Vive Haïti! Contemporary Art of the Haitian Diaspora

Vive Haiti! Contemporary Art of Haitian Diaspora. Ed. Franchine Fair. Exhibition Catalogue. Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center, Washington, D.C. 2004.48 pages. In May 2004, as part of bicentennial celebration of Haiti's independence, dynamic exhibition of eleven important Haitian artists was mounted at Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.1 exhibit reflected diverse interpretations of political and cultural history of Haiti, expressions honoring religious way of life known as Vodou, and visual return to African sources for color, pattern, and form.2 In his review of exhibition, Washington Diplomat columnist Gary Tischler described artists as members of Haitian Diaspora who confront past in very different ways.3 Members of Haitian Diaspora are joined by birth, by blood, and by cultural longing, as well as by lived experience on island. These artists expressed what every Haitian around planet feels: that whether physical body is in Port-au-Prince or Paris, Montreal or Miami, spirit-the heart-is always Haiti. Can nationality be characterized by migrations to and from landmass, by replaced or displaced persons, or by remembrances of traditional ways of knowing? It appears to need compilation of at least these three to exist as living, ever-expanding entity known as Haitian Diaspora, true away from home to which any Haitian may lay claim. LeGrace Benson explains part of this phenomenon: the Diaspora is frequently referred to as The Tenth,' that is, another Department added to nine [governmental] on island. The Tenth' partakes of general modern circumstance of uprootedness. She also notes remarkable cultural integrity of Diaspora.4 A large percentage of multi-continental Haitian community is living in United States. Flore Zephir has researched this population for over decade. In Boston Haitian Reporter, she defined characteristic of community: some of its core elements include strong sense of racial pride, deeply rooted religious beliefs and practices, and real enthusiasm for artistic...creativity.5 This innate leaning toward artistic expression is central in maintaining bonds of Diaspora. Art serves as channel for messages underlying Haitian cultural expression. Haitian art, whether salon academic art or indigenous art, has been sought out by collectors, art historians, and art dealers throughout globe. work of eleven artists in this exhibition is no exception. unity in diversity of works portrayed is incredible, as if spirit of Haiti had called out, and these artists answered with their creations. A Created Composite Catted History Francine Farr, exhibition catalogue author and former director of Haiti's Art Museum in Port-au-Prince, deftly traces historic formation of Haiti from African-Atlantic slave trade, Taino Indians and maroons, through its roots as an increasingly profitable slave and sugar colony among French holdings in Saint-Dominque.6 She discusses coalescing factors which precipitated start of revolution in 1791. Farr marks Haiti's independence as founding of Diaspora, calling it, the seminal impetus for mass emigration that founded Haitian presence abroad.7 Within indigenous art forms, which are bom out of oppression from colonizing power, forms evolve with personal and communal meanings for creators, often undetectable to oppressors. A spiritual empowerment is associated with forms and their creation. Both making and viewing of such art forms become critical to survival of subjugated people. This story is replayed historically in art forms of South African Ndebele women artists, as well as in art forms of North American African American quilters.8 Africa-inspired art forms which evolved in Haiti became a source of inspiration to overcome adversity. …

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