When British artist/curator Leah Gordon reached out to Haitian-born painter and sculptor Edouard Duval-Carrié a few years ago for help curating an exhibit focused on the city of Port-au-Prince, Gordon left a lot to the imagination.

But she also knew what she wanted.

“The concept she outlined was to organize a very ambitious presentation of the city of Port-au-Prince and identify within its confines, poles of cultural production focusing on the visual arts,” said Duval-Carrié, recalling their conversation.

Duval-Carrié, who was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, knew exactly where to go to bring Gordon’s vision to life: Grand Rue, the capital’s grand street where junk, scraps and automobile parts are transformed daily into expressions of everyday life in Haiti, and where Haitian art has undergone a rebirth.

“The apocalyptic vision they present to us in their powerful sculptures is a far cry from the production that has characterized Haitian art production in the decades prior,“ Duval-Carrié said about Grand Rue’s homespun artists.

That vision is part of the large-scale exhibition, “PÒTOPRENS: The Urban Artists of Port-au-Prince,” being featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami. Curated by Duval-Carrié, Gordon and others, it brings together the works of 20 Haitian artists. Their work includes sculptures, photographs, films and a recreated Port-au-Prince barbershop, all highlighting the capital’s street life and religious heritage. Together they provide a portrait of a historical city in flux, and Haiti’s chaotic intersections of history, art, religion, politics scene and cultural shifts.

“We selected the works from informal collectives of majority class artists creating art works from specific zones of production within the city making works, which are bound together by shared cultural and material practices,” said Gordon.

The exhibit, she added, “is envisioning Haitian contemporary art production through the lens of the city of Port-au-Prince.”

Echoing Gordon’s sentiments, Duval-Carrié said the artists being exhibited “are responding to the spiraling collapse of the Haitian economy and by extant the expanding divide between North and South.

“We hope that not only the general public but in particular the Haitian expatriates living in Miami may realize that artists such as the Grand Rue collective are engaged in discussions that situates them at the core of the North-South dilemma and that their production illustrates very forcefully the disparities that are creating a most untenable situation worldwide,” he said.

The exhibit will run until Aug. 11. The cost of viewing the exhibit at MOCA is free for members and $10 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

The exhibit is one of many displays of Haitian art and culture that will be available next month when South Florida celebrates Haitian Heritage month.

Haitian Heritage Month Events

May 2, 5-9 p.m.: Dance to the rhythms of Little Haiti Rara Lakay, and DJ Gardy’s blend of konpa, rara with electronic and house beats during Community Night at Pérez Art Museum Route 1804: The Evolution of the Flag and the Beat. Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Free

May 3, 3-6 p.m.: A free cultural Conversation at the Betsy Hotel, 1440 Ocean Dr. Miami Beach. Join several prominent members of the South Florida community as they discuss life as a “hyphenated” American of Caribbean descent.

May 10, 7 p.m.: Enjoy a curated experience with ROUTE 1804, Evolution: The Flag at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Terr., Miami. Free

May 16, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Miami Haitian Compas Festival Welcome to Miami Hang Out Thursday party, featuring Enposib, Magik Kenny, Dj Bullet, Valmix, DJ FMA, Ted Bounce. Cafe iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $30 in advance, more at the door. For tickets go to eventbrite.

May 16, 8-midnight: The Citadel food hall at 8300 NE Second Ave., Miami will host konpa on the rooftop with Haitian musician, MikaBen and local DJs. The free event will also feature food and conversation.

May 17, 6-11 p.m.: Sounds of Little Haiti at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 54th St., featuring System Band. The free outdoor concert will also celebrate Haitian Flag Day, May 18.

May 17, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Miami Haitian Compas Festival, Black Party featuring Djakout #1, Zenglen, Kai, Roody Roodboy. Cafe Iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 17, 10 p.m.-5 a.m:, Miami Haitian Compas Festival, Black Party featuring Harmonik, Vayb, Nu Look, Kreyol La. Wynwood Factory, 55 NE 24th St., Miami. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 18, 4 p.m-6 a.m: The 21st annual Haitian Compas Festival returns to Mana Wynwood, Midtown Miami, 318 NW 23rd St., Miami. The event features the top bands in Haitian konpa music. Cost is $50 in advance for general admission, $100 VIP. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite or call 305-945-8814.

