Opening Reception, Rasanbleman | Culture in Place: The Evolution of Haiti Cultural Exchange 2009 - 2022
2024-09-12 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join Haiti Cultural Exchange on Thursday, September 12th for the opening of Rasanbleman | Culture in Place: The Evolution of Haiti Cultural Exchange 2009 – 2022; a photography and archive exhibition from HCX programs featuring Mc Alexander Ciceron, Paul Corbanese, Liz Gauthier, Richard Louissaint, Jocelyn McCalla, Keylah Mellon, Tequila Minsky, and Claire J. Saintil.
Thursday, September 12
6-9 pm
Haiti Cultural Exchange, 558 St. John’s Pl, Brooklyn NY 11238
Co-Curated by Steven Baboun and Kassandra L. Khalil
Archival Manager, Micaela Walker
Graphic Design, Kathryn Dreier
HCX is delighted to present our first exhibition in the new Haiti Cultural Exchange Gallery as part of our expanded Visyon Atistik programming. Rasanbleman | Culture in Place will highlight our community history with those who have captured our story. Rasanbleman | Culture in Place will feature the work of HCX’s documenting photographers alongside vivid moments from our Archive. Through the lens, this group of artists present their core snapshots of the memories, joy, and growing visions for New York’s Haitian culture in action.
Rasanbleman is a gathering – of ideas, of actions, of energies, of bodies – focused and reshaping to share space together. Gina Athena Ulysse describes rasanblaj as an “assembly, compilation, enlisting, regrouping”. How does a community when assembling together knit moments in time and place to the fabric of collective memory?
Our presence in community is the core of the archive. Ourselves as creators, storytellers, and witnesses are the originating thread. Holding both heritage and evolution, we mark and strengthen our arrangements to contemporary and future visions of our culture.
Rasanbleman | Culture in Place: The Evolution of Haiti Cultural Exchange 2009 – 2022 will highlight our community’s history with those who have helped capture the texture of gatherings in the Haiti Cultural Exchange story featuring the work of HCX’s documenting photographers alongside vivid moments from our Archive.
Through the lens, photographers Mc Alexander Ciceron, Paul Corbanese, Liz Gauthier, Richard Louissaint, Jocelyn McCalla, Keylah Mellon, Tequila Minsky, and Claire J. Saintil interwork their core snapshots of the memories, joy, and the growing visions for New York’s Haitian culture in action. Alongside these artists’ work, Rasanbleman | Culture in Place will present ephemera from Haiti Cultural Exchange’s presenting history, marking pivotal moments in the continued emergence and visibility of Haitian creativity in New York City.
Rasanbleman | Culture in Place builds off Haiti Cultural Exchange’s current digital and print archive initiative. Spanning the period from 2009–2022, Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) is highlighting the vibrancy of the Haitian community, culture, and heritage in a printed anthology and web project.
The online digital archive will feature unique documentation of the creative movement in New York City’s Haitian cultural community. View the online archive preview here!

Mizik Ayiti! with TiCorn
2024-10-10 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join Haiti Cultural Exchange on Thursday, October 10th to kick off this season of Mizik Ayiti! with vocalist & guitarist TiCorn!
Thursday, October 10th
6-9 pm
Haiti Cultural Exchange, 558 St. John’s Pl, Brooklyn NY 11238
The Haitian songstress TiCorn & her guitar invite you to share her rich repertoire filled with nostalgia and memories – to sing along with her and introduce young people to music that will forever remain great classics of Haitian folklore, as well as to her own Creole Chansons.
Join Haiti Cultural Exchange for a unique concert followed by a signature sale of her albums and songbook. TiCorn will also present her newest project: a colorfully illustrated lyrical songbook of 15 Creole originals by the great poet & composer Jean-Claude Martineau, that she had the pleasure to interpret during her long career. The booklet includes English translation and a CD compilation.
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About the Artist
Singer-songwriter TiCorn (Cornelia Schütt, 1953) is a cherished artist of Haiti. She grew up in Cap Haitien, where her German family has lived for several generations. Her multicultural heritage adds an interesting touch to her international career as a Creole-language singer.
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Socials
YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Website

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La chanteuse haïtienne TiCorn* et sa guitare vous invitent à partager son riche répertoire rempli de nostalgie et de souvenirs, à chanter avec elle et à faire découvrir aux jeunes des chansons qui resteront à jamais de grands classiques du folklore haïtien ainsi qu’à ses propres Chansons Créoles. Avec sa voix chaude et expressive, TiCorn s’adresse non seulement à son fidèle public haïtien mais aussi à tous les fans de musiques du monde.
Un concert unique suivi d’une vente signature de ses albums et de son Songbook. Elle présentera également sa plus récente production : un livret illustré an couleur avec les paroles de 15 chansons créoles du grand poète/compositeur Jean-Claude Martineau, qu’elle a eu le plaisir d’interpréter au cours de sa longue carrière. Le livret continent an plus leur traduction anglaise et une compilation de CD.
*L’auteure-compositrice-interprète TiCorn (Cornelia Schütt, 1953) est une artiste d’Haïti très apprécié. Elle grandit au Cap-Haïtien, où sa famille allemande vit depuis plusieurs générations. Son héritage multiculturel ajoute une touche intéressante à sa carrière internationale de chanteuse d’èxpression Créole.

An n Pale with Rasanbleman | Culture In Place Curator & Artists
2024-10-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
How does a community knit moments in time and place to the fabric of collective memory?
Rasanbleman | Culture in Place: The Evolution of Haiti Cultural Exchange 2009 – 2022 now on view at the HCX Gallery features the work of documenting photographers alongside vivid moments from the Haiti Cultural Exchange Archive. Through the lens, this group of artists present their core snapshots of the memories, joy, and growing visions for New York’s Haitian culture in action.
Join Rasanbleman | Culture in Place co-curator Steven Baboun and exhibited documentarians Mc Alexander Ciceron, Paul Corbanese, Liz Gauthier, Richard Louissaint, Jocelyn McCalla, and Tequila Minsky to discuss their creative methods, inspiration, and connection to community.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
6-9pm
Haiti Cultural Exchange
558 St Johns Place, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Rasanblaman | Culture in Place and the HCX Archive are made possible with the generous support of the New York Community Trust.
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About An n Pale
An n Pale | Let’s Talk is an ongoing series of artist talks featuring conversational encounters with artists engaged with issues connected to Haiti and the Diaspora.
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BIOS
STEVEN BABOUN
Steven Baboun is the co-curator of Rasanbleman | Culture in Place: The Evolution of Haiti Cultural Exchange 2009 – 2022. Baboun is an artist, photographer, and creative director from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, based in New York City. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Arts and a minor in Education Studies from American University, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from Parsons School of Design. Baboun works in photography, video, performance, textile + multimedia installation, and design. Currently, Baboun is the founder and creative director of Studio Baboun, a creative house based in Brooklyn, New York. He is the co-founder, CEO, and lead creative of NativRoots Collective, a content production and creative development agency.
Mc ALEXANDER CICERON
Mc Alexander Ciceron is a visual artist originally from the vibrant streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, now based in New York City. His artistic journey began in early childhood, exploring the world through painting. At the age of seven, he became fascinated with his godfather’s camera, sparking a lifelong passion for storytelling that has since become a defining aspect of his life.
While his journey began with photography, Mc Alexander’s creative vision expanded to include film, production design, and creative direction, forming a seamless blend of visual storytelling that crafts immersive scenes, engaging viewers, and transforming concepts into multi-layered experiences.
While his editorial and commercial work is diverse, his passion projects are deeply rooted in the narratives of the Black experience, with a particular focus on documenting the lives of Haitians within the diaspora and in Haiti itself. His documentary projects, including Fanm Djanm, The Portrait of Haiti, and Vévé, highlight the resilience and captivating beauty of Haitian humanity, shedding light on often unseen, untold, and underrepresented stories. The Portrait of Haiti offers a profound glimpse into the soul of Haiti, capturing the essence of its people and their resilience both on the island and within the diaspora, while Vévé celebrates Haitian traditions, offering an intimate look at the cultural rituals that shape its heritage.
Driven by a profound commitment to capturing the rich complexity of Black narratives, Mc Alexander’s work is an ever-evolving journey that continuously explores the limitless possibilities of storytelling.
PAUL CORBANESE
Paul Corbanese is an amateur photographer who likes to take pictures of the meaningful activities organized by Haitian organizations in the New York City area such as art exhibits, book fairs, fundraisers, film screenings and conferences. He is a lifelong advocate for justice and democracy in Haiti. He witnessed Haiti Cultural Exchange’s first steps in the community to become today a reference in the Haitian diaspora for its promotion of Haitian culture and its programs to showcase the work and talent of Haitian artists.
Paul Corbanese is a founding member of the Toussaint Louverture Cultural Foundation. The foundation supports artists and artisans in Haiti through fundraising to help alleviate the hardship faced by many due to the present crisis situation. It also organizes activities to promote Haitian culture in the diaspora and collaborates with other organizations that have similar objectives.
LIZ GAUTHIER
Liz Gauthier is a Haitian-born photographer and operations leader currently residing in Brooklyn, New York with their wife and son. They discovered their passion for photography at an early age and began exploring it more deeply in their 20s. Liz’s early work involved documenting events organized by the Haiti Cultural Exchange, which allowed them to capture the vibrant culture and community spirit of their fellow Haitians—a source of immense pride and fulfillment. Balancing a career in operations leadership with creative pursuits, Liz is dedicated to using photography as a medium to celebrate beauty in all its forms, as seen throughout the world.
RICHARD LOUSSAINT
Queens, New York City-based Richard Louissaint is a first-generation Haitian-American self-taught filmmaker and photographer. Born in Montreal, he was inspired by his upbringing in Queens and Haitian and African-American culture. He focuses his work on people of color, particularly those of Haitian descent. Through portraiture, film, and documentaries, he captures the essence and experiences of these communities.
JOCELYN MCCALLA
Jocelyn McCalla is the Senior Policy Advisor for the Haitian-American Foundation for Democracy. Mr. McCalla has long campaigned in favor of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Haiti, and for the rights of Haitians abroad. He consults regularly with a wide range of leaders, governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations of various ideological persuasions and interests.
Mr. McCalla served as Executive Director of the National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) for some twenty years, and of the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network. Under his leadership, the NCHR established a field office in Haiti with the explicit purpose of spinning it off eventually into an independent human rights group led and managed by Haitians. It is today known as the Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH).
Mr. McCalla is a founder of the Haitian Studies Association. He has served on the Board of the National Immigration Forum, the NY Immigration Coalition, the Friends of Matènwa and the Advisory Board of Human Rights Watch/Americas.
Mr. McCalla was born in Haiti and resides in the United States.
TEQUILA MINSKY
Tequila Minsky’s first trip to Haiti—a human rights trip in 1993—changed her life. She meets incredibly vibrant people with a rich culture who face multiple challenges. She returns to the country and continues to return during the next three decades.
In over 20 trips, as a photojournalist and writer, Tequila Minsky has been covering the Haitian world including the work of women’s organizations, microcredit, midwife practice, peasant organizations, and varied cultural activities and current events.
Her two solo exhibits Haitian Women: Portraits of Courage (Brecht Forum, 2004) and Haiti=Survival, No question but (Soho Photo Gallery, 2011, photos from the earthquake), works in group shows and slide presentations reflect these interests.
On the Diaspora side, she covers much in the Haitian practice of art, music, religion, and written and spoken word. An early supporter of Haiti Cultural Exchange, she also documents other Haitian artists, and arts and academic associations. Her photos and articles are widely published.

