We are excited to support our client, HistoryMiami, with promotion around a new photo exhibition called CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic. Created by one of the most sought-after club DJs, Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander, this photography exhibit, his most extensive to date, was borne out of the Pandemic of 2020. HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) will be home to more than 60 images representing the life-altering year when our community struggled with the realities of a pandemic, racial injustice protests, and an entertainment industry on the brink of implosion.
HMM’s Center for Photography serves as the backdrop for CAPTURE images that reflect upon shared pandemic experiences – from moving stories of love and disbelief to rage and the challenges of change, all the while illuminating the perspective through the lens of Miami.
During his press preview, the M Network sat down with Rahsaan to learn more about “CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic.” We started the conversation by asking him what inspired this project.
“What started as a cathartic project to lift my spirits during the pandemic became a passion project for future generations that tells the human story of life continuing through tragedy.”
Rahsaan, tell us about “CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic.” Is there a message you want visitors to walk away with?
“CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic” is a visual story about the impact the last two years have had on the city I call home. Miami. I want people to walk away remember what it was like here BC (before COVID) and how resilient we are as a community, and progress we’ve made since 2020 affected us all.”
Having worked in the music industry for many years, what would be the most important lesson you learned while creating a brand like your Fly Guy brand?
“The most important lesson I’ve learned is that relationships are everything in this business. They have to be managed and cared for well. Many of the opportunities I’ve been blessed with have come from the relationships I have.”
You have often said that DJing and Photography are comparable as art forms. How so?
“DJing, like photography, is about capturing the moment. I strike an emotion in someone with a photograph, similar to how I can do it with a song. In my opinion, you can’t teach someone how to have an “eye” for photography just like you can’t teach a DJ how to “read” a room full of people. It’s almost an innate skill. There are basic fundamentals that come along with learning both crafts, but at the core of each one is the intangible thing that can’t be taught.”
If you could pick one moment to highlight from your exhibit that impacted you and who you are today, which image would that be?
“The lead image of CAPTURE is called “Racist Pandemic.” When I took that photo, I was walking through the city on a rainy afternoon with hundreds of other protesters. When I went home to edit the image, I noticed one of the signs being held up that said RACISM IS A PANDEMIC.
I stared at the sign for a very long time, and it made me think. The coronavirus was a tragic thing that happened to the city, the country, and the world. But beyond the surface level of that lies a deeper problem that has infected this country for hundreds of years. That is racism. That’s why I chose that image to be the lead for my exhibition; it’s so that people don’t forget there is a lot more work to be done in terms of social injustice. There is no ‘vaccine’ for racism. Not yet, anyway.”
“CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic” is on display at HistoryMiami Museum at 101 W. Flagler Street and will remain in place through January 8, 2023. Open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday noon – 4 p.m. For more information, visit historymiami.org.
