Repeating Islands

Hope From Haiti
New Works from Haitian Master Craftsman Celebrating the Gifts of Hand, Heart and Spirit:
An Exhibition and Sale
Presented by Konbit for Haiti and Epple Seed Arts
Opening Reception: Saturday: Dec. 4, 7:00 PM
Open 9-5 Monday through Friday

Hope From Haiti features original metal works from contemporary artists mostly from the village of Croix des Bouquets. Nearly 30 artists are represented, all masters of their craft. Some, like John Sylvestre, and Jose Delpe, have international reputations and have taught their craft to many others in the community. Others are rising stars in their medium. There will be over 200 pieces in the exhibition and works range in price from $5.00 up to $1,000.00 with a lot in between.

Croix des Bouquets is a village just outside Port au Prince which has become famous world-wide for its steel drum sculpture artists. Croix des Bouquets announces itself to visitors with a litany of hammers and chisels striking steel, like the sound of hail stones on a tin roof. Pieces are made from discarded steel oil drums and provide sustainable incomes for Haitian artisans, their families, and their community. There are dozens of workshops employing 100′s of people in the business of coaxing sheets of steel into distinctive sculpture. The detail in the work is painstakingly expressive, yet loose and whimsical while the forms themselves evoke everyday life, fantasies, historical and religious interpretations, often including the influence of vodou, Haiti’s dominant African influenced religion.

Major Post Earthquake Paintings and Vodou Flags by famous artists such as Vady Confident, Maxan Jn-Louis and Evelyne Alcide, recently featured in international media for their post-earthquake creations will also be included in the Hope From Haiti Exhibition and sale. It will be a rare opportunity to view and purchase works by such world renowned artists. Celebrated Port au Prince graffiti artist Jerry Rosembert will also be represented, and a performance location and date is yet to be announced. These is yet to be announced. These major works will be provided courtesy of the Men Nou (“Our Hands”) Gallery in Pétionville, Haiti, and will also be available for sale in conjunction with the exposition.

Celebrated Miami Haitian band Mawon will be adding vibrant acoustic sounds to the ambiance at Hope From Haiti’s December 5th opening.

Hope from Haiti was curated by Jeff Rogers of Epple Seed Arts. Rogers, himself an artisan, has a life long commitment to social justice and has spent much of the past ten years working with Haitian colleagues.

Proceeds from this show will go back into Haitian artisan communities, will help promote exchanges between North American and Haitian artisans through Artist and Activist Pilgrimages of Hope in Haiti, and will support the ongoing work of local organization Konbit for Haiti.

Location: Konbit for Haiti 521 NE 81st Street (in plaza next to Family Dollar)
Miami, FL 33138
Opening Reception: Sat. Dec. 5 7:PM
Gallery Talk: Thurs. Dec. 9 An exploration of art and hand craft as central to human expression in the Haitian experience, and in the universal human experience.  Jeff Rogers introduces the work of Epple Seed Arts in the context of social and political realities in Haiti.

Hours:
After the 4thth, Monday through Fridays 9-5
Saturdays and Sundays 2-6 through Christmas

For more information or press interviews contact Jeff Rogers: eppleseedarts@gmail.com or               (423) 362 0117         (423) 362 0117