Haiti x New York Vodou Song Workshop featuring Renette Désir
2024-11-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join Haiti-based artist Renette Désir for a traditional Vodou song workshop to learn and sing heritage rhythms as part of her Haiti X New York residency.

Saturday, November 2
3-5pm
Registration required | Limited Capacity

Renette Desir’s lifelong dedication to her country and its culture has produced unique and powerful collaborations with cultural icons including her mentor Yole Dérose, Jean-Claude Martineau, and Pierre Rigaud Chery. Strongly influenced by gospel songs she grew up singing, she is similarly drawn to the Jamaican reggae her brother made resound throughout their house. Later, her traditional dance practice with Haiti Tchaka Danse introduced her to the pantheon of Haitian folk rhythms. This diversity in genres undoubtedly shaped her music to reflect a style of her own. Désir recently released her third album, a collaboration with Fiorini titled “YO ANPIL”.

Haiti X New York (HXNY) is a program of week-long residencies that brings Haiti-based artists to New York to present their work and engage with Diaspora and broader NYC audiences.
Artists participate in workshops, panel discussions, and culminating presentations. HXNY narrows the physical and cultural distance between Haitians and Haitian-Americans and lends new insights to historical and current concerns of Haitians in and out of the Diaspora. At the same time, the program introduces New York audiences to Haitian artists with whom they may not be familiar.

Mizik Ayiti! featuring Renette Désir
2024-11-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Haiti-based vocalist & dancer Renette Désir will bring her resonant and powerful sound to Brooklyn! Join Haiti Cultural Exchange for a one-of-a-kind evening concert followed by a short discussion with the artist.

Thursday, November 7, 2024 | 6-9pm
6-7pm Reception
7-8pm Performance
8-9pm An n Pale

Renette Desir’s lifelong dedication to her country and its culture has produced unique and powerful collaborations with cultural icons including her mentor Yole Dérose, Jean-Claude Martineau, and Pierre Rigaud Chery. Strongly influenced by gospel songs she grew up singing, she is similarly drawn to the Jamaican reggae her brother made resound throughout their house. Later, her traditional dance practice with Haiti Tchaka Danse introduced her to the pantheon of Haitian folk rhythms. This diversity in genres undoubtedly shaped her music to reflect a style of her own. Désir recently released her third album, a collaboration with Fiorini titled “YO ANPIL”.

This Mizik Ayiti Concert is presented as part of Haiti X New York.
Haiti X New York (HXNY) is a program of week-long residencies that brings Haiti-based artists to New York to present their work and engage with Diaspora and broader NYC audiences.
Artists participate in workshops, panel discussions, and culminating presentations. HXNY narrows the physical and cultural distance between Haitians and Haitian-Americans and lends new insights to historical and current concerns of Haitians in and out of the Diaspora. At the same time, the program introduces New York audiences to Haitian artists they may not be familiar with.
Funding provided, in part, by Howard Gilman and NEA.

Ti Atis Second Saturdays with traditional Haitian dance educator Jessica St. Vil-Ulysse
2024-11-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11213
Join Jessica St. Vil-Ulysse for an afternoon dance class focused on traditional Haitian rhythms: Ibo, Konbit, Rara, and Yanvalou. Touch and move to learn using music, imagery, and storytelling!
Saturday, November 9th
2-4pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
As a special offer for the HCX community, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is offering FREE admission for 20 people.
Limit 3 tickets per family. (Tickets will be held at the counter on the day of.)
RSVP below!
Attendance free with museum admission.
If free HCX Community RSVP is no longer available on this page, please purchase a ticket to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum here ».
Spaces limited.
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ABOUT
Ti Atis returns to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a new season of interactive youth and family programming! Ti Atis (Little Artists) engages youth of Haitian descent and their peers with Haitian history and heritage via the arts, giving young people the tools to build an inclusive and culturally informed future as they learn about diverse art forms from professional Haitian artists. Happening the second Saturday of every month from November 2024 to May 2025.

Vizyon Atistik | Workshop with the Artist: Tactile Photo Editing with Zarita Zevallos
2024-11-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join Haiti Cultural Exchange’s Vizyon Atistik Artist, Zarita Zevallos, for a hands-on workshop learning unique photo editing techniques.
Wednesday, November 13
6-8pm
Haiti Cultural Exchange
558 St Johns Place
Registration required | Limited Capacity: 15 participants

In this hands-on arts workshop, participants will manipulate photographs of the artist’s original work, experimenting with different techniques and materials to simulate the process of photo editing that Zevallos uses in her series Uprooted: Haitian Diaspora and Displacement currently on view in the HCX Studio.
Participants will engage with the art in a tactile way, exploring creative expression while transforming Zevallos’ images into creation of their own and gaining insight into the artistic process behind the artist’s editing technique.
All proceeds support HCX and workshop materials! Mèsi pou sipò nou!
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Zarita Zevallos, a Haitian Photographer and Architect based in Brooklyn, New York, is renowned for her distinctive artistic approach. Her work merges hand editing and superimposing photographs of darker-skinned bodies with powerful materials like thread, bullets, glass, and barbwire, among others. Through her art, she delves into themes of identity, gender roles, crimes committed by nations, non-conformism, and political or ideological authoritarianism. Her objective goes beyond denouncing, educating, and raising awareness. She aspires to ignite movement and incite change, pushing the limits of expression and inspiring transformative action through her thought-provoking creations.

Exhibition On View: The HCX Collection
2024-12-05 - 2025-01-16 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join us for a special art sale to benefit Haiti Cultural Exchange featuring photography, prints, paintings, metal work, and crafts by Haitian artisans.

Opening December 5, 2024
On View through January 16, 2025
Thursdays – Sundays
1-6pm
Haiti Cultural Exchange
558 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn NY, 11238

For our year-end exhibition, Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) will bring forward unique pieces in the organization’s archive of artwork.
Sales of artwork support Haiti Cultural Exchange’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik and wider community programming.

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Co-curated by Kassandra L. Khalil & Régine M. Roumain
Archival Manager, Micaela Walker
Graphic Design, Kathryn Dreier

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EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION
The HCX Collection pulls forward the work that the HCX network of artists and makers have exhibited or contributed to the organization over the course of its history. Either gifted following exhibitions, as a way to rally support, or maintained in our safe haven, the organization has preserved and shared these vivid gifts of creative generosity.
Ranging from installation photography to original paintings and limited edition prints, this collection highlights exchange, innovation, and creative excellence of the Haitian community.
Join us to view the collection and bring home a piece of Haiti Cultural Exchange history.
The HCX Collection builds off Haiti Cultural Exchange’s current digital and print archive initiative. Spanning the period from 2009–2022, Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) is highlighting the vibrancy of the Haitian community, culture, and heritage in a printed anthology and web project.
The online digital archive will feature unique documentation of the creative movement in New York City’s Haitian cultural community. View the online archive preview here!
This archive of Haitian arts and culture aims to not only document Haiti Cultural Exchange’s history, but to provide future generations access to tangible evidence of their rich heritage by preserving the contributions of those who have walked with us.
We will be sharing numerous key works and cultural events with the public through various forms of media, including:

15,000 photos documenting presentations of music, dance and theater performances, humanities themed conversations, and visual art exhibitions.
40 videos of recorded conversations with scholars, artists and other humanities-based experts as well as multidisciplinary performances.
and 20 written works by scholars and writers exploring the importance of Haitian art and culture to the lives of the Haitian Diaspora community.

HCX is delighted to present The HCX Collection as part of our expanding Vizyon Atistik programming in the new HCX Gallery.

Mizik Ayiti! featuring Tyreek McDole
2024-12-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join us for the first Thursday in December for Mizik Ayiti! featuring Tyreek McDole

Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 6-9pm
6-7pm Reception
7-9pm Performance

Jazz vocalist Tyreek McDole explores the sonic landscape of his Haitian American identity with special guests for December’s Mizik Ayiti! concert.
He will be joined by a stellar band including Johnathan Michel (Electric and Upright Bass), Willerm Delisfort (Piano), and Gary Jones III (Drums).