May 18, 10 pm.-4 a.m.: Haitian Compas Festival after party featuring Kai, Enposib at Club Reign, 9940 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 19, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Haitian Compas Festival All White Affair featuring Vayb, Nu Look, Harmonik, Tony Mixx and DJ Heavy at Cafe Iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 20, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Haitian Compas Festival GoodBye Miami party featuring Zenglen, T-Vice and Gabel at at Cafe Iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $30 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 25, 7 p.m.: Haitian American Leadership Organization (HALO) 14th annual HALO Cultural Night celebrating Haitian women in the history of Haiti and featuring konpa band, T-Vice. Cost is $175 for general admission and $225 for VIP, JW Marriott Ballroom, 1109 Brickell Ave., Miami. Tickets can be purchased at www.halohaiti.org/tickets/

Putting photographer Olivier Duong in a box is as futile counting sand at a Caribbean beach. The photographer is practically impossible to categorize. On one hand, he’s an artistic photographer, the sort who will travel to the streets of Port-au-Prince and capture still-life-like shots of life there. On the other hand, he is sort of photographer brides count on to get journalistic and artsy photos of their nuptials.

He’s what photography scholar Ben Evans would call a holistic photographer—the type of photographer who is practical and artistic at the same time. But, but then again, he would also fall in what George Bradt would label a scientific and artistic leader, as he inspires many through The Inspired Eye, the photography magazine he co-created.

However attached he is to photography, Duong also dabbles in other creative arts. He’s very much into graphic designing and website development, and lately he’s really been into writing, to the point where he’s thinking of putting together an e-book.

Born in Port-au-Prince to a Vietnamese dad and a French-Haitian mother, Duong was raised in Jacmel.

There’s probably a really interesting story of how your mom and dad met…

Well, I guess so. Here’s what my mother told me: She was at a bar, and she had an unruly little cousin that somehow got a hold of pepper spray. And he was sprayin’ right and left. My dad was a regular and he took hold of the kid cousin and stopped the whole thing. They all had to wash their eyes, apparently that’s where everything started.

Now, growing up Vietnamese and Haitian…what was that like?

It was interesting. Well, first of all, you can’t hide anywhere. All I wanted as a kid –as human nature dictates- was to fit in. I never really could. First day of school and I already had the nickname Ti Chinwa—Little Chinese in Creole. The fact that I was larger back then did not help. I not only had to juggle between ti Chinwa—but also bout patat si—piece of potato in Creole.

Everywhere I went I couldn’t just blend in, I stood out. My friend says every time he went out with me for a walk, he felt like a rockstar because of all the attention he was getting. I didn’t want the attention, but got it anyways. I actually went all the way to Vietnam, where I hoped I would blend in, but that wasn’t the case. We went for a boat ride where Vietnamese pay less, I didn’t need to speak the language to understand that the lady guarding the boat was saying, “There is no way under heaven this guy is Vietnamese.”. I had to pay full price, unlike my dad and all of my uncles.

That event pretty much made me give up on fitting in anywhere. But thank goodness I had some really good friends that tagged along the road. So, it’s not like I was alone or anything. I met them with years of separation, it’s as if time didn’t go by…save a few more strands of facial hair.

In the end, I made peace with not fitting anywhere, and ended up embracing it. Turns out my Haitian wife had a thing for Asians, lucky me!

Interesting. How did you get interested in photography?

Well, it all started with G.A.S—Gear Acquisition Syndrome…it’s when you want something but really don’t need it. My friend showed me her camera and I just had to have it. Living on my own, I saw that I could buy this model—without having a clue on how to use it—and I just bought it. I had to eat rice a few days but hey, I had a camera, so I was a photographer! Or so I thought.

Then I started shooting but saw that my stuff wasn’t like the stuff I saw that was good. I asked myself why my images were bad, and went on from there. I’ll never stop learning, it’s a life long process.

Photography used to be considered as this intricate art. When you study the history of photography and all, it was about expertise. You read about terms like F-stop, focus, quadrants. Do you think that with the advent of digital photography and photography apps that photography is losing that flair?

