An enormous amount seems to be happening in my life as it relates to Haiti, much less as it relates to art, or at least my own art! I did finish a commission, a Himba girl bust, life-size, that I'm very pleased with... fired since returning from my month in Haiti.
The desert-like Gonaives area with it's dusty city, and river valley oases of millet and palms - and working for IOM - was fascinating, and seeing and feeling what is happening in Haiti since the earthquake was of course a very big experience... I was a little afraid I would be overwhelmed and in a way I was, but in the sense that it confirmed my desire to really jump in, to see what I can do there.
I had a brief chance at the end of my trip to visit another area (Lascahobas on the Central Plateau) with a smaller project, COSADH, and came across a small refugee camp that had been totally abandoned by any authorities or charities and was in a very bad way... and somehow started a little campaign to improve conditions there and give the 46 people left a chance at starting over in a few months... see website www.100percent4haiti, for the appeal for the Camp, and about the art show I ran here in St Croix last week with a great group of friends, we're hoping to keep on raising money for good causes in Haiti longterm. Both the art show and the camp appeal did really well, there's also a FaceBook page 100% for Haiti...
I'm hoping to go back to Haiti in July, to see progress in Lascahobas, and some other possibilities for longterm projects... sorry this blog has been so neglected!
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For sale towards Haiti fund.
an artist's ground level view of Haiti
Now on FaceBook
FOR LOVE OF HAITI page.
About Me
An artist in Haiti
I grew up in Africa and have been a professional artist producing mainly Afro-centric and Caribbean themed art for most of my adult life - probably why my first trip to Haiti had such a huge impact on me in May 2009. I just returned from my second, and plan to make many more trips there...
In December I will be exhibiting some of the work I am doing based on Haiti's influence on me, but I'm posting some here.
Mandy's website
For sale towards Haiti fund.
Acknowledgements:
My May 2009 trip introducing me to Haiti was with an expedition of Haiti Community Support, a Virgin Islands based charity building a school and clinic in the home village of founder Mathilde Aurielen Wilson. It was a wonderful, eye-opening and heart-wrenching experience, and a first hand view of what a few committed people can do, a really successful and sensitive project. See www.haitisupport.org for more.
was a little afraid I would be overwhelmed and in a way I was, but in the sense that it confirmed my desire to really jump in, to see what I can do there.
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