2025 Altars Festival Artists

Altar Artists

  • Altar Artist | Felicia Reed is an internationally award-winning fiber artist, advocate, and coach whose work blends healing, intention, and historical resonance. Based in the DMV region, Reed uses the ancient technique of wet felting—hand-agitating silk and wool fibers with soap and water—to create her signature “Healing Wraps,” wearable artworks infused with prayers, affirmations, and repurposed materials. Her pieces have been recognized in major juried exhibitions, including Tokyo’s Metropolitan Art Museum (Gold Award, 2022) and the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. Beyond the studio, Reed is a mentor and speaker who uses art as a modality for recovery, wellness, and personal transformation.

  • Altar Artist | Kamala Bhagat is an artistic cultivator dedicated to the practice of regenerative design. She channels creative storytelling through her Afro Leisure designs, serving as a canvas weaving together threads of creative expression, ancestral homage, and ethical principles. Focusing beyond mere craftsmanship, she delves into a realm of textile aesthetics inspired by the narratives of the earth — creating pieces that resonate with cultural depth and environmental consciousness. Her work explores diverse aesthetics, biophilic design principles and the curation of transformative experiences rooted in artistic nature-based engagement. Kamala's work stands as a testament to the interconnectedness of art, culture, and sustainability, celebrating the interconnectedness of nature and artistry.

  • Altar Artist + Community Partner | Ariane McKeller is the founder and CEO of Green Vibes RVA, a modern plantery and wellness brand rooted in community care, creativity, and the healing power of plants. Through her work, Ariane bridges wellness, art, and collective healing—curating spaces where people can reconnect with nature and themselves. Her passion for cultivating joy and intentional community has blossomed through partnerships, pop-ups, and events that center on mindfulness and growth.

Culture Artists

  • Event + Community Partner | Janine Y. Bell is the founding President and Artistic Director of the Elegba Folklore Society in Richmond, a cultural-arts institution dedicated to educating and celebrating African and African-American heritage. Her Afrocentric journey began at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she became the school’s first Black majorette and served as cultural coordinator for the Black Student Movement. Since establishing Elegba in 1990, Bell has been designated Richmond’s “Cultural Ambassador,” driving inclusive growth in the Arts District and creating rich cultural programs that uplift community and history.

  • Event + Community Partner | Dr. Ram Bhagat is a longtime educator, arts innovator, peacemaker, and community healer who has been teaching and transforming communities for 35 years. Dr. Bhagat is committed to healing trauma in our classrooms, schools, and communities. Ram is an international conflict resolution trainer, specialist in arts integration, and certified in restorative justice. He is a master teacher of culturally responsive peacemaking circles, racial healing, trauma awareness & resilience, yoga and mindfulness. 

    In the early 1990s, Ram co-founded Drums No Guns, a world percussion ensemble using drumming, dance, and drama (3D) to engage youth in a process of “healing community with rhythm.” The Drums No Guns Foundation was established in 2017 to expand Dr. Bhagat’s work with youth and families traumatized from gun violence, by combining trauma healing, restorative practices, mindfulness, and artfulness. Dr. B. also started incorporating peacemaking circles along with the original junk-yard jam to create a sense of balance within schools and diverse communities.

Music Artists

  • Poet + Music Artist | Grammy-nominated Brandon Lovee, also known as Wellness Warrior B Lovee, is a Richmond-born poet, hip-hop artist, actor, and author. As the founder of B LOVEE LLC and PLUS Holistic, he provides resources for holistic and financial health.

    A youth mentor and community activist, B Lovee has been featured by The Shaderoom and CBS6 and is known for his powerful performances that inspire reflection and self-love. Above all, he values his role as a father and partner, embodying the love and purpose that ground his creative work.

  • Music Artist + Workshop Facilitator | Caroline Scruggs is a thereminist, vocalist, and songwriter from Hampton Roads, Virginia.

    A lifelong musician, she began playing the violin at age 5, pursued a degree in Vocal Performance, and made her mark as a jazz vocalist from Virginia to New Orleans.

    After discovering the theremin, the first electronic instrument played without touch, Caroline became captivated by its ethereal sound. Her performances blend theremin, voice, and looping, weaving unique harmonies and soundscapes. She has been featured by Moog Music, WHRO Public Media, and in national commercials, and continues to share the magic of the theremin through her performances and workshops.

    Remembrance Songwriting Workshop
    Ever wanted to write a song but didn’t know where to start? In this 75-minute workshop, you’ll be guided step-by-step through a simple songwriting formula to create your own Heart Song—an ode to where you come from, honoring what came before you, and how that shapes who you are and where you’re headed. You’ll write your own lyrics, learn how to shape a melody, and experience the joy of bringing your words to life. Some participants will even have their lyrics set to music on the spot by Caroline.

  • Music Artist | Freedom Imani is an international recording artist, singer, songwriter, model, vocal coach, and musician whose career began at age 7. He has shared the stage with legends including Patti LaBelle, Frankie Beverly, and The Whispers, and has appeared on BET’s American Soul, in national commercials, and at The Kennedy Center.

    Freedom’s voice and artistry span gospel, jazz, and soul — expressing both deep faith and boundless creativity. His forthcoming live and unplugged EP, You Don’t Own My Life, was recorded in Richmond and stands as a personal anthem of healing and renewal.

  • Music Artist | Tiara + Andrew are a dynamic pop and neo-soul duo from Brunswick County, Virginia. What began as a simple folk act has evolved into a sound that blends rhythm, soul, and electronic textures. Their project Tribe showcases layered harmonies and inventive production, crafted entirely from their home studio.

    With Tiara’s introspective songwriting and Andrew’s rhythmic arrangements, their music bridges folk storytelling and modern soul, resonating deeply in Richmond’s creative music scene.

  • Music Artist | Tre. Charles is a nomadic, self-taught, soul-searching troubadour whose music blends old-soul depth with a modern edge. His introspective sound has taken him to stages such as the Newport Jazz Festival, TEDx, and NPR, earning recognition from GRAMMY Award–winning artists like Son Little, Cedric Burnside, and hip-hop legends Digable Planets and Arrested Development, with whom he has toured as direct support. Endorsed by D’Angelico Guitars and Supro, Charles continues to captivate audiences through his “wave therapy” soundscapes and his latest EP, Here We Are, marking a new era in his ever-evolving artistry.