a pictorial moment with Nerissa...

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 images are ubiquitous. Her lovely LONG locs and beautiful almond eyes have graced the pages of Playboy and she has landed small acting roles. For more images and insight into the Imperial Goddess check out her MySpace Page. It is a work of art.

The Sensual Spirituality of Hunting...

Makeda Voletta brings her unique insights to play in her thought-provocation commentary on sensuality and spirituality in hunting. Its her first column on PangeasGarden.com. Here are a couple excerpts...

"Many cultures perceived a connection between human sexuality and plant and animal fertility, and through sympathetic magic and rituals related to sex, they invoked supernatural power in guaranteeing fruitfulness of the earth."

"All indigenous people hunted. Hunting was considered a form of shamanism. There was ritual before they hunted and afterward. They understood that they were taking a life and they did so with respect. They only killed animals as they needed them and they used the entire animal. The same is true when they took the life of trees and plants. Both animals and plants were recognized as having life force energy."

Its provocative to say the least. Check it out PangeasGarden.com.

-Vincent

Fit and Sensual with Makeda Voletta...

Makeda is a woman of African and Native American descent. Born and raised in Harlem/Washington Heights, NYC but she currently spends time between New Orleans and NY.

Makeda is dedicated student of the body and all of the methods involved with bringing the body to it's highest level. She has a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning and a minor in Nutrition. Afterwards, she went on to complete two years of graduate work at Columbia University in Applied Physiology and Nutrition. In addition to that Makeda has done plenty of self study and considers herself to be a body science nerd.

Makeda has many fitness and nutrition clients all over the country and I have published several articles. She's also a freelance fitness/swimsuit and fine art model. Makeda is a trained and professional dancer in a variety of dance styles from the Carribean, South America, North America and Africa.

I've only scratched the surface of this woman who is so diversely talented and insightful. You can see and learn more of her, here and here.

-Vincent

ivysion...

The words of Timothy Ivy...

"In my day to day life I'm a photojournalist for various publications.

For 20+ years I've been privileged to tell local, national and international stories with my camera. I've been allowed into the lives of both famous and every day people."

"In that time I've seen a lot of beauty and a lot of ugliness. As a way to counter-balance the ugliness I see through the lens, I engage in personal artistic projects that allow me to express more peace and beauty."

"One such project in which I'm currently engaged is capturing the beauty of natural Black women. I'm interested in photographing women who celebrate their natural, raw beauty in an effort to show the grace and soul that such beauty represents."

Welcome to the Garden, Timothy. Hope to see more of your beautiful captures on display. You can see more of his works here.

Naana and Jason Thomas of the HalfShow.com

Jason Thomas is the male half of TheHalfShow.com - a variety entertainment internet radio show.

But by night, by weekend, he is an actor, moviemaker, and podcaster. And while he is an avid photographer, Jason continues to focus on advancing his acting career and completing his first full-length feature film. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

His model for these excellent Afrocentric images is the beautiful plus size model, Naana Hayford.
For more info and links on his Jason various activities as well as more info on his model, Naana, go here.

Tamara Natalie Madden...Renaissance Woman

I am Vincent Christie, the creator of this blog and the latest entries were not from me. They were the works and words of Artist and Photographer Tamara Natalie Madden. And she joins the Project as a regular contributor to the Garden.

A Jamaican native, I've known Tamara since she moved to Atlanta five years ago. The young creative has lived through some challenges. Diagnosed in 1997 with a life threatening genetic kidney disease called IGA Nephropathy, her art became her lifeline. But as her health deteriorated she decided to take trip home to Jamaica where she discovered she had a long lost brother who donated to her a kidney and saved her life. Tamara says that her illness was very challenging but it also gave her the fire she needed to push forward.

Tamara also says, "My challenge has been to create art that is significant to me and to also create work that is of quality. I believe that I was given this gift to inspire and empower people and I know that ultimately my talents can be used for the greater good. Everyday I think about what I can do to take my work to a greater level."

Tamara is an extraordinary visionary with much to share. I look forward to her forthcoming posts to the Garden. You can find some of her paintings here and on her website; you can find her photography here. The captures made of her, here, are the work of Maurice Evans.

-Vincent Christie

the Organic Soul Crew

DORLIS ... HERMOSDEF ... KIJA

THE ORGANIC SOUL CREW

The Organic Soul Crew was created by these three talented and visionary photographers to change the way French people see the black community in France as more than dancers or soccer players. January of this year Hermosdef was found dead in Paris and this entry is dedicated to his memory.

Hermann DEZA aka HERMOSDEF was born in Paris in 1975, the 3rd child of migrants from Ivory Coast, West Africa. The 2 great passions of his life were music and photography. Not wanting to choose one over the other Hermosdef worked to entwine and combine these 2 worlds in his work. He said that he had been told that his pictures have a "whole lot of Soul". He came to call his art AFROPICS. You can see more of his past works here.

DORLIS, after living for sometime in Paris, now resides in Guadelope, French West Indies. His mother was French while his father was from Martinque. Doris' works have been featured here in the past and you can see more of his work here as well.

KIJA aka SupaKija aka Jacky Gotin was born in Guadeloupe.He says his images are influenced by the music I like. His works have won over the critics with some of the statements made in reference to his works were "Kija's photos are very strong and deeply mooving... I'd really like to see the world as he does..." by Filipe Ferreia and "To put it simply, Jacky was born to do this; to remind us that our loveliness is a reflection of this lovely world - full of lush beauty and color at every turn and in every moment!" You can check out his blog here his previous poetic entry for the Garden here.

the ArtistQueen...the beauty behind the art

A little while back, we featured the works of Fine Artist April Harrison. Today we feature the woman in a momentary pictorial of Artists' Glamour...





Photography courtesy of Josh Norris. You can view more of his work here. You've seen the woman here. See her extraordinary works here and here.

PrettyBlak is just...cool

And the works that she and Maurice Evans have created for the portal are the cool that generate heat. Check out this preview of their upcoming set.



PrettyBlak...coming soon to www.PangeasGarden.com

the works and words of Saddi Khali...

"i believe art can change the world. let's make a difference. i'm tryna do work that looks like no other. i've done magazines, album & book covers, but my current passion is fine art."


"i'm currently workin in natural light. god's illumination on Black skin is magnificent 2 me."


"Black people need 2 see images of ourselves w/ humanity. women beautiful regardless of size, shape or complexion. men strong, sensitive & loving. parents & children caring & happy. couples in love in warm intimate moments. us as lovers, sensual & sexy but not nasty even when we're nasty."



"i can b reached @ saddikhali@gmail.com or on facebook"


You can see more on Saddi's works here and here. Saddi and I had an interesting discussion, expect to see the results of it here soon.

a moment's step into nature...

a moment's capture...

Sheree Swann's Lens of Life

Sheree Swann loves capturing the unique beautiful in all people. Finding photography liberating, she uses it to create opportunities to elevate her mind and spirit. Her images are, fascinating explorations and sensuously artistic. They are funky and they are fierce, appealing to that edgy quality in us all.

Life, the way Sheree see it, "is bold, colorful and full of contrast", which is reflected in her work.

"I love to show people how I see them, in the light of being beautiful, even if they don’t see that beauty in themselves. With that, I will continue to create art through the reflection of my lens." Sheree, says.

Sheree created Lens of Life, her photography and videography company, in 2004. To see more of breathtaking images, check out her website here.