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.