She created her art gallery, community space by winging it
“Tastemakers” introduces you to the people behind the scenes of the Hampton Roads creative community — whether visual or live art, music, dance, theater or food. They are the dreamers of dreams. Influencers. Trendsetters. And they’re inimitably dedicated to enriching the lives and feeding the souls of their peers, one delectation at a time.
Raeesah Islam
Founder of Utopia Feni and the #VAWeLoveYou movement, and member of Virginia Beach’s Arts and Humanities Commission
Q. What do you do and where do you do it?
A. I am the founder of Utopia Feni. It’s a nonprofit art gallery in Virginia Beach that I established in 2015. It was actually created to fund an art program in Feni, Bangladesh, but we’re able to serve artists locally doing shows, open mics, and exhibits. Through that, I’ve been able to connect with the community and really establish relationships and collaborations, which is what led me to create #VAWeLoveYou with my partner, Gabe Niles. We started it as a movement during the pandemic when all the artists were separated. We wanted something to be able to connect folks while everybody was isolated. We started with an online website to grow one of our classic art shows and we went from there. We started an Instagram Live series that developed into us doing in-person shows once the world opened back up. Gabe had the idea to deliver pizzas to frontline workers, so we partnered up with Marco’s Pizza and
delivered pizzas to frontline workers and creatives that needed extra happiness. Then, once the political climate started changing, we got more involved in protests. Throughout all of that, I was asked to be on the arts and humanities commission, and it seemed like a good time to do it.
Q. What do you look for when considering potential musicians and bands to book?
A. I’m a very personal person. Everything I do is because I want to, so if I’m going to work with somebody, I would like for us to have a good working partnership, communication-wise but also just vibing well. I really like to connect with anyone I possibly can. Whatever commonalities we can work with, I love to see how we can push that forward. I’m open to working with anyone and everyone, but it also depends on the intentions of a project. I really love unique people, people who really have passion. People who have that light in their eyes when they talk about what they like to do. Passion.
Q. What would surprise people most about your job?
A. I kind of fell into this by winging it. With the art gallery, I was honestly just planning on having one show in this space. I started with about $50 in my pocket and that was just to put the sign up. I always had in the back of my mind to start a nonprofit for my father and the village in
Bangladesh, but the only reason we went through with having an actual art gallery was because to get lights and electricity and water, you had to have a business license. So, I just put everything all into that one basket. There was no real renovation. I brought some furniture from my parent’s attic. I painted the walls, which were all boarded up and brown at first. Turning the space into a gallery has been a really long process, but it’s been all DIY and with the hands of the community. I also started off really shy and didn’t have many connections out here. Being who I am now only happened from stumbling into new artists, new environments and becoming more comfortable with myself that way. Utopia Feni was built from scratch, but it’s still going.
Q. Favorite booking so far and why?
A. I think our very first partnership that really showed me what we were capable was when we worked with Chrysler Museum. Michael Berlucchi (the museum’s community engagement manager) saw something in us that was very unique. I believe we might have been the first nonprofit that was able to host a show with and at the Chrysler. That gave me the scope of what we were capable of. We went from winging it and doing our art shows and then all of a sudden, the museum wants to work with us. I learned that we can do so much with this little platform early on.
Q. What’s your dream booking?
A. My dream project would be to have an official Utopia Feni stage at Something in the Water to showcase our genuine, locally grown creative scene and shine a spotlight on our hidden talents in the area. Utopia Feni has a diverse range of artists, and we do everything we can to make everyone feel welcome. SITW represents the lifestyle of our brand in a massive way with music, art, tech, spirituality, and even the color schemes of their branding. We truly feel like we align with their values of highlighting the talent in the 757.
Q. What won’t you book?
A. Anything that doesn’t share or spread love. I’m genuine about community and doing things for the right reasons. I’m not in this for the money. There has to be a loving message with it and it has to be inclusive. Nothing that is too exclusive or shares hate. I won’t book anything that makes people feel that they are not wanted. The reason why I created Utopia Feni was that I needed a place to feel comfortable and part of something because I was too shy. I want people to feel welcome, wherever.