black and white photography archive by my grandfather, Ernest Mills
The Art In The Antilles(AITA) Artist in Residence will host "In Ernest" co-curated by Romy Saint Hilaire and Stefanie D. Belnavis, BC-DMT, LMHC—a differently-abled Black and Indo-Jamaican American interdisciplinary artist, kinesthetic storyteller, photographer, therapist, educator and spatial justice practitioner. This 6 month creative residency is a heartfelt tribute to Caribbean elders of the Diaspora and their vital roles as cultural historians and memory keepers. Inspired by her maternal grandfather, Ernest Mills, whose passion for documenting their family's heritage through film photography and oral storytelling deeply influenced her creative path.
Photography by Valerie Anselme, Anselme Studios
This residency celebrates the transformative power of narrative healing and visual storytelling in preserving bicultural and intergenerational legacies of grandparents from the Caribbean Diaspora.
During the 2025 Art In The Antilles Artist Residency, Stefanie will transform the Cultural Equity Incubator space into a hub of cultural equity, employing film and digital photography, storytelling, community-led spatial justice activations and dialogue, and a collective memory archive wall to connect the past and present through stills and stories. These practices will elevate intergenerational voices, particularly within Caribbean Diaspora communities, fostering connection, healing, and the preservation of cultural identity.