Tyreek McDole at just 24-year-old has been capturing the jazz scene with his driving voice and innovative delivery. With his roots firmly planted in the musical soil of the Caribbean, New York, Florida, and beyond, McDole now casts his spell on the bustling streets of New York City, leaving an indelible mark on the vibrant tapestry of worldwide music.
With a string of prestigious awards to his name, Tyreek stands out as a rising star in the music world. In November 2023, Tyreek won 1st place in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.
Noted as one of the most anticipated events in jazz, McDole’s accolade now ranks him among the competition’s previous winners including the standout artists Samara Joy (2019 winner) and Jazzmeia Horn (2013 winner). Tyreek is the 2nd male to ever win in the competition’s 12 year history. It was during the acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2018 Essentially Ellington National Competition that Tyreek made his vocal debut, winning the prestigious Outstanding Vocalist Award presented by Wynton Marsalis.
Tyreek has shared the stage with an impressive roster of musicians, including Theo Croker, NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz, Miki Yamanaka, Mike King, Rodney Whitaker, Winard Harper, Marcus Printup, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Victor Goines, and many others. Tyreek received a degree in jazz performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Under the guidance of esteemed instructors LaTanya Hall, Gary Bartz, Gerald Cannon, Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart, Dan Wall, Sullivan Fortner, and Weedie Braimah.
Funding provided, in part, by Howard Gilman Foundation.

Bazaar Kreyòl Marketplace & Exhibition
2024-12-14 12:00 - 19:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join HCX for Bazaar Kreyòl – our annual holiday marketplace! Purchase unique artwork from The HCX Collection and artisanal Haitian goods for the holidays from a curated array of Haitian vendors. Celebrate the season by supporting HCX and Haitian artisans and makers. Enjoy a festive afternoon of food, drinks, and music while shopping for a good cause!
Take a look at the amazing brands joining us at Bazaar Kreyòl this year:
ARTisANETWORK • Askanya Chocolates • Axelle Liautaud • Brooklyn Loves Haiti
Earthshine Cafe • From The Arxhive • Haitian Bae • KADOKÉLÉ • Makini Armand All Natural
Papa Rozier Farms • Pwavarts and T-Rasta LLC • VB3 • VivLiv Books • ZILE’M
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Marketplace
Saturday, December 14, 2024
12-7pm
Haiti Cultural Exchange
558 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn NY, 11238
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The HCX Collection Exhibition & Art Sale
Take home a unique gift from The HCX Collection, a special art sale to benefit Haiti Cultural Exchange featuring photography, prints, paintings, and metal work.
Opening: December 5, 2024
On View: December 5, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Thursday – Sunday
1-6pm
Haiti Cultural Exchange
558 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn NY, 11238
Learn more about art in The HCX Collection exhibition here.
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Ti Atis Second Saturdays with Haitian kite-makers Tètpwav Soley & PwavKAP
2024-12-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11213
Join Tètpwav Soley & PwavKAP for an afternoon of kite-making in this hands-on class!
PwavKAP (Keep Art Poppin) will lead families in the traditional art of Haitian kite-making to teach youth basic geometry concepts while connecting with a piece of Haitian culture. Ten families will learn the stages of making the kite from skeleton to decoration, using participants’ own shapes and designs!
Enjoy storytelling open to all before participants head outdoors to fly their kites.
Saturday, December 14th
2-4pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
As a special offer for the HCX community, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is offering FREE admission for 20 people.
Limit 3 tickets per family. (Tickets will be held at the counter on the day of.)
RSVP below!
Attendance free with museum admission.
If free HCX Community RSVP is no longer available on this page, please purchase a ticket to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum here ».
Spaces limited.
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ABOUT
Ti Atis returns to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a new season of interactive youth and family programming! Ti Atis (Little Artists) engages youth of Haitian descent and their peers with Haitian history and heritage via the arts, giving young people the tools to build an inclusive and culturally informed future as they learn about diverse art forms from professional Haitian artists. Happening the second Saturday of every month from November 2024 to May 2025.

Ti Atis Second Saturdays with Storyteller Jaden Timoun
2025-01-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11213
Join us for our first Ti Atis Second Saturdays at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum of 2025 featuring Krik? Krak! Haitian Creole storytelling by Jaden Timoun!
In the spirit of oral storytelling that is popular in Haitian culture, Jaden Timoun will host a Krik? Krak! Haitian Creole storytelling session accompanied by song, movement and an arts/crafts activity.
Saturday, January 11th
2-4pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
As a special offer for the HCX community, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is offering FREE admission for 20 people.
Limit 3 tickets per family. (Tickets will be held at the counter on the day of.)
RSVP below!
Attendance free with museum admission.
If free HCX Community RSVP is no longer available on this page, please purchase a ticket to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum here ».
Spaces limited.
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ABOUT
Ti Atis returns to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a new season of interactive youth and family programming! Ti Atis (Little Artists) engages youth of Haitian descent and their peers with Haitian history and heritage via the arts, giving young people the tools to build an inclusive and culturally informed future as they learn about diverse art forms from professional Haitian artists. Happening the second Saturday of every month from November 2024 to May 2025.

An n Pale with ALASO #5: Dous [Pleasure/Desire] Contributors
2025-01-28 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
After the launch events in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, and Montreal for the Haitian Creole/French edition, NÈGÈS MAWON and Haiti Cultural Exchange invite you on January 28th at 6 p.m. in Brooklyn to the U.S. launch of the Haitian Creole/English edition of the fifth issue of ALASO, the Haitian feminist anthology of the Haitian feminist organization NÈGÈS MAWON, titled “Dous” (Pleasure/Desire).
ALASO is a trilingual publication in Haitian Creole, French, and English. It serves as a space for feminist expression and dialogue, promoting the production of critical thought, debate, and analysis to make feminist ideas accessible in various formats and modes of dissemination. At the event, the fifth issue of ALASO will be available in both Haitian Creole/French and Haitian Creole/English editions. Previous issues of ALASO will also be available for purchase.
This event will feature a panel discussion with:

Nathalie Joachim: Grammy-nominated singer, flutist, and composer born in Brooklyn. Nathalie’s groundbreaking works, including Fanm d’Ayiti and Ki moun ou ye, bridge Haitian musical traditions with contemporary innovation.
Tafa Mi-Soleil: Haitian designer, stylist, painter, and singer, as well as a contributor to ALASO #5. Known for her impactful music, including Mizik sove vi m, and her debut album Phoenix, Tafa’s artistry spans disciplines and inspires audiences worldwide.
Talie Cerin: Writer, musician, and translator for ALASO based in Philadelphia. Talie is also the lead editor of Woy Magazine.
Pascale Solages: General Coordinator of NÈGÈS MAWON
Fania Noël: Afrofeminist writer, sociologist, and publication director of ALASO.

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About ALASO #5: Dous [Pleasure/Desire]
This fifth issue, Dous [Pleasure/Desire], is not an escape from reality but the continuity created by the space that feminist thought represents: holding the line in the face of opposing forces. ALASO, not being a news magazine or a newspaper, does not have the imperative to respond to the events of the moment, but as a feminist anthology, it must be a space for a moment. Each issue tackles this to shed light on the present and the past but also to act as an archive and serve as a benchmark for the moment of its creation. Dous, pleasure/desire, is addressed in this issue on personal, intimate, and political scales, or sometimes all three intertwined. Grounded by the words of the poet and Black Feminist intellectual June Jordan: “Regardless of tragedy, regardless of the grievance, regardless of the monstrous challenge. Some of Us Have not Died. Some of us did not die… And what shall we do, we who did not die?” Such is the current position of ALASO.
The 5th issue of ALASO features works by Andrise Pierre, Melissa Paultre, Ruth Darwina Valmyr, Tafa Mi-Soleil, Nathalie Joachim, Myriam Chancy, Micaëlle Charles, Thara St-Hilaire, Anaïse Hector, and Dashka Charlemagne, with translations by Gaëlle Bien-Aimé, Rose-Myrlie Joseph, Talie Cerin, Doris Lapommeray, and Nadine Mondestin. Corine Bond provides the issue’s vibrant artwork.
HT/FR edition: Available in bookstores in Haiti, France, Belgium, and Quebec, and online at Syllepse.net. HT/EN edition: Available in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and online at Bookshop.org.

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About An n Pale
An n Pale | Let’s Talk is an ongoing series of artist talks featuring conversational encounters with artists engaged with issues connected to Haiti and the Diaspora.

Exhibition on View: Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou
2025-01-30 - 2025-03-09 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join Haiti Cultural Exchange for the opening of Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou on Thursday, January 30 at the HCX Gallery. This exhibition will then be on view until Sunday, March 9.

Opening: January 30, 2025
On View: Thursday, January 30 – Sunday, March 9, 2025
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm
Wednesday by appointment.

