Arts & Culture | Sonal Soveni | The Table & Gallery
From left: Frank Brady, IfeMichelle Gardin, Royale Jamison, and Tea Montgomery (on the far right) with The Table & Gallery owner, Sonal Soveni, for the Chapel Street gallery's first immersive art and fine dining event of 2024. Mindi Rose Englart photos.
Frank Brady speaks to the crowd.
The large farm table near the entrance of The Table & Gallery holds a lot of stories and has been a kind of trusted friend to the Chapel Street gallery and exhibition space’s owner, Sonal Soveni, for more than a decade.
Soveni said she sat alone at that very table about a year ago and promised herself that she would fill the table with friends and laughter. The result of that promise was brought vividly to life in The Table & Gallery’s first event of 2024, a multisensory, immersive art exhibit and tasting event featuring local artist and entrepreneur Tea Montgomery of Threads by Tea and Chef Royale Jamison.
A mix of New Haveners who've met Montgomery and Soveni through the arts were among those who showed up to the event. Friends and admirers from as far as Bridgeport, Hartford and New York also were in attendance.
Newly appointed Cultural Affairs Commissioner IfeMichelle Gardin arrived early and stayed late. The founder of Kulturally Lit and the Elm City LITFest said she is excited about what’s happening in New Haven arts scene these days.
“People need to stop underestimating New Haven,” she said. “We can be more than a stop on the highway between Boston and New York City.
“I love being around to appreciate this whole renaissance, this whole vibe,” she added. “New Haven is evolving into an arts thing; there’s something for everyone and that’s really important.”
Montgomery fashion's a makeshift belt for Soveni out of gold ribbon.
A Global Citizen in New Haven
The event, which grew out of the many connections Soveni has made since opening her gallery, is a testament to her desire to bring artists, patrons and community members together in a warm, intimate space filled with carefully selected music, food, drinks and art in the Elm City.
“New Haven found me,” Soveni said about making New Haven her home. “I didn't find it.”
Born in Porbandar, India, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, to a Ugandan mother and a Kenyan father, Soveni grew up in the United Kingdom, Canary Islands, New York, and Los Angeles. Raised by parents with an equally global upbringing, Soveni said she learned the art of bringing people together from them.
Soveni said she believes that art can be a powerful tool for personal and social transformation, and that it can inspire people to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams, as it has done for her.
Artist Andres Madariaga.
Walk into the Table & Gallery, and you will see Soveni’s own large-scale art on the walls.
“The mural represents the process of putting this place together,” she said. “As an entrepreneur and founder, it’s always rushing to beat the clock. It takes blood, sweat and tears to put a place together.”
She literally means blood. She recently cut her finger while rushing in the kitchen. Holding up her finger, she laughed, and pointed to her art.
“I call it ‘Blue Vein,’” she said. “The piece is an homage to my finger.”
Pieces from Tea Montgomery’s ETHOS Collection adorned the walls of the space for the event.
Wearable Art As Exhibition
Just before guests arrived, Soveni realized she’d forgotten the belt she’d intended to wear at home.
“I’m going to ask Tea to make me a belt!” she said, handing Montgomery a roll of gold ribbon who made quick work of the task.
As guests came in from the cold, they stepped onto a red carpet that led them to local graphic designer Leo Green who took their names while Soveni welcomed them and took their coats.
Vivien Wambuga, Thoko Changu and Lisa Gachara.
Playing the role of charming host, Soveni circulated the room, sometimes offering a glass of champagne, sometimes a plate of hors d'oeuvres, like the spiced star anise carrot cake with cognac cream sauce sent from the kitchen by Chef Royale.
Likewise, Montgomery navigated the room discussing his work, while a colorful and dynamic continuous-loop video of him and his team at work took up one wall of the space.
D.J. Travis Golden, known professionally as ZymatiK, played rhythmic atmospheric beats that, at one point, had a guest out of her seat, dancing.
Montgomery’s exhibit anchored the visually arts portion of the night, featuring pieces from his business Threads by Tea, a lifestyle brand of wearable art, body care and home products.
Angel Dahfay, of Sweets & Sounds, Montgomery and Gardin.
Montgomery is a name to know in New Haven. He was one of six honorees at the Arts Council’s 42nd Annual Arts Awards and an Artist Corps grant recipient last year. He’s also launched his ETHOS Collection.
“It allows me to take things to a larger scale and reach more people,” he said of the grant and support he’s been able to garner. “It helps me to tell a New Haven story and make it accessible to the public. People who wouldn't normally have access to art in general will have it.
“I’m scaling up and building my lifestyle brand as a whole. I’m moving past custom, small batch, limited collections. Instead of making one piece, I’ll be making 20-30 in a range of sizes,” Montgomery added.
Until now, Montgomery said he’s been doing everything in his business himself, but going into the next stage, he’s contracted a master tailor, he said.
“There will be a catalog with a set of designs,” he said. “People will have the option to choose between two base fabrics, and two accent fabrics. They can choose the color combinations. They’ll be made and shipped within two weeks.”
Like Soveni, Montgomery said that everything he does is to inspire and empower. His next exhibit will be March 3 at the Third Space in Westville.
“Instead of just one day, it’s gonna be five event experiences: wearable art, music, culinary, and more,” he said.
Top photo: Chef Royale Jamison, wearing a suit designed by Montgomery, and Helen Kauder. Bottom photo: Chef Royale sports a ring passed down from his father to him.
The Art of Taste & Sound
Chef Royale Jamison believes that art comes in all forms. As a self-proclaimed “culinary artist,” Jamison uses the plate as his canvas and he uses food influenced by his African American lineage, history and culture to create his art. His culinary delights anchored the second half of the event.
“Chefs are also artists,” he said. “My tasting menu tonight is about the African American diaspora. It’s my roots demonstrated on a plate; it’s colorful, with lots of textures and tastes from African cuisine.”
Jamison, who grew up in the South Bronx, and came to New Haven to study business at Southern Connecticut State University, fell in love with cooking at age five. He said he’s been influenced by his mother, Anthony Bourdain, and mentor, Darrell Belcher.
Top photo: Zaaqqara with a Dawa cocktail. Bottom Photo: D.J. ZymatiK.
His menu included Egusi stew, braised oxtail, and a Dawa cocktail, also known as “Magic Potion” & “Medicine,” prepared by musical artist Zaaqqara, whose partner, ZymatiK, was the D.J. for the evening. Together, Zaaqqara and ZymatiK make up Zygote, an experimental electronic duo.
Top photo: Kimberly Johnson and her daughter, Paige. Bottom photo: Soveni and Gerald Clark.
As Soveni looked around at the gathering of so many new friends and collaborators, she could see what a difference a year made.
“I’m just really happy with the turnout,” Soveni said. “I’m grateful that people are supporting the arts.”