Photography, with affordable cameras and an affordable process—less costly than film—is officially democratic. Anyone nowadays can become a photographer. I think that’s a good thing. When I get nice images of my kid, I’m happy. So it’s good that others can do the same.

Now a problem arises when people confuse owning a camera and actually being a photographer. When that happen, you see good photographers in the mist of people that just own a camera. Cameras, especially DSLRs are in the list of consumer goods to have after things like a flat screen TV and laptop.

The core issue is, the camera gives you the illusion that you can become a photographer as soon as you have it. And that makes it hard to actually be a vocational photographer when everyone thinks they can do it too. The technical term for these folks is “Uncle Bob”. Uncle Bob is the guy that just brought a camera and thinks that he can do as good as a job as an experienced photographer.

So with the democratization of photography, the flair is still there, just diluted. When everyone thinks that they can do something, it only makes you work harder to put yourself above them, photographically speaking.

What is your most treasured photo ever?

That’s actually a good question, my answer is, not the one I believed it was. At first I believed it was this one [street photo of a young man looking in the camera ] But, after losing my hard drive—and not backing up due to carelessness—I realized the family photos trump other photos because they are the most meaningful ones you can make. You can always get great images tomorrow, but you can’t replace family images. So, so far this image is most treasured by me [photograph of child].

I noticed that on your website, you have all sorts of photos. A collection of photos taken in Haiti as well. Can you please tell us about that?

Well, my mother died in the earthquake. One thing that bothered me was the fact that I never really took the time to actually make a nice image of her—back then, I spent my time taking pictures of flowers unfortunately. When I went to Haiti, it was the first time after the earthquake—I couldn’t get in to bury my mother in 2010—and it’s like I was making amends through my photography. I was searching for my mother in the streets of Haiti.

I really wanted to show the resilience of the people there. I only had access to the streets so I documented the street life there, and sure enough, the resilience showed through the photographs. There’s something about the Haitian spirit that makes it unbreakable. Now come to think of it, maybe it’s what keeps me going when times are tough.

I will turn this project into a book eventually, and I am actively looking for grants to create a project about the earthquake.

Sorry to hear about your mom. Have you already taken your dream photo? Or do you think that’s something to come.

I’ve made several of my dream images. Sometimes I look at them and still can’t believe I made the image! But the quest for the image is a lifelong quest. The images that I dream about are always for tomorrow. Complacency is the photographer’s worst enemy. Some thing they’ve made it, they don’t need to learn anything and it all goes downhill from there.

What does it take to become a professional of your caliber?

My Caliber? Well first things first, I don’t think I’m all that. But to get to where I am at there’s only two words: hard work. I ain’t special in anyway, not smarter than anyone, not better than anyone. I had a camera and I committed myself to learning photography. I just worked harder than everyone else I knew of, pretty simple, no?

My music career lasted just one day of school. After I saw the commitment I had to make to even read music sheets, I gave up. I could have been a guitarist if I wanted to work at it. Fact is, you probably can be anything you want in life, provided you work towards it.

To become a professional, learn the basics, and make sure you are a good photographer. It will be good for you, but also for your clients. I say this because I’ve seen one too many calling themselves pros and giving terrible images to clients.

Then market yourself. Market yourself. And…..Market yourself. Once you put the word “professional” before photography, you basically put “marketing” before photography.

A mediocre photographer will always outsell a good one with marketing. That’s just a fact. Put yourself everywhere you can. But the biggest advice is, work with other vendors in your industry. If you do weddings for example, be close friends to florists, hotels, etc. Brides get married once, these folks will be there for years to come and will refer business to you.

The secret to professional photography is simply marketing. Nothing happens if you don’t market yourself. You don’t even need to be a good to make it in photography, it’s a sad fact. Lots of big names in photography are pretty average photographers, they got there though marketing and connections. But that doesn’t mean you should go the same road, you have to hold yourself to high standards and be the best that you can be. Then market yourself, attend events, put ads in classifieds, create buzz!

When was the last time you went to Haiti?

It was in 2011. It’s in worse shape than I left it, especially Jacmel, a relatively clean and quiet coastal city, but lakay se lakay—home sweet home.