Inspired by 18th and 19th century French church ornaments and army flags, the Haitian banners started being produced to decorate altars and to be carried around in dancing processions in Vodou Temples. This show includes works by numerous Temples and flag makers, expressing various artistic styles and beading techniques.
Curated from the personal collection of Axelle Liautaud, which began in the 1980s, this exhibition features significant flag makers from that era to the present day.
Curated by Axelle Liautaud
Artists featured:

Antoine Oleyant

Clotaire Bazile

Denis Smith from the Saint Soleil School of Art

Dubreus Lherisson

Evelyn Alcide
Evelyn Beniot

Jean Baptiste Jean Joseph

Jean Ronald Goin

Maugiris Petitfrere

Maxon Scylla

Mireille Delice

Myrlande Constant

Rudy Azor

Sius Jean

Yves Telemaque

—
Axelle Liautaud
Axelle Liautaud is a Haitian art historian and curator. She is also a designer who works with artists and craftsmen to create unique items. For more than 30 years, she has worked to promote Haitian art and crafts in Europe and the United States. Axelle started collecting Vodou Flags in the 1980s and was the first to introduce Haitian Flags to the international market. With Virgil Young, she organized a collection of beaded artwork in collaboration with great American artists such as Keith Haring, Alison Saar and others. She has collaborated with many museums on exhibitions of Haitian art—most notably, the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles for The Sacred Art of Vodou (1995) which traveled to major museums, including The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, The Museum of Natural History, NY, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Axelle has been the curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Naive Art in Paris (Halles St. Pierre) (1988), as well as the Organization of American States in Washington (1999), and the Bass Museum in Miami for the Allegories of Haitian Art exhibition, where the filmmaker Jonathan Demme’s collection was put on display (2006).
Axelle has been a member of Le Centre d’Art’s Board of Directors since 1997 and became Acting President following the 2010 earthquake, the death of Francine Murat, and the collapse of the Centre’s building. After the earthquake, she led efforts to rescue the collections from the rubble, including 4,000 paintings, more than 1,000 sculptures, 500 works on paper, and the largest art and cultural archives in Haiti. In collaboration with the Smithsonian Haiti Cultural Recovery Project, the art and documents were preserved and eventually returned to the Centre d’Art. As president of the Centre, she organized the Piasa Art Auction in Paris in 2017 and curated the Jasmin Joseph show that opened in Port-au-Prince in 2016 which traveled to various museums in France. Axelle stepped down from her role as President at Le Centre d’Art in 2021.

Mizik Ayiti! featuring Alegba & Friends
2025-02-06 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join us for the first Thursday in February for Mizik Ayiti! featuring Alegba & Friends

Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 6-9pm
6-7pm Reception
7-9pm Performance

“Music is love! Let’s share the love!” – Alegba
Alegba & Friends arrive at Mizik Ayiti! for an energetic night! Celebrating Alegba Jahyile’s birthday on February 6, dance and join this social & cultural movement! Uniting people with their music, Alegba & Friends have become an icon of the Brooklyn Haitian music scene. Their high energy, soulful Haitian roots and jazz fusion will warm us up as we party down.
Funding provided, in part, by Howard Gilman Foundation.

Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou Curator Tour & Art Sale with Axelle Liautaud
2025-02-08 13:00 - 2025-02-09 18:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join exhibition curator Axelle Liautaud and special guest Malou Beauvoir of Modern Manbo for a special pop-up sale, on Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9 at the HCX Gallery.
Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9
1-6pm
Curator Tour with Axelle Liautaud at 5pm
Join exhibition curator Axelle Liautaud and special guest Malou Beauvoir of Modern Manbo for a special pop-up sale. Find a unique gift for your special someone at an exclusive sale of artisanal items, scarfs, kaftans, beadwork, Haitian flags and more! Curator Tour with Axelle Liautaud at 5pm.

—
About The Exhibition
Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou, on view at the HCX Gallery is curated from the personal collection of Axelle Liautaud beginning in the 1980s, featuring significant flag makers from that era to the present day.
More information about the Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou exhibit here.
—
Axelle Liautaud
Axelle Liautaud is a Haitian art historian and curator. She is also a designer who works with artists and craftsmen to create unique items. For more than 30 years, she has worked to promote Haitian art and crafts in Europe and the United States. Axelle started collecting Vodou Flags in the 1980s and was the first to introduce Haitian Flags to the international market. With Virgil Young, she organized a collection of beaded artwork in collaboration with great American artists such as Keith Haring, Alison Saar and others. She has collaborated with many museums on exhibitions of Haitian art—most notably, the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles for The Sacred Art of Vodou (1995) which traveled to major museums, including The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, The Museum of Natural History, NY, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Axelle has been the curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Naive Art in Paris (Halles St. Pierre) (1988), as well as the Organization of American States in Washington (1999), and the Bass Museum in Miami for the Allegories of Haitian Art exhibition, where the filmmaker Jonathan Demme’s collection was put on display (2006).
Axelle has been a member of Le Centre d’Art’s Board of Directors since 1997 and became Acting President following the 2010 earthquake, the death of Francine Murat, and the collapse of the Centre’s building. After the earthquake, she led efforts to rescue the collections from the rubble, including 4,000 paintings, more than 1,000 sculptures, 500 works on paper, and the largest art and cultural archives in Haiti. In collaboration with the Smithsonian Haiti Cultural Recovery Project, the art and documents were preserved and eventually returned to the Centre d’Art. As president of the Centre, she organized the Piasa Art Auction in Paris in 2017 and curated the Jasmin Joseph show that opened in Port-au-Prince in 2016 which traveled to various museums in France. Axelle stepped down from her role as President at Le Centre d’Art in 2021.

Ti Atis Second Saturdays featuring Jaden Timoun
2025-02-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11213
Join us for Ti Atis Second Saturdays at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in February featuring a second iteration of Krik? Krak! Haitian Creole storytelling by Jaden Timoun!
In the spirit of oral storytelling that is popular in Haitian culture, Jaden Timoun will host a Krik? Krak! Haitian Creole storytelling session accompanied by song, movement and an arts/crafts activity.
Saturday, February 8th, 2025
2-4pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
As a special offer for the HCX community, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is offering FREE admission for 20 people.
Limit 3 tickets per family. (Tickets will be held at the counter on the day of.)
RSVP below!
Attendance free with museum admission.
If free HCX Community RSVP is no longer available on this page, please purchase a ticket to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum here ».
Spaces limited.
—
ABOUT
Ti Atis returns to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a new season of interactive youth and family programming! Ti Atis (Little Artists) engages youth of Haitian descent and their peers with Haitian history and heritage via the arts, giving young people the tools to build an inclusive and culturally informed future as they learn about diverse art forms from professional Haitian artists. Happening the second Saturday of every month from November 2024 to May 2025.

Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou An n Pale with Axelle Liautaud
2025-02-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join Haiti Cultural Exchange for a conversation with the curator of Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou, Axelle Liautaud, on Thursday, February 13.
Thursday, February 13
6-9pm
6pm: Reception
7pm: An n Pale

—
About The Exhibition
Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou, on view at the HCX Gallery is curated from the personal collection of Axelle Liautaud beginning in the 1980s, featuring significant flag makers from that era to the present day.
Join exhibition curator Axelle Liautaud for a special art sale and tour. Find a unique gift for your special someone at an exclusive sale of traditional Haitian flags and beadwork pieces.
More information about the Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou exhibit here.

—
About An n Pale
An n Pale | Let’s Talk is an ongoing series of artist talks featuring conversational encounters with artists engaged with issues connected to Haiti and the Diaspora.

—
Axelle Liautaud
Axelle Liautaud is a Haitian art historian and curator. She is also a designer who works with artists and craftsmen to create unique items. For more than 30 years, she has worked to promote Haitian art and crafts in Europe and the United States. Axelle started collecting Vodou Flags in the 1980s and was the first to introduce Haitian Flags to the international market. With Virgil Young, she organized a collection of beaded artwork in collaboration with great American artists such as Keith Haring, Alison Saar and others. She has collaborated with many museums on exhibitions of Haitian art—most notably, the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles for The Sacred Art of Vodou (1995) which traveled to major museums, including The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, The Museum of Natural History, NY, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Axelle has been the curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Naive Art in Paris (Halles St. Pierre) (1988), as well as the Organization of American States in Washington (1999), and the Bass Museum in Miami for the Allegories of Haitian Art exhibition, where the filmmaker Jonathan Demme’s collection was put on display (2006).
Axelle has been a member of Le Centre d’Art’s Board of Directors since 1997 and became Acting President following the 2010 earthquake, the death of Francine Murat, and the collapse of the Centre’s building. After the earthquake, she led efforts to rescue the collections from the rubble, including 4,000 paintings, more than 1,000 sculptures, 500 works on paper, and the largest art and cultural archives in Haiti. In collaboration with the Smithsonian Haiti Cultural Recovery Project, the art and documents were preserved and eventually returned to the Centre d’Art. As president of the Centre, she organized the Piasa Art Auction in Paris in 2017 and curated the Jasmin Joseph show that opened in Port-au-Prince in 2016 which traveled to various museums in France. Axelle stepped down from her role as President at Le Centre d’Art in 2021.

Mizik Ayiti! featuring TRANPE
2025-03-06 18:00 - 22:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Don’t miss the last Mizik Ayiti! concert of the season! Join us for the first Thursday in March for TRANPE!

Thursday, March 6, 2025 | 6–10pm
6pm | Reception & DJ set by Serge Negri
7pm | Performance by TRANPE
9pm | Dance breakdown with DJ Serge Negri

TRANPE is the convergence of Sheila Anozier’s deep relationship with Haitian folk melodies and Vodou and Rufus Cappadocia’s mastery of modal music and polyrhythm. Together, they create a transcendent version of the “Mizik Rasin”.

Get there early & stay after for a special DJ set by DJ Serge Negri!
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ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
TRANPE is the Brooklyn based group of vocalist Sheila Anozier and cellist Rufus Cappadocia. Together, they create a vibrant tribute to Vodou culture. Their debut album, Twa Fèy, Twa Rasin, was released in 2024 and also features Haitian master drummer, Bonga Jean Baptiste.
In Haitian Kreyòl, tranpe (to soak) is the name of a powerful drink where medicinal leaves and roots are soaked and infused in an unrefined rum, called kleren. The power of the songs is in the roots and leaves while the cello is the catalyst. This healing alchemy infuses their repertoire, and the traditional Vodou songs carried by Anozier’s voice are embraced by the transcendent expression of the cello. Cappadocia juggles organic rhythms with virtuosity and velocity, and Anozier’s vocal melodies intertwine with the voice of the bow. Her moving vocals add a visceral and spiritual dimension to the music. It invites listeners on a journey through the cultural and spiritual landscape of Haiti, enhanced by the masterful playing of Cappadocia on five-string cello. Acting as both a melodic and rhythmic anchor, the cello offers a lush harmonic background and complex rhythmic textures that are one with Anozier’s vocals.

