The Gri Gri Project

08/08/2026

Join us tonight, Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 5 p.m., when the St. John Film Society, in collaboration with the Gri Gri Project, presents a special screening of works by Crucian filmmaker Jordan K. Paul. The evening will feature screenings of ANIMALS and the Virgin Islands premiere of Peace by Piece, followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker. A suggested donation of $5 is requested.

Part of the mission of the St. John Film Society is to present independent films that celebrate the human spirit with a focus on the Caribbean. Jordan K. Paul is an Afro-Caribbean writer, director, and actor from Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. A graduate of DeSales University's TV and Film Production program, Paul's work centers on character-driven, visually innovative stories exploring moral resilience, memory, and structural identity.

Released in 2023, ANIMALS draws from Paul's personal experience with the Los Angeles Police Department, offering an unflinching examination of the systemic challenges faced by people of color, particularly immigrants and those born outside the continental United States. The film has earned more than ten international awards and official selections, including screenings at the Pan African Film Festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival, and the Micheaux Film Festival.

Paul's newest film, Peace by Piece (2026), is a sociopolitical science-fiction thriller that examines justice, community, and the complexities of performative activism. Produced through the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, the film was shot in a single continuous take. It was selected for the invitation-only Voices of Culture showcase during the 30th Anniversary of the American Black Film Festival and has also been named an Official Selection of the LA Short Film Festival, an Academy Award-qualifying festival.

Both events reflect the Gri Gri Project's commitment to showcasing Caribbean artists whose work explores identity, history, resilience, and community through literature, performance, and film.

The August 8 film screening is supported by the Virgin Islands Community Foundation, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Both events will be held at Bajo el Sol Gallery and are open to the public.
For more information, contact event host Raven Phillips at [email protected] or call Bajo el Sol Gallery at 340-693-7070. Additional information about upcoming events is also available through Bajo el Sol Gallery.

25/07/2026

An Evening with Dr. Elle Nielsen, takes place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, featuring a book signing and the latest edition of the Rhyme & Lime Poetry Jam. Hosted by Raven Philips and featuring musical guest Pam 1 Love, this gathering brings together rhythm, words, and community. Sponsored by The Gri Gri Project.

Beginning at 6 p.m., attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Memoir of a Cruz Ting, Dr. Nielsen's collection of poetic and biographical works. At 7 p.m., Rhyme & Lime Poetry Jam continues with Dr. Nielsen as the evening's featured poet, accompanied by jazz and R&B selections from Pam1Love.

Born and raised on St. Croix, Dr. Elle A. Nielsen is a professor of dance at the University of the Virgin Islands, a fitness instructor, freelance choreographer, performer, and founder of the nonprofit performing arts organization Movement 340: A Passion Thru Every Step. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Jacksonville University, a master's degree from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. from Kingdom Truth University. Throughout her career, she has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean in pursuit of dance excellence and cultural exchange.

Her latest book, Memoir of a Cruz Ting, is a poetic and biographical narrative that explores the indigenous, social, and historical complexities of St. Croix. Written in both standard English and the native Crucian dialect, the collection blends multiple poetic forms to commemorate the island's rich cultural identity.

13/06/2026

23/05/2026

On Saturday, May 30, 2026 Rhyme and Lime STJ and the Gri Gri Project will host the next Rhyme and Lime at Bajo el Sol Gallery. Starting at 7 p.m., attendees can share their original works, works by a poet they admire, or they can sit and enjoy the poetry. The suggested theme is, “Truth, Power, and Satire”, and this month’s featured poet is Joeltica Rogers, the 2026 Poetry Out Loud Finalist who represented the U.S. Virgin Islands in this year’s national competition. The event will also feature jazz and R&B selections by Pam1Love.

Joeltica Rogers is a rising senior at Charlotte Amalie High School. Through her hard work and dedication, and the coaching of Wendy Bougouneau-Andrews, Joeltica became the 2026 U.S. Virgin Islands Poetry Out Loud Champion. She then advanced to the national competition in Washington D.C. in late April, where she competed amongst nine other finalists for the national champion title and a $20,000 grand prize.

Poetry Out Loud is a nationally held poetry recitation competition that began in 2005. The competition aims to engage students in literary history, improve their public speaking skills, and build their confidence. The competition begins at school level or through non-profit organizations, and then those winners compete at the state or territorial level to qualify for the national competition in Washington D.C. Prizes are awarded to the student champions, their coaches, and their school. Poetry Out Loud on the national level is made possible by a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, and it is hosted by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts on the local level.

For this edition of Rhyme and Lime, works inspired by truth, revelations, power, resistance, and satire are encouraged, but not required. For more information please email the host Raven Phillips at [email protected], or call Bajo el Sol Gallery at 340-693-7070.

29/04/2026

April is Poetry Month, and although we will not be hosting our monthly Rhyme & Lime Poetry Event, we’re still celebrating the beauty of words, rhythm, and expression with our wide selection of poetry books!

