Kolektif 509 presents the upcoming exhibition “Elements of (de) construction,” featuring works by Phaidra McQueen Sterlin and Valerie Noisette. The opening is on November 10, 2017, at 5:00pm, with music, video installations, and a capoeira performance, at Villa Kalewes (located at 99 rue Gregoire) Petionville, Haiti. Exhibit will run through December 2, 2017.

Phaidra McQueen Sterlin: Born in the US raised in Haiti by a single father, Phaidra McQueen Sterlin’s life has been full of twists and turns. Her work addresses the themes of feminism, love, and everyday life with voodoo and Catholic symbolism inspired by the artisanal culture of Haiti. After a 10 year hiatus, during which she mainly focused on photography, Phaidra was inspired to pick up her brushes.

Valerie Noisette is a self-taught Haitian-American artist born in Queens, New York. She spent the majority of her life in the states (between Chicago and Miami) and moved to Haiti in 2010, after the earthquake. Her work addresses the themes of self-identity, consciousness, and mystic symbolism. Her recent collection of works recounts a personal healing journey inside her subconscious as she attempts to connect with her inner child.

[Image above: Valerie Noisette’s “Let It Rain,” 2017.]