DJ Serge Negri’s sets bridge genres and places, meshing Haitian traditional and contemporary music, classic hip hop, and global sounds on backbreaking house beats.

Funding provided, in part, by Howard Gilman Foundation.

Ti Atis Second Saturdays featuring Harry Abilhomme teaching Kouwòn Papye
2025-03-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11213
Join us for Ti Atis Second Saturdays at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in March, building Kouwòn Papye for International Women’s Day with Harry Abilhomme!
Just in time for International Women’s Day, special guest teacher, artist Harry Abilhomme will lead a coronation craft project where participants will build kouwòn papye (paper crowns) adorned with their own drawings and flè (flowers) honoring the women in our community.
Saturday, March 8th, 2025
2-4pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
As a special offer for the HCX community, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is offering FREE admission for 20 people.
Limit 3 tickets per family. (Tickets will be held at the counter on the day of.)
RSVP below!
Attendance free with museum admission.
If free HCX Community RSVP is no longer available on this page, please purchase a ticket to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum here ».
Spaces limited.
—
ABOUT
Ti Atis returns to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a new season of interactive youth and family programming! Ti Atis (Little Artists) engages youth of Haitian descent and their peers with Haitian history and heritage via the arts, giving young people the tools to build an inclusive and culturally informed future as they learn about diverse art forms from professional Haitian artists. Happening the second Saturday of every month from November 2024 to May 2025.

Traditional Haitian Flag Making Technique Demonstration with featured artist Mireille Delice
2025-03-09 15:00 - 18:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join HCX as we welcome Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou exhibiting artist Mireille Delice. A renowned Haitian flag maker, Delice will share about her global career and distinct technique creating new methods in the vivid art of Haitian traditional beadwork. Moderated by exhibition curator Axelle Liautaud.
Sunday, March 9, 2025
3-6pm
—
About The Exhibition
Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou, on view at the HCX Gallery is curated from the personal collection of Axelle Liautaud beginning in the 1980s, featuring significant flag makers from that era to the present day.
Learn more about the significance of Vodou flags, their makers and the vibrant history of these spiritual objects in conversation with Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou’s curator Axelle Liautaud.
More information about the Sacred Banners of Haitian Vodou exhibit here.
—
Mireille Delice
Mireille Delice (also spelled Delismé) was born in 1965, in Haiti (Biography below adapted from Wikipedia and other sources).
Delisme’s career began in 1986, when taught sewing and beading techniques by her cousin, Myrlande Constant. Soon after, she began working alongside her cousin in Port-au-Prince at a factory embellishing wedding dresses for export. Following the closing of the factory in 1990 due to political and economic issues, Delisme recalls having a dream in which she was visited by the spirits. When relating the dream to her father, an oungan (vodou priest), he interpreted the message to be from the Vodou spirit or lwa Erzulie. Erzulie, the spirit of love, is represented in vodou tradition by a heart, which was the same design symbolized in Delisme’s dream. Using beads left over from her time at the factory, the heart symbol visualized in her dream became the sequin design for her first drapo (flag).
Delisme recollects having more than one dream in which spirits visited her. During the third dream, she was delivered the message that, “I did not have to work in the factory, but I could learn to work for myself and earn for my family.” In 1990, having lost her job at the factory in conjunction with the lwa messages, Delisme decided to begin her life as an independent artist at age 25. Delisme continued to master her needlework skills by creating more drapo, finding design inspiration from her dreams and Vodou symbols given to her by her father. Delisme’s beadwork incorporates vévé designs that represent traditional Vodou deities and are used to explain divinity and give clarity to life’s expressions and meanings. Her flags represent her spirituality and are used for guidance, wisdom, and healing. Her bright color combinations add to the mood and spirit of each piece. Since becoming an independent artist, Delisme has built an atelier in Haiti. The workshop was constructed to more efficiently assemble the bead-work for her drapo designs. Delisme describes the envisioned designs to a paid artist to be drawn or traced for the drapo and once done, is passed on to be beaded by Delisme herself or one of the seven artists employed at the workshop.
In January 2010, Delisme’s hometown was at the epicenter of a massive earthquake. Delisme and her family were among those affected by the earthquakes destruction. “I felt I had to express the disaster in Haiti in my artwork.”
In 2011, Delisme’s work Catastrophe du 12 Janvier, a Vodou flag created to depict the crumpled buildings and the bodies of the dead caused by the earthquake, was part of an exhibit at the Museum of International Folk Art titled “The Arts of Survival: Folk Expression in the Face of Natural Disaster.” The same work was exhibited in Kathmandu, Nepal in Spring, 2022 as part of the Kathmandu Triennale. Delisme has displayed and sold her works at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market for many years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2024).
—
Axelle Liautaud
Axelle Liautaud is a Haitian art historian and curator. She is also a designer who works with artists and craftsmen to create unique items. For more than 30 years, she has worked to promote Haitian art and crafts in Europe and the United States. Axelle started collecting Vodou Flags in the 1980s and was the first to introduce Haitian Flags to the international market. With Virgil Young, she organized a collection of beaded artwork in collaboration with great American artists such as Keith Haring, Alison Saar and others. She has collaborated with many museums on exhibitions of Haitian art—most notably, the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles for The Sacred Art of Vodou (1995) which traveled to major museums, including The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, The Museum of Natural History, NY, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Axelle has been the curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Naive Art in Paris (Halles St. Pierre) (1988), as well as the Organization of American States in Washington (1999), and the Bass Museum in Miami for the Allegories of Haitian Art exhibition, where the filmmaker Jonathan Demme’s collection was put on display (2006).
Axelle has been a member of Le Centre d’Art’s Board of Directors since 1997 and became Acting President following the 2010 earthquake, the death of Francine Murat, and the collapse of the Centre’s building. After the earthquake, she led efforts to rescue the collections from the rubble, including 4,000 paintings, more than 1,000 sculptures, 500 works on paper, and the largest art and cultural archives in Haiti. In collaboration with the Smithsonian Haiti Cultural Recovery Project, the art and documents were preserved and eventually returned to the Centre d’Art. As president of the Centre, she organized the Piasa Art Auction in Paris in 2017 and curated the Jasmin Joseph show that opened in Port-au-Prince in 2016 which traveled to various museums in France. Axelle stepped down from her role as President at Le Centre d’Art in 2021.

Exhibition on View: Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti
2025-03-16 - 2025-04-13 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
A Celebration of 40 Years of Haitian Fashion & Cultural Influence
Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) presents Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti, an immersive exhibition honoring four decades of creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural identity through the visionary work of Michel Chataigne. This experience blends fashion, history, and storytelling, tracing the evolution of Haitian and Caribbean style on the global stage.
Sunday, March 16 – Sunday, April 13, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;
Wednesday by appointment.
—
ABOUT THE EXHIBTION
Explore Michel’s legacy through a collection of Chataigne’s most iconic designs, fashion campaigns, and creative milestones. From haute couture to carnival costumes, see how traditional artistry meets contemporary design. Discover how fashion and identity are woven together, shaping Haiti’s place in the global fashion world. View archival photography, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive memorabilia documenting the story of the innovative Haitian aesthetics spanning Michel’s career.
Fashion is more than clothing—it’s a statement of identity, resilience, and history.
Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti is a tribute to a designer who has dedicated 40 years to uplifting Haitian culture, shaping the narrative of Caribbean fashion and inspiring future generations.
Visit the HCX Gallery to view this exhibition and join the artist Michel Chataigne at one of the activations taking place as part of this exhibition.

Opening Reception:
Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti Sunday, March 16, 2025 | 5-8pm
Travaux Manuels:
Fashion & Cultural Identity Workshop with Michel Chataigne: Saturday, March 29 | 2-4:30pm
Michel Chataigne à Travers le Temps:
Fashion Show & An n Pale: Friday, April 11 | 6-9pm

—
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Michel Chataigne is a trailblazing figure in Haitian fashion and beauty, recognized for his 40-year career in the industry as a designer, hair stylist, educator, and cultural icon. Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Michel began his career at 19, opening his first beauty salon in 1984. Over the decades, he has become one of Haiti’s most respected fashion innovators, drawing on his extensive training and love for Haitian culture.
Michel’s passion for the art of beauty led him to study across North America and Europe. He began his advanced academic studies in Cosmetology at Edith Serei in Montreal and continued to refine his skills with advanced degrees from Dudley University in North Carolina, earning both a Master’s and Ph.D. in Cosmetology. He further honed his expertise in Paris at Hair Club International and obtained a certificate in stage direction from Performa in 1995. Throughout his career, he has also attended numerous seminars and workshops with internationally recognized cosmetic lines such as Sebastian International.
In 1998, Michel expanded his impact in the industry by founding the Michel Hair Design Institute, Haiti’s first cosmetology school aimed at training the next generation of stylists, makeup artists, and designers. Many of Michel’s students have gone on to become prominent figures in the industry, both in Haiti and internationally. In 1999, he launched Fashion & Design, his own modeling agency, which has supported and promoted the careers of countless Haitian models and beauty professionals.
Michel’s work extends beyond hairstyling into fashion design and entrepreneurship. His brand includes clothing, handbags, sandals, and accessories, each piece reflecting his commitment to quality and his vision of Haitian beauty. Michel’s early inspirations came from his family, particularly his grandmother’s wardrobe, which instilled in him an appreciation for classic elegance and Haitian heritage. His collections often blend European, American, and African influences, demonstrating a unique style that resonates with his global audience.
A dedicated cultural consultant in etiquette, personal development, and protocol, Michel has contributed to Haitian cultural events for over 25 years, especially as a designer and organizer for the Haitian carnival. His involvement in pageantry includes organizing the Miss Haiti Contest in both Haiti and New York, as well as the Miss Soft and Beautiful Pageant from 1999 to 2003. Since 2003, he has participated in numerous international fashion weeks, showcasing his designs in London, Italy, Jamaica, Florida, the Bahamas, and Martinique.
As a beauty advisor to Group Deka and official representative of Soft’n Free, a prestigious South African company, Michel has introduced innovative products and beauty standards to Haiti. He also supported the launch of Digicel mobile phones in Haiti and Turks and Caicos through his role as a beauty and image consultant.
Michel’s contributions have been celebrated through multiple awards and recognitions. He was named Best Student at Dudley University in 1996 and awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by Digicel in 2011. In the same year, he was honored by Haitian Fashion Channels in Florida for his pioneering work in fashion and beauty. He remains an influential member of the Association of Haitian Designers (HAND), and his annual showcases integrate dance, theater, and fashion, celebrating Haitian arts in their entirety.
Michel’s career is defined by his dedication to elevating Haitian culture through fashion and beauty. As he marks his 40th anniversary in the industry, his legacy continues to inspire, educate, and influence both emerging and established Haitian artists. This celebration will not only highlight his career achievements but also honor his lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Haiti’s beauty to the world.

