Film Screening from AIR Starling Thomas

Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Program Begins: 7:00 PM

The evening will include:

• Film Screening (Black Butterflies – work in progress)
• Installation Preview (Born Captive)
• Artist Conversation & Community Dialogue

Space is limited. RSVP is required.

The Rose That Grew from the Concrete is an evening of film, installation, and conversation with filmmaker and artist in residence Starling Thomas, presented by The Anderson Center for the Arts. This special event invites the community to witness stories that systems have long tried to silence.

The evening will feature a 25-minute work-in-progress screening from her documentary Black Butterflies, a film exploring the lives of Black women navigating incarceration, survival, and transformation. Through personal storytelling and intimate reflection, the film reveals how systems of punishment shape the lives of women, mothers, and families.

Guests will also be introduced to Born Captive, an immersive art installation examining the history and ongoing reality of women giving birth while incarcerated. As part of the preview, attendees will experience elements from the installation—including visual storytelling, symbolic objects, and sound, designed to invite reflection on motherhood, resilience, and the body under surveillance.

Following the screening, Starling Thomas will host a conversation with justice-impacted storytellers and community voices, exploring the intersection of incarceration, motherhood, and healing through art.

This evening is both a preview of work in progress and a gathering for the community, an opportunity to witness powerful stories, engage in dialogue, and honor the resilience of women whose voices continue to bloom despite the concrete.