RepJA is young, hip, and up-to-date, yet speaks to the tastes of fashion lovers. Spanning across several countries, RepJA clothing is accessible and affordable.  The online store, blogs, photos, and media links with music for download, offers you a colorful collaboration of their style and charisma.

So, just as the sun was beginning to settle in the morning sky over Atlantic Station’s historic Millennium Gate, the Pangea’s Garden models began their RepJA mission. Sporting t-shirts with sayings such as “Original RudeGirl”, “Skip To My Lou”, and “Girls Dem Sugar”, the models laughed, jumped, posed, and danced their way into gaining some great shots that embodied the high energy and vibrant life of the RepJA clothing line and lifestyle.

]]> http://pangeasgarden.com/projectblog/pgp190-repja-goes-naptually-rude/feed/ 1 http://pangeasgarden.com/projectblog/introducing-solanjel/ http://pangeasgarden.com/projectblog/introducing-solanjel/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:00:24 +0000 tafakari http://pangeasgarden.com/?p=4220 The Sol ex-PEER-ience

sol (sōl) n. 1) Roman Mythology the sun god 2) the sun personified

experience  (ek spirˈē əns) n. 1) the act of living through an event  2) anything observed or lived through 3) a) training and personal participation b) knowledge, skill, etc. resulting from this

-from Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus

Hello and welcome to the Sol Expeerience.  This is an exploration into my world where art forms collide and take you on a physical journey through spiritual spaces and intergalactic travels through mental stimulation. Sorry if I go too deep.  This is just an introduction, after all.  My name is AJ aka solanjel and I will be your navigator. As you can see, I took my name from the sun and also angel because I’d like to think of myself as an earthbound spiritual being.  I think that essentially, that’s what we all are.

I believe that life is an ex(peer)ience…which means that we are meant to participate in it, observe it, learn from it, and LIVE IT. I also believe that we experience life through our interaction with others and the way we express ourselves to the world. We thrive off of our peers, which includes everyone with whom we come in contact, whether we acknowledge the interaction or not. To truly experience life is to fully embrace it.

I think music is a big part of how we interpret the world we create for ourselves.  Music is universal; it has a rhythmic language the soul understands.  It can create or change a mood, inspire imagination, spark interest, motivate, or even save a life. This may (or may not) go without saying, but I am very creative and am in search of getting out my dreams…by any means necessary.  I love artistic creation and respect all forms of art.  I am currently working on a career in film as a writer/director/actress. I am also trying to figure out me while navigating through the ever-changing landscape of life. I don’t have the answers; I am here to give perspective in the hopes of opening minds and challenging standards.

Before anything, I am a writer and I value words like nothing else.  Well…almost nothing else.  I can only hope that my words touch your lives in a way that will help us all.  Thank you for journeying with me!

Love, solanjel

A couple weeks ago, I said that we-the-people at Pangea’s Garden were hard at work making the site better for you in creative ways.  Thanks for all your helpful suggestions! We really want The Garden to grow into a fully collaborative effort, so keep sending us your comments and requests for discussion topics. I’m excited to announce that, over the next few weeks, we will start rolling out regular blogs by our new contributor panel! Without further ado, let me give you a sneak peak of the awesomeness coming up:

(I feel hella awkward talking about myself in the third person).  What’s Going On? will discuss politics and issues important to black folk, Georgians, women under five feet tall, people who don’t drink soda…okay, so everyone, really.

Solanjel’s proper Pangea’s Garden introduction is forthcoming, but her blog will cover arts, music, and culture with her own innovative spin on it.  She’s a strong, relevant voice and I can’t wait for you all to read her.

You should be afraid of this woman; she will make you cry in pain and like it.  PhysiqueAE1 is going to get us all fit, healthy and sexy one week at a time.  She’s a kick-ass trainer who thinks we should all feel great naked (and who are we to argue with that?!).

The excitement kicks off tomorrow, so be sure to stop by and say hello to our newbies (that goes for the lurkers, too).

It all started when we did the T-shirt shoot for RepJa.  It was a fun Sunday afternoon and my girl Tara showed up to film the behind-the-scenes (she thinks she’s an auteur or something).  We were having so much fun that, on an impulse, we decided to have a get-together at her shop, The Crochet Fashion Gallery.  Tara and I didn’t know what we were going to do or what it was going to be about, but we knew we were going to do it in a week (because it was the last week of free parking).  Finally, we decided to go with The Crochet Strut.  We just had a little fun with it, and a few invited friends and photographers later, it was on.  We were surprised by how many people showed up on such short notice!

