- May 13, 2025
It all started with a Google search.
Five years ago, local photographer James Carey was working on a client project for Black History month, and he entered the phrase "black male" on the online search engine. What was reflected on his computer screen was shocking, he said.
"It was 95% negative imagery," he said. "Either Black males were incarcerated, on drugs or selling drugs and I was taken aback about that."
James called his wife LaToya over to take a look at the images, and it also shocked her. The imagery didn't reflect what they knew to be true about the African American community.
So, what did the couple decide to do?
They founded Cultuvue, an annual traveling photography exhibition first launched in 2021 that not only features positive representation of people of color, but shares their stories — from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Dallas Balentine who aims to become the first hearing impaired astronaut in space, to Stephanie Ellis Clark, the vice president of early intervention services at Easterseals Northeast Central Florida who spends her time outside of work aiding education, health and civic engagement initiatives.
All of the portraits in Cultuvue's exhibition depict locals, from Volusia and Brevard County, as well as the city of Palm Coast. All were nominated to be featured by the community.
And now the exhibition is on display in Ormond Beach. The 32-portrait exhibition opened on April 26 at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center gallery, at 399 N. U.S. 1, and will run through June 4.
Cultuvue, a nonprofit, fuses the words "culture" and "view," which sums up the Careys' mission.
"The idea is to be able to help the community at large just view our culture from a different lens," said LaToya, who is the president of Cultuvue.
The Careys, who have been married for 24 years, own and operate Kenneth Grant Inzpirations, a photography and digital design studio based in Daytona Beach.
James has been working in photography for about 10 years, and he quickly realized that he loves capturing people and "making them look good," he said.
Cultuvue has allowed him to do that while learning, and being inspired by, their stories.
"This everyday person was able to accomplish this in spite of all the obstacles they may have faced or that stood in their way," James said. "They were still able to be successful."
Usually, he added, the people he captures don't quite understand the scope of the project. They're flattered to be included, and oftentimes don't see themselves in the same light as those who nominated them. They see themselves as regular individuals doing their best every day.
"We appreciate learning so much about those types of gems, those hidden gems in the area," LaToya said.
The nomination period for Cultuvue's honorees opens in February and runs through April every year. The youngest honoree is 10 years old, with others ranging in age upward to their 80s.
The Careys are excited to have their exhibition in Ormond beach.
"The hope is that individuals will first, be open to coming to see it and read the stories along with checking out each one of the canvases," LaToya said. "Together, they make up what we call a collection, and that collection gives you a holistic view of who is this individual, why are they so special and important?"
During their 2023 exhibition, the couple recalled one gallery visitor in particular. It was a young lady, who came in to the 7,000 square foot gallery space, and quickly came back to the greeter station where the Careys were. She told them, "I thought there was art in here."
They explained that Cultuvue is art — that humans are art. So part of Cultuvue is also about helping people of color change their perspective on themselves, LaToya said.
During their research for Cultuvue, the Careys discovered that, according a 2019 study, African Americans accounted for 1.2% of artwork displayed in major U.S. galleries.
So what they wanted to do, LaToya said, is help increase that statistic.
"Let's make that tick up to 1.3%, 1.4%, by what we do and give great representation," she said.
Cultuvue isn't political. The Careys said it's about reshaping the narrative and creating opportunities for people to understand and appreciate different cultures. It's also about showing positive examples for the next generation.
Summed up, it's inspiration and revelation, James said.
"If you're only given a negative perspective, the opinion that you form is going to be negative," he said. "If we could begin to just broaden those visuals ... their opinions will begin to change as well."
Visit cultuvue.org.