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ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti is presented as part of HCX’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik visual arts programming and Haiti X New York (HXNY), a residency program that brings Haiti-based artists to New York to present their work and engage with Diaspora and broader NYC audiences.
Artists participate in workshops, panel discussions, and culminating presentations. HXNY narrows the physical and cultural distance between Haitians and Haitian-Americans and lends new insights to historical and current concerns of Haitians in and out of the Diaspora
Funding for this series of Vizyon Atistik programming is provided, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from le Consulat Général d’Haïti and Materials for the Arts.

Exhibition On View: Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou by Franck H. Godefroy
2025-03-16 - 2025-04-13 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou — A photo series dedicated to our community, our people, our home—OUR SOUL.
Sunday, March 16 – Sunday, April 13, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;
Wednesday by appointment.
—
From The Artist
“Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou explores my journey as a photographer. A journey of discovery through exploring abstract, surreal, and conceptual storytelling. A journey that has taught me the power of connections, friendships, closeness and openness. A journey that has shown me how important community can be and how our future depends on it.
I’m always grateful for those who create spaces for us to gather. These spaces are where l’ve felt the most comfortable and the safest. This is an opportunity to do the same.
Photography has given me the opportunity to explore connections. These connections are an experience, both simple and deep. The camera stands in-between. My work exists to create a safe space for myself, who I create projects with, and for the world to feel and to mindfully experience. I simply do it because I love it. Photography has taught me flow, which is how a soul navigates the present. I see it through my lens and ink it on a photo paper. It’s an honor for me to create.”
—
ABOUT THE ARTIST

Franck Henry Godefroy is a Haitian born photographer. He describes his work as a balance between a setting, its composition and Its emptiness. He welcomes and appreciates ambiguity through the minimalism of his work. Photography was a hobby for the beginning years but he has progressively felt the want to explore and expand in a more purposeful way. He’s honed his lens in his journey to master his craft and show others the same beauty he sees in the world around him.

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ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou by Franck H. Godefroy is presented as part of HCX’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik visual arts programming.
Funding is provided, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Opening Reception: Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti, and Franck H. Godefroy, Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou
2025-03-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join HCX for the opening reception of two unique shows: Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti in the Gallery and Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou by Franck H. Godefroy
A Celebration of Fashion and Photography.
—
Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti
This immersive exhibition honors four decades of creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural identity through the visionary work of Michel Chataigne. This experience blends fashion, history, and storytelling, tracing the evolution of Haitian and Caribbean style on the global stage.
Explore Michel’s legacy through a collection of Chataigne’s most iconic designs, fashion campaigns, and creative milestones. From haute couture to carnival costumes, see how traditional artistry meets contemporary design. Discover how fashion and identity are woven together, shaping Haiti’s place in the global fashion world. View archival photography, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive memorabilia documenting the story of the innovative Haitian aesthetics spanning Michel’s career.
Exhibition on view from
Sunday, March 16 – Sunday, April 13, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;
Wednesday by appointment.
—
Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou — A photo series dedicated to our community, our people, our home—OUR SOUL.
Sunday, March 16 – Sunday, April 13, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;
Wednesday by appointment.
Learn More Here»
—
ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti is presented as part of HCX’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik visual arts programming and Haiti X New York (HXNY), a residency program that brings Haiti-based artists to New York to present their work and engage with Diaspora and broader NYC audiences.
Artists participate in workshops, panel discussions, and culminating presentations. HXNY narrows the physical and cultural distance between Haitians and Haitian-Americans and lends new insights to historical and current concerns of Haitians in and out of the Diaspora
Funding for this series of Vizyon Atistik programming is provided, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from le Consulat Général d’Haïti and Materials for the Arts.

Haiti X New York | Travaux Manuels: Fashion & Cultural Identity Workshop with Michel Chataigne
2025-03-29 14:00 - 16:30 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
A hands-on experience in Haitian fashion, heritage, and sustainability.
This interactive workshop, led by Michel Chataigne and guest designers, explores how Haitian craftsmanship shapes global fashion and how sustainability is a key part of traditional design practices.
Open to all levels—whether you’re an aspiring designer, a fashion lover, or just curious about Haitian style.
RSVP Required. Limited Capacity.
What to Expect:

Haitian Craftsmanship: Embroidery, artisanal detailing, and finishing techniques.
Eco-Friendly Fashion: Upcycling, sustainability, and the intersection of culture & innovation.
Identity & Style: How cultural roots shape creative expression and personal branding.
Creative Networking: Connect with designers, artists, and fashion enthusiasts.

This workshop is presented as part of HCX’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik visual arts programming and Michel Chataigne’s Haiti X New York residency & exhibition, Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti.
Exhibition on view from
Sunday, March 16 – Sunday, April 13, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;
Wednesday by appointment.
Learn more here about the exhibition here.

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HAITI X NY
Haiti X New York (HXNY) is a residency program that brings Haiti-based artists to New York to present their work and engage with Diaspora and broader NYC audiences.
Artists participate in workshops, panel discussions, and culminating presentations. HXNY narrows the physical and cultural distance between Haitians and Haitian-Americans and lends new insights to historical and current concerns of Haitians in and out of the Diaspora
Funding for this series of Vizyon Atistik programming is provided, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from le Consulat Général d’Haïti and Materials for the Arts.

Haitian & Afrocentric Hair Community Photography Day with Franck H. Godefroy
2025-04-06 14:00 - 18:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
A photo session where we photograph Haitian/Afrocentric hair. Vizyon Atistik exhibiting artist Franck H. Godefroy welcomes the public for a collaborative session to show off their styled do, meet up, and sign up for a portrait by the artist.

Sunday, April 6, 2025
2-6pm

Sign up for a time window on the day-of the event by visiting the HCX Studio starting at 1pm. Slots are first come, first serve. Limited slots available. RSVP to let us know you’re coming!
Presented as part of Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou by Franck H. Godefroy currently on view in the HCX Studio as part of HCX’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik visual arts programming.

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Franck Henry Godefroy is a Haitian born photographer. He describes his work as a balance between a setting, its composition and Its emptiness. He welcomes and appreciates ambiguity through the minimalism of his work. Photography was a hobby for the beginning years but he has progressively felt the want to explore and expand in a more purposeful way. He’s honed his lens in his journey to master his craft and show others the same beauty he sees in the world around him.

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ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou by Franck H. Godefroy is presented as part of HCX’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik visual arts programming.
Funding is provided, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Haiti X New York | Michel Chataigne à Travers le Temps: Fashion Show & An n Pale
2025-04-11 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
A Tribute to Michel’s Journey
This is more than a runway show—it’s a visual timeline of Michel Chataigne’s career, featuring his most iconic pieces from the 80s to today. This showcase highlights the innovation, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling that have defined his fashion legacy.
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The evening’s program will also include:

Post-Fashion Show An n Pale moderated by Garvenchy Nicolas
Haitian-American designer Garvenchy Nicolas, founder of Vinshēk, will lead a conversation on Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti. Garvenchy’s 1804 Capois collection pays tribute to Haiti’s revolutionary spirit, blending fashion with cultural storytelling. As a designer and entrepreneur, he will guide a discussion with Michel on his four-decade career, the evolution of Haitian fashion, and its global impact.
Special Opening Performance by Steven Labady
Award-winning dancer, actor, and model Steven Labady will open the fashion show with a Haitian contemporary ballet solo. Labady, who has performed with Billy Porter and as a guest artist at Brooklyn Ballet, will blend movement, culture, and storytelling, setting the tone for this extraordinary evening.

Dress Code: Haitian elegance meets bold creativity.
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RSVP required, does not guarantee seating.
Seating first come, first served.
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This event is presented as part of HCX’s ongoing Vizyon Atistik visual arts programming and Michel Chataigne’s Haiti X New York residency & exhibition, Michel Chataigne, La Mode et Haïti.
Exhibition on view from
Sunday, March 16 – Sunday, April 13, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;
Wednesday by appointment.
Learn more here about the exhibition here.

—
HAITI X NY
Haiti X New York (HXNY) is a residency program that brings Haiti-based artists to New York to present their work and engage with Diaspora and broader NYC audiences.
Artists participate in workshops, panel discussions, and culminating presentations. HXNY narrows the physical and cultural distance between Haitians and Haitian-Americans and lends new insights to historical and current concerns of Haitians in and out of the Diaspora.
Funding for this series of Vizyon Atistik programming is provided, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from le Consulat Général d’Haïti and Materials for the Arts.