It was hot, we were sweating, and we had a damn good time.  And the pictures were astounding.  We have definitely got to do this again.  Would you want to come?

—- 6/15/2010, Tafakari

That “drive-by” meeting was a special moment to me. A few of us have cultivated the Garden from the beginning and its content has been and still is contributions from those who believe that the vision we expound is worthy of participation and support. Organically it grows upward, outward and with a conscious of its own. Fortunately, folks like Kire Na and Tafakari (who you may have heard of here) and Imperial and Yohance (who you may not have heard of yet) have all been instrumental in helping me (as Creative Director) and KingCliff (as Site Engineer) make what’s going on behind the scenes, make sense. It ain’t easy but its a LOT of FUN.

We implemented changes from that meeting (such as the image sets from the events we attend and are a part of and we’ve expanded the profile options so that you can interact with site and among yourselves more freely.) And we have more changes planned and they are coming very soon. But we need you.

We need your participation. We need your interaction. Check out our Groups. They need cultivation. And if you don’t see any groups that interest you there, CREATE A NEW ONE.  And invite your friends here on the site to join it with you.  And invite your friends who aren’t on the site to check out the Garden. Let them know what they are missing out on.  ADD A PROFILE PICTURE TO YOUR PROFILES. Lets see what you look like. And most importantly, let us know what you want see here. Let us know what you want to do here.

This is our community; our Garden. Lets cultivate it together…

——7/2/2010. Vincent

“Check out my work on www.afrochic.book.fr and if you wanna get in touch, hit me on facebook at AFROCHIC. If ever you decide to come to Paris and if you like my style, feel free to contact me for an Afrochic touch.”

Indeed, the AFROCHIC Touch is reflected in his incorpation of black, shadow, color and African iconography into fashion, glamour and artistic photography of people and form. This is his second appearance in the Project, and as he continues to create these great images, I am sure it will not be his last.

This a revisit of an old friend in the Garden Shakazz of AFROCHIC. Shakazz is an African born photographer who is now based in Paris. According to Shakazz, “My concept is called AFROCHIC and it’s all about Ebony photography, entirely dedicated to my people because KINGS and QUEENS are what we are. It’s black-owned business. I work with models, artists, singers and ordinary people.”Check out my work on www.afrochic.book.fr and if you wanna get in touch, hit me on facebook at AFROCHIC. If ever you decide to come to Paris and if you like my style, feel free to contact me for an Afrochic touch.”

Indeed, the AFROCHIC Touch is reflected in his incorpation of black, shadow, bright color and African iconography into fashion, glamour and artistic photography of people and form. This is his second appearance in the Project, and as he continues to create these great images, I am sure it will not be his last. Check out his images below as well as his previous appearance in the Project.

Do you like them? Let us know what you think?

-Vincent

The following is a story I was fortunate to read by Surya Devi Shofar on blog The Sex-Sensual Griot. As I read it, I was intrigued and thought that I should do a write up of my own but the more I read, the more I realized that Surya’s story says it all. So here it is.

Naked Expressions

of Leading

Black Women!

The naked unveiling of her body in her video, “Window Seat”, was Erica’s way of showing the world that she has climbed higher dimensions of her spiritual journey while making a fierce political statement that inter weaved the past and brought us a flash into the future. But only a few can truly understand content and relational meaning of her video and the true quest of this daring spirit! As an astrologer, I must say that she is truly expressing her Piscean spirit. And she is leading others to the summit!

We remember that uproar, the criticisms she was up against and the dialogues that streamed across the globe mixed with all kinds of opinions and ideas. Erika is not the only Black woman expressing herself beyond society’s demands and expectations while breaking glass ceilings of sensual expressions. There is also Jada Pinket Smith who graces the cover of Essence Magazine with a partially nude photo revealing parts of her upper body and legs. Jada thinks that “Women should be proud of their body. And I agree with her %100.

But women should first be proud of the diverse strength they embody. From being able to conceive and carry a growing baby while going about the regular activities of a woman’s life, to acknowledging that she carries a sacred bowl more powerful than any single thing that exists on this planet and that she carries the intuitive world right in her creative center, to knowing and mastering the use of her sexual creative powers. I believe that women have been sold short of their bodies; robbed of their powers in so many ways. We have been cleverly deceived and tricked into shutting ourselves out of our own bodies. And until we renter the kingdom of heaven (the body) – in the manner intended – we as women will never know the extent of our majesty, grace and power because we have been fooled and taught to seek it outside our selves and in others. This is the ultimate challenge of WOMAN!!

