Danielle Morris (°1993, Philadelphia) is a self-taught photographer who mainly works in street and self-portraiture. With a conceptual approach, Morris absorbs the tradition of remembrance art into daily practice. Her works are often about the contact between urban architecture and the living elements of feminism. Morris focuses on the idea of the feminine in “public space” and more specifically on spaces where anyone can do anything at any given moment: the non-private space, the non-privately owned space, and space that is expressed through proximity to her subjects and their otherness to her sense of femininity. Morris was a contributing artist to the 2018 SPACES Residency, “Home Court” lead by visual artist Shawn Theodore. She has exhibited at The Barnes Foundation through Let’s Connect Philly, where she placed in the top 20 of the participating artists. Morris is a former assistant teacher of photography at the Village of Arts and Humanities.
For Vera, Tracye, Thomas, Hilda, Michael, and Jerome
I am here because of you.
Larchwood takes place in a space where time doesn’t exist as we know it. Memories manifest themselves and play in an infinite loop. The people and feelings that generated, and were generated by these happenings thus live forever.
This anthology is Black memory. The inheritance of worldly, emotional, and intellectual possessions have shaped my life. Familiar scenes from a Black childhood have become ritual, decor is shrine-worthy, and nostalgia is a spiritual connection to another plane of existence.
The household, and the walls that contain it, has produced and protected my sense of self. These images are the backdrop of my childhood and the roots of my existence. This is an acknowledgement and a profession of thanks to the hands that raised and raise me, and all that was poured into me by generations of strength and the will of survival.