Ti Atis Second Saturdays: Wild Seeds Workshop with Laurena Finéus
2025-04-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11213
Join us for Ti Atis Second Saturdays at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in April for a Wild Seeds Workshop with Laurena Finéus!
Wild Seeds is a mixed-media art workshop activating young artists to use their creativity and explore the nature in the world around them! Through drawing, painting, and collage, they’ll bring their ideas to life while thinking about:

What makes their favorite places special?
How do they connect with nature, animals, and their surroundings?
What friendships do they have with plants and animals?

Each child will create their own magical garden, mixing together places that feel important to them. Along the way, they’ll learn cool art skills like composition and color and learn how our community’s history relates to nature and outdoor spaces.
No matter their age or skill level, every child gets to express themselves in their own special way—Wild Seeds is for everyone!
Saturday, April 12th, 2025
2-4pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
As a special offer for the HCX community, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is offering FREE admission for 20 people.
Limit 3 tickets per family. (Tickets will be held at the counter on the day of.)
RSVP below!
Attendance free with museum admission.
If free HCX Community RSVP is no longer available on this page, please purchase a ticket to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum here ».
Spaces limited.
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ABOUT
Ti Atis returns to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a new season of interactive youth and family programming! Ti Atis (Little Artists) engages youth of Haitian descent and their peers with Haitian history and heritage via the arts, giving young people the tools to build an inclusive and culturally informed future as they learn about diverse art forms from professional Haitian artists. Happening the second Saturday of every month from November 2024 to May 2025.

On View: Lakou NOU Culminating Expo
2025-04-27 - 2025-05-10 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
A week-long exhibition featuring the culmination of work from the LakouNOU 2024 Artists-In-Residence over the past year.
On View
Sunday, April 27 – Sunday, May 4, 2025 EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND TO MAY 10TH, 2025
Gallery Hours
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;Wednesday by appointment.

The 2024 Lakou NOU Culminating Expo highlights four expressive and collaborative projects that seek to empower, understand, and archive the Haitian experience. This cohort of artists explore core themes of personal and collective history, identity, and creative empowerment in Brooklyn’s Haitian community. Through oral history, creative cultural mapping, multimedia and visual art installations, Lakou NOU artists-in-residence Tania Balan-Gaubert, Zamí Germain, Watson Mere, and Stephanie Pierre welcome us into a dynamic experience highlighting the power of storytelling, documentation, and cultural narrative.
This week-long exhibition presents the artists’ work in conversation with each other, highlighting their distinct approach to unpacking stories and approaches to cultural preservation in Brooklyn.
Unlike traditional artmaking, where an artistic creation amplifies a sole perspective, Lakou NOU residents generated their projects collaboratively with community members, providing creative outlets to convey inner experiences and share histories that are rarely shared or often under-presented. The Lakou NOU Culminating Expo will include visual art installations, audio soundscapes, participatory workshops, spoken word and musical performances, and an interactive map.
Established in 2016, Haiti Cultural Exchange’s Lakou NOU artist residency program provides artists of Haitian descent with the opportunity to create and present new work by connecting their skills and talents to historically underserved Brooklyn neighborhoods, home to generations of Haitians and Haitian-Americans: Crown Heights, Canarsie, East Flatbush, and Flatbush. Lakou NOU artists develop collaborative community engagement projects that address neighborhood issues and highlight community assets. Artists in residence received individualized mentorship from HCX staff and interacted with each other as a cohort through discussion and support around topics relevant to Lakou NOU projects. HCX-facilitated additional professional development workshops and exchanges with a consortium of community stakeholders and creative placekeeping professionals.
Join us for the Expo Showcase on Thursday, May 1, 2025 from 6-9pm. Details Here »

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This program is made possible in part by the Jerome Foundation.

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EXHIBITOR DECRIPTIONS

Tania Balan-Gaubert, Canarsie
STR.DST.MRKT. (pronounced Stardust Market) is an innovative mobile creative platform inspired by the vibrancy of the Haitian marketplace and the dynamic spirit of Tap Tap vehicles. Combining elements of a hands-on studio, gallery, and concept shop, this project reimagines public spaces as hubs for creativity, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
This conceptual art project envisioned a community-based experimental mobile market where art is a shared, lived experience that strengthens community bonds, sparks dialogue, and reflects the transformative power of creativity in Canarsie. As a collaborative, maker-driven initiative, STR.DST.MRKT. invited local artists, artisans, and community members through an open call to co-create a hybrid space where art, commerce, and social dialogue intersect. By transforming a mobile structure—such as a retrofitted dollar van or box truck—into a traveling cultural market, STR.DST.MRKT. activated the southeastern Brooklyn neighborhood/lakou of Canarsie, cultivating innovation, and celebrating the diverse voices of its collaborators and partnerships.
This nomadic marketplace showcased artwork and crafts, an exhibition, and hosted pop-up workshops that amplified the talents and stories of Rasin Okan, Natou Ma’at, Christopher Leveille, and Tania Balan-Gaubert. Rooted in the principles of accessibility, equity, and cultural resilience, STR.DST.MRKT. aligns with broader movements for social and economic empowerment, offering a tangible model for creative engagement that transcends traditional gallery walls.

Laurie Zamí Germain, Crown Heights
LAKOU SEKRÈ // SAKRE is an altar to the queer Haitian experience in Crown Heights. The participatory, oral history installation is inspired by el secreto abierto, or the open secret ~ a phrase coined by Rosmand King to articulate the ways that queerness is the Caribbean moves as something seen but unsaid, resulting in a mandate of discretion around what is perceived as culturally transgressive approaches to love and sexuality.
The installation’s hollow, circular shape mimics the experience of the open secret, while the materials it is made of are informed by oral history interviews had throughout Laurie’s residency project, exploring themes of visibility/invisibility, religion/spirituality, home/belonging. The strung cowrie shells are interpretations of the rosaries Nat invited into the conversation while reflecting the rituals that grounded them in their Haitian church as a child. The religious reference also pays homage to Marla’s background as a former Jehovah’s Witness and evolving spiritual practice. The use of cowrie shells, an ancient symbol of wealth and contemporary reference to African Traditional Religions, such as Haitian Vodou, evokes the spirit of Ginen that Akesh carries with them. In this way, the installation is an altar, not only to the Lakou Nou La narrators, but to the role of religion and spirituality as a portal for queerness in Haitian cultural fabric, and a reference to the indigeneity of gender and sexual creativity seen within Haitian traditional religion. The photos strung between the rosaries become material markers of memory, creating a semi-transparent boundary between the inside and outside of the circle in order to invert the open secrets mandate of discretion by allowing those standing inside it to be seen within a queer experience. The conch shells suspended in the center invite pairs to step in and listen with curiosity to the stories of Nat, Marla, and Akesh in reflection of their own experiences as queer Haitians in our Lakou.
LAKOU SEKRÈ // SAKRE makes undeniable what hides in plain sight in terms of the queer diasporic Haitian experience: the laughter, the love, the invisibility, the tension, the tenderness, the care, the things that our Lakou’s house but often refuse to home. The installation denies that refusal through an embodied encounter with the open secret, and the invitation to step into its embrace and listen to the life worlds alive within.

Watson Mere, Flatbush
Yon Nouvo Rèv is comprised of three interconnected pieces spanning the mediums of visual arts, video, and performance art, all rooted in his residency’s focal theme: Haitian spirituality and its relationship to the modern-day Haitian, particularly those living in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
“Potomitan” is an 8-foot by 7-foot painting inspired by the central pillar of Haitian Vodou temples that go by the same name, which serves as a conduit for the Loa to enter the physical world. Throughout his residency, Watson explored the potomitan’s significance as a spiritual gateway and the painting symbolizes the magnitude and gravity of these portals.
Mere’s video piece features interviews with three Haitian women and three Haitian men from Flatbush and Brooklyn, offering diverse perspectives on their relationships with Haitian spirituality, particularly Vodou. These conversations provide an intimate look at how Haitian spirituality permeates identity, whether openly embraced or quietly embedded in the subconscious.
Lastly, his performance art piece, Modern Ancient Entity, is a four-minute dialogue in which the protagonist grapples with his Christian upbringing and the persistent presence of the Loa, who reveal themselves in his dreams and daily life. This internal struggle reflects the complex interplay between ancestral spirituality and colonial religious influence, a duality many Haitians continue to navigate today.
Together, these works of art illuminate the ever-evolving presence of Haitian spirituality in contemporary life and finding creative voice while seeking this connection.

Stephanie Pierre, East Flatbush
Roots to Routes is a digital map that follows the story of Haitian social action movements that have taken place in East Flatbush, identifying the physical locations related to those movements as well as the organizations that were involved with those movements as well.
Tracing key moments in history and subsequent watershed social action movements of the Brooklyn Haitian community, Roots and Routes creatively highlights cultural context and historical information, navigating archival materials and accounts from following five moments in Haitian history: The Fall of “Baby Doc” in 1986, March on Brooklyn Bridge in April 1990, The Military Coup of Jean Betrand Aristide in 1991, Police violence against Haitian Immigrants (Abner Louima/Patrick Dorismond), and The 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti in January 2010.
Three of these stories were activated to draw local attention to the publicly accessible digital resource map, physical photographs, ephemera, and microfilm of select moments were placed on the facade and in the windows of places in East Flatbush that serve as sites of information exchange – Bonbonbon and the Brooklyn Public Library – Clarendon Branch.
Elements from those public installation sites highlighting the community story on the assault of Abner Louima in August 1997, the murder of Patrick Dorismond in March 2000, and the AIDS policy protest march across the Brooklyn Bridge in April 1990 are exhibited here.
Collaged microfilm periodicals from well known Haitian publications of the time, Haiti Progres and Haiti Observateur, alongside noteworthy New York based publications The New York Times and The New York Daily News will set the foundation of this installation. The layered disorder of these archival materials represents the disorienting journey of collecting this information through the lens of the first generation Haitian American, seeking and locating a mosaic of information, connections, and materials to build a mere snapshot of community history.
Map illustrations recontextualize the boundaries of the East Flatbush neighborhood by marking locations connected to researched historical moments (identified by conch shells) and local institutions and sites of interest that give East Flatbush its textured character.
Key snippets from event specific media, ephemera, and a very Haitian American playlist embody the blending of Haitian and Brooklyn culture formed during that time offer context before leading to a space of remembrance for the 15th year anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti, the 25th anniversary of Patrick Dorismond’s murder and the 25th anniversary of the March on Brooklyn Bridge.