Poetry is powerful—it gives voice to our stories, preserves our culture, and connects us through shared emotion and experience. It captures the spirit of who we are and keeps traditions alive for generations to come.

From timeless Caribbean classics to fresh new voices, there’s something for every poetry lover to discover and enjoy.

Join us next month on May 30th for Rhyme & Lime as we resume our unforgettable evenings of poetry, community, and Caribbean vibes here in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

16/04/2026

Thanks to the Daily News for the coverage!

On Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 4 p.m. Bajo el Sol Gallery, the Gri Gri Project, and the St. John Film Society will host a screening for multiple films by filmmaker and artist Vashni Korin. Attendees will have the opportunity to view Korin’s films, “You Can’t Stop Spirit”, “Negra, Yo Soy Bella”, and “RATHER THAN A POWER”, and engage with the filmmaker in a Q&A session following the screening. There is a suggested donation of $5.

Part of the mission of the St. John Film Society is to present independent films that celebrate the human spirit with a focus on the Caribbean. The upcoming film screening will feature Korin’s works that depict multiple Afro-diasporic perspectives including that of the women of the Baby Doll Mardi Gras masking tradition, an Afro-Puerto Rican woman healing through the Bomba dance tradition, and more.

Vashni Korin is a filmmaker and artist who works with time-based media blending auto-ethnography, documentary, fiction and sound. Her practice explores public and private ritual through beauty, symbol and rites of passage with emphasis on feminine power. She earned a BA in Journalism from Xavier University of Louisiana and is best known for her cultural documentary work “You Can’t Stop Spirit”(New Orleans, LA) featured in the New York Times, Peréz Art Museum Miami and New Orleans Film Festival Prospect 5 (2021). “Negra, Yo Soy Bella” (Puerto Rico) is a short featured on BET + and screened at film festivals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Other works, such as A Prayer (2022), were shown at The Kitchen and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Awards and accolades for her works include Best Documentary Short at the 2021 London Independent Film Festival, Best Documentary Short at the 2021 New Orleans Film Festival, as well as the 2021 Reel South Award, the 2021 Best Documentary Short Indie Memphis Film Festival & Audience Award, and a Best Documentary Short Nomination in the 2021 Blackstar Film Festival.

Bajo El Sol Gallery is also home of the Gri Gri Project. The Gri Gri Project’s mission is the creation of interpretive exhibitions, critical writing, events and archives related to the cultural patrimony of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the broader Caribbean region.

Bajo el Sol Gallery is located In Mongoose Junction on St. John, USVI. For more information about the film screening and about future events can be found by contacting the gallery at 340-693-7070 or [email protected].

13/04/2026

Vashni Korin, Film Screening & Q&A | April 19, 2026 | Bajo El Sol Gallery, St. John, USVI

On Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 4 p.m. Bajo el Sol Gallery, the Gri Gri Project, and the St. John Film Society will host a screening for multiple films by filmmaker and artist Vashni Korin. Attendees will have the opportunity to view Korin’s films, “You Can’t Stop Spirit”, “Negra, Yo Soy Bella”, and “RATHER THAN A POWER”, and engage with the filmmaker in a Q&A session following the screening. There is a suggested donation of $5.

Part of the mission of the St. John Film Society is to present independent films that celebrate the human spirit with a focus on the Caribbean. The upcoming film screening will feature Korin’s works that depict multiple Afro-diasporic perspectives including that of the women of the Baby Doll Mardi Gras masking tradition, an Afro-Puerto Rican woman healing through the Bomba dance tradition, and more.

Vashni Korin is a filmmaker and artist who works with time-based media blending auto-ethnography, documentary, fiction and sound. Her practice explores public and private ritual through beauty, symbol and rites of passage with emphasis on feminine power. She earned a BA in Journalism from Xavier University of Louisiana and is best known for her cultural documentary work “You Can’t Stop Spirit”(New Orleans, LA) featured in the New York Times, Peréz Art Museum Miami and New Orleans Film Festival Prospect 5 (2021). “Negra, Yo Soy Bella” (Puerto Rico) is a short featured on BET + and screened at film festivals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Other works, such as A Prayer (2022), were shown at The Kitchen and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Awards and accolades for her works include Best Documentary Short at the 2021 London Independent Film Festival, Best Documentary Short at the 2021 New Orleans Film Festival, as well as the 2021 Reel South Award, the 2021 Best Documentary Short Indie Memphis Film Festival & Audience Award, and a Best Documentary Short Nomination in the 2021 Blackstar Film Festival.

Bajo El Sol Gallery is located in Mongoose Junction, St. John it is home of the Gri Gri Project. The Gri Gri Project’s mission is the creation of interpretive exhibitions, critical writing, events and archives related to the cultural patrimony of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the broader Caribbean region.

More information about the film screening and about future films can be found by contacting Raven Philips at the gallery at 340-693-7070 or [email protected].