 2023. On the flip side, room two showcases the ancestors of birds. In addition to elaborate narratives that take on a spiritual significance, ancestor veneration oftentimes serves as a parallel practice to mythology universally, and Mohr highlights this in a lot of his work. Most notably “Don’t Let it Slip Through Your Fingers” presented as a Solo Show at Flux Factory in 2021 shares a similar visual language and themes, and in many ways inspired this exploration. As a first Generation Grenadian, US citizen with African heritage, Mohr explores ancestry veneration through the evolution of birds, specifically with an emphasis on Theropods, which were the direct ancestor of birds. These dinosaurs walked on two legs and some of them even had feathers. This evolutionary path scrolls across the ceiling with an Adinkra symbol “Kojo Baiden” which translates to “Universe” being the central point, and the epicenter of illumination, enabling audiences to see the evolutionary line of birds as it transitions forward in time, leading to an altar on the back wall with a miniature T-Rex head in the center. Additional pieces were also presented in other parts of the NYC Audubon house on Governors Island which are also included in this series.