Lakou NOU Culminating Expo Showcase
2025-05-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Haiti Cultural Exchange, 35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Join us for an evening of conversation and celebration surrounding the culmination of work from the LakouNOU 2024 Artists-In-Residence over the past year.

Expo Showcase
Thursday, May 1, 2025
6-9pm

The 2024 Lakou NOU Culminating Expo highlights four expressive and collaborative projects that seek to empower, understand, and archive the Haitian experience. This cohort of artists explore core themes of personal and collective history, identity, and creative empowerment in Brooklyn’s Haitian community. Through oral history, creative cultural mapping, multimedia and visual art installations, Lakou NOU artists-in-residence Tania Balan-Gaubert, Zamí Germain, Watson Mere, and Stephanie Pierre welcome us into a dynamic experience highlighting the power of storytelling, documentation, and cultural narrative.
This free event and week-long exhibition presents the artists’ work in conversation with each other, highlighting their distinct approach to unpacking stories and approaches to cultural preservation in Brooklyn.
Unlike traditional artmaking, where an artistic creation amplifies a sole perspective, Lakou NOU residents generated their projects collaboratively with community members, providing creative outlets to convey inner experiences and share histories that are rarely shared or often under-presented. The Lakou NOU Culminating Expo will include visual art installations, audio soundscapes, participatory workshops, spoken word and musical performances, and an interactive map.
Established in 2016, Haiti Cultural Exchange’s Lakou NOU artist residency program provides artists of Haitian descent with the opportunity to create and present new work by connecting their skills and talents to historically underserved Brooklyn neighborhoods, home to generations of Haitians and Haitian-Americans: Crown Heights, Canarsie, East Flatbush, and Flatbush. Lakou NOU artists develop collaborative community engagement projects that address neighborhood issues and highlight community assets. Artists in residence received individualized mentorship from HCX staff and interacted with each other as a cohort through discussion and support around topics relevant to Lakou NOU projects. HCX-facilitated additional professional development workshops and exchanges with a consortium of community stakeholders and creative placekeeping professionals.

Exhibition On View
Sunday, April 27 – Sunday, May 4, 2025
Gallery Hours
Thursday – Sunday, 1-6pm;Wednesday by appointment.

—
This program is made possible in part by the Jerome Foundation.

—
EXHIBITOR DECRIPTIONS

Tania Balan-Gaubert, Canarsie
STR.DST.MRKT. (pronounced Stardust Market) is an innovative mobile creative platform inspired by the vibrancy of the Haitian marketplace and the dynamic spirit of Tap Tap vehicles. Combining elements of a hands-on studio, gallery, and concept shop, this project reimagines public spaces as hubs for creativity, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
This conceptual art project envisioned a community-based experimental mobile market where art is a shared, lived experience that strengthens community bonds, sparks dialogue, and reflects the transformative power of creativity in Canarsie. As a collaborative, maker-driven initiative, STR.DST.MRKT. invited local artists, artisans, and community members through an open call to co-create a hybrid space where art, commerce, and social dialogue intersect. By transforming a mobile structure—such as a retrofitted dollar van or box truck—into a traveling cultural market, STR.DST.MRKT. activated the southeastern Brooklyn neighborhood/lakou of Canarsie, cultivating innovation, and celebrating the diverse voices of its collaborators and partnerships.
This nomadic marketplace showcased artwork and crafts, an exhibition, and hosted pop-up workshops that amplified the talents and stories of Rasin Okan, Natou Ma’at, Christopher Leveille, and Tania Balan-Gaubert. Rooted in the principles of accessibility, equity, and cultural resilience, STR.DST.MRKT. aligns with broader movements for social and economic empowerment, offering a tangible model for creative engagement that transcends traditional gallery walls.

Laurie Zamí Germain, Crown Heights
LAKOU SEKRÈ // SAKRE is an altar to the queer Haitian experience in Crown Heights. The participatory, oral history installation is inspired by el secreto abierto, or the open secret ~ a phrase coined by Rosmand King to articulate the ways that queerness is the Caribbean moves as something seen but unsaid, resulting in a mandate of discretion around what is perceived as culturally transgressive approaches to love and sexuality.
The installation’s hollow, circular shape mimics the experience of the open secret, while the materials it is made of are informed by oral history interviews had throughout Laurie’s residency project, exploring themes of visibility/invisibility, religion/spirituality, home/belonging. The strung cowrie shells are interpretations of the rosaries Nat invited into the conversation while reflecting the rituals that grounded them in their Haitian church as a child. The religious reference also pays homage to Marla’s background as a former Jehovah’s Witness and evolving spiritual practice. The use of cowrie shells, an ancient symbol of wealth and contemporary reference to African Traditional Religions, such as Haitian Vodou, evokes the spirit of Ginen that Akesh carries with them. In this way, the installation is an altar, not only to the Lakou Nou La narrators, but to the role of religion and spirituality as a portal for queerness in Haitian cultural fabric, and a reference to the indigeneity of gender and sexual creativity seen within Haitian traditional religion. The photos strung between the rosaries become material markers of memory, creating a semi-transparent boundary between the inside and outside of the circle in order to invert the open secrets mandate of discretion by allowing those standing inside it to be seen within a queer experience. The conch shells suspended in the center invite pairs to step in and listen with curiosity to the stories of Nat, Marla, and Akesh in reflection of their own experiences as queer Haitians in our Lakou.
LAKOU SEKRÈ // SAKRE makes undeniable what hides in plain sight in terms of the queer diasporic Haitian experience: the laughter, the love, the invisibility, the tension, the tenderness, the care, the things that our Lakou’s house but often refuse to home. The installation denies that refusal through an embodied encounter with the open secret, and the invitation to step into its embrace and listen to the life worlds alive within.

Watson Mere, Flatbush
Yon Nouvo Rèv is comprised of three interconnected pieces spanning the mediums of visual arts, video, and performance art, all rooted in his residency’s focal theme: Haitian spirituality and its relationship to the modern-day Haitian, particularly those living in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
“Potomitan” is an 8-foot by 7-foot painting inspired by the central pillar of Haitian Vodou temples that go by the same name, which serves as a conduit for the Loa to enter the physical world. Throughout his residency, Watson explored the potomitan’s significance as a spiritual gateway and the painting symbolizes the magnitude and gravity of these portals.
Mere’s video piece features interviews with three Haitian women and three Haitian men from Flatbush and Brooklyn, offering diverse perspectives on their relationships with Haitian spirituality, particularly Vodou. These conversations provide an intimate look at how Haitian spirituality permeates identity, whether openly embraced or quietly embedded in the subconscious.
Lastly, his performance art piece, Modern Ancient Entity, is a four-minute dialogue in which the protagonist grapples with his Christian upbringing and the persistent presence of the Loa, who reveal themselves in his dreams and daily life. This internal struggle reflects the complex interplay between ancestral spirituality and colonial religious influence, a duality many Haitians continue to navigate today.
Together, these works of art illuminate the ever-evolving presence of Haitian spirituality in contemporary life and finding creative voice while seeking this connection.

Stephanie Pierre, East Flatbush
Roots to Routes is a digital map that follows the story of Haitian social action movements that have taken place in East Flatbush, identifying the physical locations related to those movements as well as the organizations that were involved with those movements as well.
Tracing key moments in history and subsequent watershed social action movements of the Brooklyn Haitian community, Roots and Routes creatively highlights cultural context and historical information, navigating archival materials and accounts from following five moments in Haitian history: The Fall of “Baby Doc” in 1986, March on Brooklyn Bridge in April 1990, The Military Coup of Jean Betrand Aristide in 1991, Police violence against Haitian Immigrants (Abner Louima/Patrick Dorismond), and The 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti in January 2010.
Three of these stories were activated to draw local attention to the publicly accessible digital resource map, physical photographs, ephemera, and microfilm of select moments were placed on the facade and in the windows of places in East Flatbush that serve as sites of information exchange – Bonbonbon and the Brooklyn Public Library – Clarendon Branch.
Elements from those public installation sites highlighting the community story on the assault of Abner Louima in August 1997, the murder of Patrick Dorismond in March 2000, and the AIDS policy protest march across the Brooklyn Bridge in April 1990 are exhibited here.
Collaged microfilm periodicals from well known Haitian publications of the time, Haiti Progres and Haiti Observateur, alongside noteworthy New York based publications The New York Times and The New York Daily News will set the foundation of this installation. The layered disorder of these archival materials represents the disorienting journey of collecting this information through the lens of the first generation Haitian American, seeking and locating a mosaic of information, connections, and materials to build a mere snapshot of community history.
Map illustrations recontextualize the boundaries of the East Flatbush neighborhood by marking locations connected to researched historical moments (identified by conch shells) and local institutions and sites of interest that give East Flatbush its textured character.
Key snippets from event specific media, ephemera, and a very Haitian American playlist embody the blending of Haitian and Brooklyn culture formed during that time offer context before leading to a space of remembrance for the 15th year anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti, the 25th anniversary of Patrick Dorismond’s murder and the 25th anniversary of the March on Brooklyn Bridge.