The decision to use the photo for the cover of Essence was inspired by her daughter, Willow’s first reaction to seeing the photo. In her recent interview on “The View” she talks about her impromptu decision to have her nude photo on the cover of Essence Magazine.

Jada Pinkett-Smith on The View

Thanks to the increasing heat of the Summer’s arrival and the powerful Summer Solstice I rolled out some of my artistic nude photos and posted a couple on my face book profile. The first one made ripples! I received a stream of comments that were positive and complimentary.

Then I posted the second one in which my entire back side is exposed. And I made tidal waves while inducing a bit of silence. Silence so thick that I could feel it through the virtual walls of cyberspace. And I do feel deeply! Then I received a note with the subject saying “egads. It was from a Caucasian lady (not even a friend on fb) saying..”woman, have you no shame!” My response to her was “Have you? Now for me….that depends…”

I am not ashamed of my body and don’t see why anyone should be ashamed of theirs. And most interesting is that a Caucasian woman approached me through email. Did my chocolate smooth skin and beautiful strong body intimidate her? What moved her to drop me that note? I am curious!

We can not ignore the racial irony of this nudity business that also carries an element of past programming and conditioning. Was I supposed to be in the cotton field with my long dress and boots on picking cotton and dare not expose my nakedness to the master. It seems that when a white or Latin woman poses nude it is never a big deal. However, as soon as a black woman shows more of her body in a naked artistic fashion she is scrutinized beyond limits. Yet there are many who have and go unruffled in the media and other times without any huge public knowledge for their nude exposures.

Jessica Alba

Eva Mendes

Padma Lakshmi

Britney Spears

The usual question: Why do we have so much shame for our bodies? We know the answers to that one. But the question here today in the year 2010 is: Why is there a difference in the reaction to a white woman posing nude versus a black woman?

What are we doing to honor our bodies and to be at peace within and comfortable in our own physical casings. How are our insecurities destroying our relations and what are we doing or need to do to raise the bars of our self-esteem, while we instead fed with violence, destruction, deception and tragedy on the screens? How are women like Erykah Badu and Jada Pinkett Smith inspiring other women or not?

Share your naked thoughts!

-Surya Devi Shofar

Angelique Surya Shofar is the founder and director of the Spirit of Wellness which focuses on women’s sexual wellness. Affectionately known as “The African Wellness Diva” for her natural healing presence and gifts, she serves as a Wellness & Lifestyle Coach, Energy Therapist, Inspirational Speaker, Certified Yoga teacher and Reflexologist. Also known as the Sexual Griot, Surya says she is a free spirit with a sensual creative edge. My creative spirit flows in all phases of my life, while all phases of my life can be found in my creativity! And an African woman – mind, heart, soul and to the bone! To see more of her writings visit her blog: http://sexualgriot.blogspot.com/

ISIS, the Egyptian goddess of rebirth remains one of the most familiar images of empowered and utter femininity. This young ISIS believes that she encompasses a stronger light and holds the key to being the ultimate woman. She is a woman with plans that will be achieved. No longer full of hope or daydreams that may never come to pass. She is full of life and embraces the beauty of being a natural earthSista.

ISIS rises.

– Vincent & earthSista ISIS

ISIS rises.

As Nobella painted earthSista Aya in preparation for our photoshoot, I captured the process and thought about what I could say about the origins of these images we were about to create. I wondered what you would want to know.

Click.

Sometime ago I approached Aya joining us in the Garden. Her extraordinary naptual beauty had caught my eye and her vegan lifestyle had piqued my curiosity. I would come to find out that she is one of the Raw Revolutionaries whose “mission is to provide informative delicacies that promote a healthy raw vegan lifestyle in assisting people with their journeys to optimal, wholistic health.”

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The more we talked the more I noticed her appreciation for Nobella’s artistry. Together, the three of us decided to take these images to the next level by incorporating body art complimented with Nobella’s jewels.

Click.

A few of the Behind-the-Scenes images are here. The final captures will be added soon. And, hopefully, we will have some wisdom from the Raw Revolutionaries to share as well.