The "Jesus Year" Journey: A Photographic Retrospective / by Maris Jones

This series of collages offers a glimpse of the people, places, plants, waters, earthbeings, and things that made my 33rd revolution around the sun a powerful year of transformations and loving reunions, adventures across continents and under the sea. I catch flights and feelings, y'all! In this last year, I was the most authentic me I have ever been. I intend to keep growing into even fuller, more free, future versions of myself!!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to EVERYONE who made the effort to meet up with me in every corner of the world!!! Thank you to my new friends, temporary companions, and longtime beloveds for making time, sharing stories, and co-authoring memories. Y'all reminded me of all of the versions of me it took to become the Dr. Jones we all know today—”beyond category,” as Duke Ellington would say:

  1. the eldest daughter

  2. the sister

  3. the cousin

  4. the New Orleanian

  5. the bookworm

  6. the storyteller

  7. the friend

  8. the leader

  9. the comedian

  10. the Bahamian

  11. the international boarding school student

  12. the dancer

  13. the drummer

  14. the photographer

  15. the poet

  16. the Ivy Leaguer

  17. the museum intern

  18. the mentor

  19. the herbalist

  20. the anthropologist

  21. the polyglot

  22. the earthy crunchy queer

  23. the intrepid professor

  24. the swaggy scholar

  25. the silver aficionado

  26. the critical thinker

  27. the astrologer

  28. the sabbatical champion

  29. the pontificator

  30. the collaborator

  31. the ray of sunshine

  32. the moonbeam

  33. the free human being

Here's to more becoming!

Red beans and ricely yours,

Dr. Jones

Slide 1 | The Black Woman Won: Brasil


Slide 2 | Rewind Rememory: Mexico, New Orleans, and California


Slide 3 | The National Geographic Episode: Ecuador


Slide 4 | God's Favorite: Morocco


Slide 5 | Jazz Upstairs: Nepal


Slide 6 | Winter Weather: Germany and The Bahamas


Slide 7 | Miss: New Orleans


Slide 8 | Coast to Coast: Kenya, Turkey, and New Orleans


Slide 9 | Between Waters: California and Puerto Rico