by earthSista Kire Na RepJA could not have chosen a better set of models. The ladies and gentlemen of Pangea’s Garden were up early that Sunday morning in June to grace the internationally expressed fashions of RepJA! This vibrant and colorfully cultivated and edgy clothing line blends into its style the language, music, and dances of Jamaica with an American twist.  The models were up for the task of showcasing the Pangea’s Garden natural essence, while accentuating RepJA’s Caribbean flair in fashion. RepJA is young, hip, and up-to-date, yet speaks to the tastes of fashion lovers. Spanning...

A stroll through nature… Its a moment of sun and wind and clouds next to the lakeside. We were talking and creating images. We conversed about a lot of things. We talked about hair; she styles natural hair beautifully. Talked a little about aspirations. The young sista dreams of publishing a natural hair magazine; I suggested that she blog about it here. And suddenly, in a moment of clarity, the sista formally known as Antiquity Lashay imparts a revelation. She takes on the alias of ISIS. ISIS, the Egyptian goddess of rebirth remains one of the most familiar images of empowered and utter...

In the early days of the Pangea’s Garden Project I was fortunate to discover the extraordinary works of Maxim Vakhovskiy. At the time i’d created several captures that would, later, find a home here and I was curious to know if anyone shared a vision of Afrocentric beauty and sensuality. Maxim was one of the first I found. Eastern Europe born, Maxim is a portrait photographer currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is “delighted to photograph interesting, natural, vintage-souled, humble, passionate, uninhibited, and free-spirited characters with richly whispering beauty....

New York, NY  Evelyn S. Oliver has always had a love for film. In 2004, this Queens born filmmaker got her first experience in media at Center Media, an organization broadcasting TV and documentary segments about LGBT people of color in recovery. And in the summer of 2009, Evelyn decided to produce her first narrative short film “The Testimony of a Devotee. By the fall she pulled together a team of dedicated colleagues and friends. As a member of the NY Film Collective, Evelyn’s goal in media is to to provide quality productions about women and young girls of color in film and theater. Considering...

Intimate moments, alone, captured while the faint taste of incense lingers in the air. Warm soft light is ubiquitous. Long locs fall across bare shoulders while bejeweled hands dab into shay buttah so that they can spread it over the brown skin that drinks it in. Blaq Buttaphly and I were in the cool basement loft. And while we laughed and talked we created these captures that were, for me, one of the root inspirations of Pangea’s Garden. Minutes, that happen, privately, so often that their rare beauty is, easily lost in the repetition. Every now and then, I like to take a moment to capture...

In Atlanta, there’s a cool coffeehouse called Octane. And while there are probably cool coffeehouse joints like it an every city in America, this one is a little special to me because its the first place I told anyone about my ideas regarding Pangea’s Garden. I spoke to one of my friends about it as I was setting up the blog and I met the first model who ever agreed to be on the site there, on that day. So I go here when I am kicking ideas around with some of the others about the Garden. I drink really expensive beers (yeah, I go to a coffehouse to drink the beer) that have a great...

heritage’s mark… revisiting the beauty of Trinette and the vision of Chi-Rue99. Trinette and Chi-Rue99 captures continue in this momentary homage to family. Along with the rest of their extraordinary captures Trinette’s form and beauty is the elaborate personal family tree that decorates her back. A lovely tree made of the linage of generations of Trinette’s family is captured expertly by Chi’s lens, portraying these marks on form artitstically and sensually. To see more of the works of Chi-Rue99 Photography you can go here and here. To see more of...

Antiquity is back on the bridge again. One must realize that although you have burned one bridge doesn’t mean you can’t build another somewhere else. As the sun embraces her, she recognizes that her possibilities are endless. Her future is as beautiful as the 5 o’ clock sun and she must embrace it. She stands beautifully exuberating strength and prosperity. She knows that God has her best interest at heart and would never give her more than she can bear. With humility, strength, confidence, and faith she sets foot on the bridge again toward success. Antiquity: normally used...

“a moment with the uniquely beautiful and terribly kinky…” That’s the mantra behind the works created by Chi-Rue99 Photography and Trinette the model. This set of images is the first of a two part set. To see more of the works of Chi-Rue99 Photography you can go here and here. To see more of Trinette, you can go here.

the words of the Imperial Goddess… “My main goal is to live life to my best ability, just to be happy, and feel happy about what I become in the future.” “I let Got take my life in his hands… Whatever he has in store for me, thats what I will become. I don’t set goals, because you live your life trying to fulfill those goals and by doing that you let so many opportunities pass you by.” “Don’t be afraid to change coarse, do it passionately and you’ll find your way.” “I display my natural crown for all to see.” Nerissa...