Morrow captures Hamtramck’s Banglatown in show

Jordan Morrow explores the world with her lens, capturing moments and details of her surroundings. After a recent session in Hamtramck’s Banglatown, she knew she couldn’t choose just one of her photos to tell the neighborhood’s story, so she combined them as a mixed-media collage, called “Bits and Pieces.”

“When I photographed these images, I was overwhelmed with excitement because there was so much to see, so many small details, and so many amazing things to photograph. I wanted to display them together somehow and showcase how interesting this part of the neighborhood was while still giving it a personal, unique-to-me twist.”

A lifelong photographer, Morrow owns a portrait company and shoots fine-art photos professionally. Her photography passion grew while she was in high school, when she won a national gold medal for her portfolio in the 2009 Scholastics Art & Writing Awards.

“Bits and Pieces” was her first time making a collage since she was a kid, and she enjoyed the nostalgia it brought her.

“When I was little, making collages out of magazine photos was my absolute favorite thing to do,” says Morrow, of Waterford Township. “I hadn’t made a collage in years until I photographed these images and just had the feeling that they had to be made into a collage project.”

“Bits and Pieces” features her original digital photo prints, as well as what she calls found treasures, including coins and old jewelry. The mixed-media collage is featured in Lawrence Street Gallery’s “EXPOSURES: Photography ’21” exhibit through April 30. The show, juried by Detroit portrait photographer Jenny Risher, features a variety of works, from portraits to photo illustrations and landscape captures. An opening reception was held April 9.

Another is set for April 18.

This is Morrow’s third time showing in “EXPOSURES,” and she says she is excited to hear people’s thoughts about her approach this year.

“I took a risk entering this piece into the show because I didn’t know if or how it would be received,” Morrow says. “Creating it was so rewarding and fulfilling that it felt worth the risk to enter it. So far, the response has been positive, and I am looking forward to hearing what others have to say about it.”