Q&A: VIP Opening Party for ‘CAPTURE A Portrait of the Pandemic’ at HistoryMiami Museum

Miami, FL – August 4, 2022 – World Red Eye had the opportunity to speak with Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander about his project CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic. Here’s what we found out about this inspiring, creative work. On August 4, Miami’s art community united at HistoryMiami Museum for the opening of Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander’s CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic exhibition– the more than 60 photograph collection curated by Alexander is a visual representation of experiences and attitudes resulting from the life-altering year of 2020. The Thursday night affair was filled with emotional beats that touched home. “I just wanted to do my part to contribute to “capture” what was happening in my city,” said the nationally renowned DJ. From his call for a moment of silence to remember 2020 victims, to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s recognition of the artist’s endeavor to reflect Miami’s history, this was a vibrant celebration about Miami’s future.

To say that the energy was electric during the CAPTURE reception would be an understatement. More than 250 guests enjoyed cocktails and dance vibes late into the evening, savored a mac and
cheese bar by World Famous House of Mac, all while dancing to the rhythms of DJ Commish. This captivating reflection of our community as it struggled with the realities of a pandemic, racial injustice protests, homelessness, and the entertainment industry on the brink of implosion, will continue through January 2023.

World Red Eye met up with Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander at the opening reception of “CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic” at HistoryMiami Museum to get a first-look at the exhibition, and discuss the inspirations behind it and what future projects he has in store for us. Read the full Q&A below.

WRE: How did you get your start in photography?

Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander: I fell in love with photography during my senior year at Miami Killian High School.  Everything about the art form spoke to me; from the beauty of a particular image, to the process of capturing and immortalizing a moment, to developing film in a dark room. That’s how you had to do it back then [in the 90’s].  My photography class was one of only two courses I ever received an “A” grade in while in school. The “weapons” of choice at the time were Kodak disposable cameras and the Sony Cybershot.  

WRE: Are there any specific photographers who have influenced your work?

RA:  I’ve been inspired and influenced by a few incredible photographers.  Jonathan Mannion is one.  His work in Hip-Hop culture has made him an icon and someone I have been fortunate enough to connect throughout  my journey back into the craft.  Gordon Parks is who I aspired to be like when I was a teenager taking images on my cybershot around Kendall.  The way he approached capturing his surroundings and the people of his time, to me, is incomparable.  Carl Juste is a photographer I met last year while showcasing my work at the Hampton Art Lovers’ Warm Rooming House Gallery in Overtown, Miami.  I read an article about him where the writer said that “his images speak in a way  words  cannot, making an immediate connection with the viewer.”  After doing more research on his work, I was in awe.

Music is art, just like photography is art.

Rahsaan "Fly Guy" Alexander

WRE: What inspired you to start the project, “A Portrait of the Pandemic”? 

RA: “CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic is an extension of my first professional photography passion project , “TO MIAMI, with LOVE.”  That was something that was birthed out of the need to find a creative way to express myself artistically during the quarantine of 2020. It has since been amplified to now my largest exhibition to-date.

WRE: What will viewers see, feel, and experience when looking at this project? 

RA: I can’t predict what viewers will see or feel when they look at the images in CAPTURE.  Though, I do know that they will feel something.  In some ways, Miami today feels like the quarantine of 2020 never happened.  CAPTURE will remind people of what we experienced as a community. The purpose is not to bring up forgotten feelings of tragedy, angst and sadness but rather to remind us how resilient we are in the face of uncertainty, turmoil and anguish.  The moods of the images range from hopelessness, anger and even love.  It touches on homelessness, the George Floyd protests, racial injustice and the near implosion of the hospitality industry.

The purpose is… to remind us how resilient we are in the face of uncertainty, turmoil and anguish.

Rahsaan "Fly Guy" Alexander

WRE: What do you hope people take away from experiencing the exhibition?

RA: I want people to feel a sense of hope after they experience my CAPTURE exhibition.  We have come a long way in the city of Miami since things drastically changed forever over two and a half years ago. We should feel a sense of pride but still understand that there is a lot of work to be done in terms of police brutality and racial injustice.  I’m extremely fortunate to be back to work in the nightlife scene but I do not forget the fact that things can change at any given moment and when you’re not in control of that change, you have to be ready to adapt and pivot.

WRE: We know that you’re a well-known DJ in Miami – How do you think music and art tie together? 

 RA: Music and Art go hand – in – hand in my mind. Music is art, just like photography is art.  Wikipedia says, ‘The goal of fine-art photography is to express an idea, a message, or an emotion.’  That’s exactly what I do with my DJ sets.  I send messages through the records I play and the crowd generates the emotion.  Music can make a person feel all kinds of things. You can take a person on the dance floor to a place in their mind and make them lose their inhibitions. They feel joy, nostalgia, etc.  And if you’re doing it right, you can even dictate their energy and mood.  With photography, from the photojournalist or fine art approach, you can do the same thing.

WRE: Do you have any plans for a future project? If so, what are they?

RA: I’m already working on my next project.  I don’t want to give any details on that just yet though.  I want the community to get familiar with CAPTURE while it’s up.  It will be on display at HistoryMiami Museum from August 5, 2022 until January 8, 2023.  I encourage anyone with an appreciation for photography or visual arts to go check it out.  In the meantime, I’m still DJing around the city and country.  This Labor Day, I’ll be spinning for the U.S. OPEN as part of the HBCU LIVE activation in New York City.  I also make my debut at Soho House – Dumbo House in Brooklyn that same weekend. We [Headliner Market Group] have the Overtown Music & Arts Festival returning this year after a long three year hiatus and myself and my partner Mike Gardner are approaching the One Year Anniversary of our monthly R&B and Soul Music event called “DOO-WOP…that R&B thang” (DooWopParty). I recently got married and had a newborn baby girl, so life is extra good right now.  I’m beyond blessed.  Thank you WRE for taking the time to chat with me about CAPTURE.