Two women artists reclaim story of Haiti, Dominican Republic in ArtsXchange exhibition Nexus of the Taino to explore shared history of forcefully divided island

EAST POINT, Georgia, July 21, 2025 — As art continues to make the world smaller, ArtsXchange is bringing together two women artists who share an ancestral history despite colonialism tearing it apart.Ayiti-Quisqueya: Nexus of the Taíno will open with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Aug. 9 in the Jack Sinclair Gallery at ArtsXchange. This powerful new exhibition enjoins the masterful paintings of Darnelle Louis-Jacques of Haiti (Ayiti) and Reinilda Blair of the Dominican Republic (Quisqueya) for a rare, intimate dialogue of heritage and healing.

“We’re telling the story of our ancestors — the Taínos — and the deep cultural and spiritual threads that connect Ayiti and Quisqueya across a fractured past,” said Blair. “We’re bringing our visions together as one voice, one island, one legacy.”

Through paintings and personal narrative, the artists excavate their Taíno roots and confront the layered histories of the shared island and the current challenges between their countries. Nexus of the Taíno is both a tribute to ancestral strength and a call for unity and empathy amid ongoing social and political tensions.

More than an exhibit, it is a reclamation, the artists said. “We are bridging the unnecessary gap between Haiti and DR through our creativity,” Louis-Jacques added. “We want everyone to get a sense of the island through our art, through our food, through our music.”

Bold, necessary, and deeply moving, the exhibit transcends geographic and cultural borders, offering a vision for a more just and interconnected future for Ayiti and Quisqueya.

The Jack Sinclair Gallery is located at ArtsXchange, 2148 Newnan Street, East Point, GA. Admission is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

About ArtsXchange

ArtsXchange is a cultural facility founded in the Black arts tradition that empowers artists, social justice activists, and creative entrepreneurs to engage communities through the transformative power of the arts. The pillars of our programming are Visual Arts, Literature and Literacy, and Land Conservation. We serve our communities through workshops, exhibitions, concerts, health and wellness classes, films, performances, and community gardens. Our resident studio artist program supports emerging, mid-career, and established artists by providing affordable creative spaces. As cultural stewards, we foster resilience within our communities as a gathering, sharing, and organizing space. We make the arts accessible to individuals traditionally excluded from creative industries, responding directly to community needs through partnerships and collaborations with like-minded arts organizations, social justice advocates, and people-led initiatives. For more information, visit ArtsXchange,org, or follow on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

About the Artists

Reinilda Blair is an accomplished acrylic painter born in the Dominican Republic, raised in New York City, and now based in the Atlanta Metropolitan area. She began painting at the age of 8 and officially launched her art career in 2021. Her artistic style is characterized by a vivid and emotive use of color, focusing on nature, portraiture, and cultural symbolism. Blair’s paintings are noted for their bright, rich hues and detailed representation, creating a dynamic interplay between form and color that adds depth and vitality to her subjects.​ Blair’s work has been exhibited at notable venues such as Mason Fine Art, Alpharetta Arts Center, Fulton Government Center, and Emma Darnell Aviation Center. Her recent solo show at Arts Clayton Gallery received acclaim for its evocative visual impact and emotional resonance. Through her striking use of color and detail, Blair continues to captivate audiences with art that is both visually compelling and deeply meaningful. Learn more by visiting her website.

Darnelle Louis-Jacques is a Haitian-American self-taught artist based in Atlanta and originally from the vibrant streets of Brooklyn. After high school she wanted to study architecture in college but that career choice wasn’t supported by her family. This led Louis-Jacques to pick a field that would please herself and family. After earning degrees in dental lab technology and applied science in baking and patisserie, Darnelle still felt unfulfilled. In May of 2019, Darnelle was involved in a near-death car wreck which left her immobilized for a few months. That experience reunited with her first love: Art. She continues to live out her dream of becoming a globally known artist. See her portfolio here and follow her artistic journey on Instagram @artbydlj.