‘Grief Not Guilty: Reclaiming My Time’ – A Transformative Art Exhibition by Gary Tyler

The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum Presents:

“Grief Not Guilty: Reclaiming My Time” – A Transformative Art Exhibition by Gary Tyler

The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum proudly announces the opening of “Grief Not Guilty: Reclaiming My Time,” an evocative art exhibition featuring celebrated fabric artist and activist Gary Tyler alongside local floral designer Quantavia Love. The exhibition, which opened December 5, 2024, at the museum(480 NW 11th Street, Miami, FL) in the heart of Historic Overtown, delves into themes of systemic injustice, resilience, and healing. Tyler’s poignant works, inspired by his 41 years of wrongful incarceration, invite viewers to reflect on the true cost of mass incarceration and the transformative power of art.

The exhibition includes two of Tyler’s intricately crafted quilts:

• A Moment of Reflection (2023) – Quilting Fabric, Burlap, Thread, and Batting, 58 x 49 inches
• One of the World’s Wonders: African Giant Swallowtail (2023) – Quilting Fabric, Burlap, Thread, and Batting, 51.5 x 71.5 inches

These pieces symbolize Tyler’s journey of survival, transformation, and reclamation of time lost to injustice.

Gary Tyler’s story exemplifies resilience in the face of profound injustice. Convicted at age 16 and sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, Tyler spent 41 years incarcerated in Louisiana’s Angola prison before his release in 2016. While imprisoned, Tyler turned to quilting for self-expression and healing. His quilts, celebrated for their intricate beauty and profound symbolism, often feature butterflies—a recurring motif representing transformation and liberation.

“I saw my time in prison as a cocoon,” Tyler explains. “Now that I am free, I feel like a butterfly, embracing a new life filled with hope and purpose.”

Museum Executive Director Terrance Cribbs-Lorrant reflects:

“Curating this exhibit and titling it ‘Grief Not Guilty: Reclaiming My Time’ carries a deeply personal message. It sends a powerful statement that not everyone convicted of a crime is guilty. Gary’s decision to channel his grief into creating quilts demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit.”

Connie Kinnard, SVP of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, notes:

“Gary Tyler’s work is a vibrant addition to our Art of Black Miami platform during Art Week, highlighting the power of art to inspire resilience and overcome adversity.”

Museum Information

The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, located in the historic Overtown community, is the nation’s only museum of its kind. Once an active police station and courthouse serving South Florida’s Black community, the museum’s mission is to preserve and display the history of Black law enforcement in the City of Miami during the pre-Civil Rights era.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and retired City of Miami police officers provide guided tours. For more information, visit https://historicalblackprecinct.org.

Exhibit Weekend Hours:

• Friday & Saturday: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Visit https://historicalblackprecinct.org.

Artwork Details

• A Moment of Reflection (2023) – Quilting Fabric, Burlap, Thread, and Batting, 58 x 49 inches
• Photo courtesy of the Artist and Library Street Collective
• One of the World’s Wonders: African Giant Swallowtail (2023) – Quilting Fabric, Burlap, Thread, and Batting, 51.5 x 71.5 inches
• Photo courtesy of the Artist and Library Street Collective