The Calling: Hoodoo's Communion with The Ancestors A Photography Exhibition by Phillip Loken
- Timothy Jeffers
- Oct 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 30
After thirteen years of developing his image-making practice, North Carolina–based cultural worker and photographer Phillip Loken presents his first solo exhibition, The Calling: Hoodoo’s Communion With The Ancestors, at the Delta Arts Center.
This deeply spiritual and visually compelling exhibition honors those who no longer walk among us but remain present and near. Through pigment-printed digital photographs on archival paper and excerpts from Zora Neale Hurston’s 1931 article “Hoodoo in America,” Loken pays tribute to a Black spiritual tradition that has endured across generations — a lineage of healing, connection, and resistance.
On April 13, 2024, Loken documented and participated in The Calling, an inaugural Hoodoo Homecoming organized by the Twin Hoodoo Muthas, Saint Xolani and Jeida K. Storey. At the Eno River in Durham, North Carolina, twenty-six Black people dressed in white gathered to commune with their ancestors, honor the land, and practice traditional Afrikan and Black geographically-American spirituality. The event summoned the energy of Black Power, resistance, and liberation, creating a sacred space where laughter, tears, and ancestral reverence intertwined — and time itself seemed to dissolve.
In the words of Saint Xolani,
“Hoodoo is a Black folk spiritual-medicinal tradition formed from the wisdom retained from the Atlantic slave trade and cultivated by Black-Americans and Afro-Diasporic peoples. It centers a Black person’s humanity and wholeness. It reinforces their identity through the support of God, the ancestors, the land, and community.”
The Calling is as much a spiritual offering as it is a photographic record. Loken’s work moves beyond documentation — it is an act of communion, an acknowledgment that image-making can become ritual.
Reflecting on the project, Loken shared:
“During a moment we shared, Jeida blessed me with a message that I always subconsciously knew, but having it verbalized gave it a new strength. She told me that with any image I make — any person I make images of — I am documenting the lineage of that African person as well. That statement is bold in my mind now every time I press the shutter. It feels amazing to know my ancestors are present, proud, and will continue to guide me. All of my ancestors (as a direct descendant and communal descendant), especially the Maroons of Jamaica, stand strong beside me.”
This exhibition not only connects contemporary photography to ancestral practices but also reaffirms the Delta Arts Center’s mission to celebrate African American cultural expression in all its forms.
Loken’s work was recognized by The Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University’s Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, which awarded him the 2024 Collections Award, acquiring a selection of prints from The Calling for its permanent collection.
The language used in the quotes from Zora Neale Hurston’s article included in this exhibition is not gender-inclusive but remains unedited to preserve the historical accuracy of her writing.
Shot by Gabrielle Joseph
Opening Reception
The opening reception for The Calling: Hoodoo’s Communion With The Ancestors was a vibrant evening of art, community, and celebration. Guests filled the Delta Arts Center to experience Phillip Loken’s powerful debut exhibition honoring ancestral connection and Black spiritual traditions. The event featured a curated Healers Marketplace by James Stewart (@theejamesstewart), showcasing local makers and wellness practitioners, along with catering by Alicia Johnson (@ladybugsavorycuisine) and music by Femi the Femme (@femithefemme). The atmosphere was filled with warmth, reflection, and creativity—truly embodying the spirit of The Calling.
Program Schedule
