Regla: Soul of a Community
Regla: Soul of the Community
Curator: Ashleigh Alexandria
Artists: Amberly Alene Ellis, Alexey “El Tipo Este” Rodriguez, Ashleigh Alexandria "The Virgin Artiste", Jean-Andre Antoine
Gallery: LES Gallery
Opening Reception: April 9, 2021, 5 - 8PM
Dates: April 9th - May 7th, 2021
Image by Jean-Andre Antoine.
* Open hours for the gallery are currently 11am - 5pm Wednesday through Sunday *
“Regla: Soul of a Community” is curated by Souldega member Ashleigh Alexandria, an exhibition scheduled to take place at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center between April 9th – May 7th, 2021. This is Alexandria’s first art exhibition produced under Souldega. The exhibit highlights the visualization and artistic interpretation of Black experiences in the town of Regla, Cuba through the eyes of four Black artists: Film Maker/Photographer Amberly Alene Ellis, Hip Hop artist of the group Obsesion, Alexey “El Tipo Este” Rodriguez, Creative Director & Body painter Ashleigh Alexandria "The Virgin Artiste" and Polaroid/Film photographer Jean- Andre Antoine.
Regla, a port town across the bay from Havana, Cuba, became an epicenter of Afro- Cuban religions in addition to being the home of the Virgin of Regla, a highly revered Black Madonna. Though Regla is typically portrayed only through its Afro-Cuban religious history, this exhibit shows the broader picture of Regla’s Black community in featuring images of its daily life and artistic expressions.
Ashleigh Alexandria of Souldega | Visual Artist, Creative Director & Curator
www.virginarte.com www.souldega.org
Ashleigh Alexandria is a NYC based Visual Artist who currently uses body paint to explore Fine Art, Fashion & Film on Black and Brown bodies. Her series is told mostly in film with a retro- Afro futuristic tone. Along with being an artist herself she has curated several art events, including her own works, under Souldega. Souldega is a platform created by Ashleigh (along with Carleen Shankle and Naja Pazant). The concept originally birthed at Hampton university in 2010, was an attempt to create a sense of home away from home for the New Yorkers Ashleigh and Naja. It incorporates the idea of the beloved New York City staple, the Bodega, as a one stop shop where the community gathers. With growth, time and new bonds formed, in 2018 Souldega bloomed into a women led collective of talented artists with one mission in mind, connecting community through diverse art mediums and social events. Today, Ashleigh,Carleen and Naja each artists in backgrounds of visual art, music and film aim to give that same sense of community to their fellow creatives.
The audio piece (link below) features curator and artist Ashleigh Alexandria and artist Jean Andre Antoine who will speak about their current exhibition in the LES Gallery titled: Regla: Soul of a Community. Regla is a photo-based exhibition that shows the perspectives of 4 black artists in the neighborhood of Regla in Cuba. We will also hear from artist Amberly Alene via Regla Cuba, who will give historical and cultural context to Regla itself.
Intro by Alva Mooses | Recorded by Doug Berns at Fenimore Studios in April of 2021.