CLICK HERE To visit Olivier Duong’s Website | Visit The Inspired Eye, the photography magazine he co-founded. | Connect with Olivier Duong on Twitter | Connect with Olivier Duong on Facebook |

[ Photo Credit: All photos provided by the subject. ]

Sandrah Chalmers is a visual artist and painter, whose paintings are very versatile. On one hand, there are the paintings that depict rites of passage of women. Then there are some abstracts, and even a surreal work here or there.

Born in Port-au-Prince, Chalmers moved to Florida with her parents and brother in the early 1990s. After graduating from Miami’s Florida International University with a degree in International Relations, she moved to Atlanta where she currently makes her home.

Chalmers has taken part in several successful exhibits, and she is frequently commissioned by lovers of art. But to her, being successful comes with the obligation to give back, and it’s an obligation she takes on with pleasure. Chalmers has donated proceeds from sales of her paintings to Village Of Vision For Haiti Foundation, an organization that builds shelters in Haiti. In the past, she’s worked with other organizations like Habitat For Humanity to help women and children in Haiti. She’s also donated several of her paintings for charity galas and auctions.

Did you start out drawing?
I began to draw at the age of four. As a child, my fascination for colors and shapes rapidly developed. My curiosity grew as I discovered the work of some great art masters such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Salvador Dali, Claude Monet and the well recognized Haitian painter Jean-René Jerôme. My style transformed over the years, from Abstract to Photo-Realism. I consider myself today as a Modern Pop artist.

When your parents realized that you wanted to take up painting for good, what was their reaction?
My parents have been one of the greatest influences in my life. They taught me about strong work ethics; they taught me about responsibility. They also taught me about the very thin line that exists between a dream and reality. I have to start by saying that once I graduated high school, I told them that I wanted to pursue a degree in Fine Arts. They said that they would support me in whatever path I chose. My father even said in those exact words: “Why do you want to learn how to draw or how to paint? You’re already doing it beautifully.” Their views on art and artists in general were not the same as mine. They were looking at the financial aspect of this field. will she be a starving Artist? Artists do not bring home a steady paycheck. Today I can say that I understand where they were coming from. Some artists make it big and others never do; it’s just the nature of this game.

Out of all the pieces you’ve created, is there one that you absolutely treasure more than your other creations?
“Exotica” a 36×48 acrylic on canvas [from] 2005. This piece is very dear to my heart. It was created at a time where many changes were about to take place in my life. I had to grow as a human being. I had to grow as a woman. For a long time, I felt that I was like a child living in a bubble. That bubble one day bursts and I was faced with life’s major surprises and challenges. This painting is composed of growing leaves and through those leaves one can notice various red shapes—these are veins with blood running through them. Some are small and some are larger. They all occupy a specific function. They all exist for a reason. They all keep those leaves alive. They all contribute to those leaves’ growth. In sum, this painting is a celebration of my growth as a woman—the celebration of my life.

What sparks your creativity?
My creativity depicts from my love for life, my love for music, my love for art. My subjects derive from daily encounters, and some, are just fruits of my limitless imagination.

Do you think that it’s essential for a painter to attend a fine arts school, either at the high school or college level?
One may be born with a gift, one may be born with a talent, it certainly does not hurt to go ahead and master that gift and that talent. The only way to do it is to attend school. I am a strong advocate for schooling and education. I believe that an artist will largely benefit from acquiring knowledge about art History and Techniques. The exposure to the art world will certainly contribute to the artist’s success and acknowledgment from his or her peers.

You are a seasoned painter, no doubt. What counsel do you have for those who want to make a career in the world of painting?
Passion and determination. The Art world is a very competitive world. You have lots of talents out there. You have to work into creating something unique that will catch one’s attention. You have to develop a style that will eventually become your signature. And it’s not enough to be talented, you have to be smart. You have to acquire some marketing and business knowledge. Yes, it’s great to financially succeed in art, but at the same time, it’s not a guarantee. The economy that we live in make it even harder these days. Individuals will work harder to keep up with their rent or mortgage. Having a painting hanging on their walls has become secondary on their priority list. Paint because you love it, not because you want to become rich. Otherwise, you may be very disappointed. Other great tips: join artists groups, network, sign up and join group exhibits, build your website, create business cards. Social media these days is a great tool. Put your work out there, put your name out there. And remember, if you are looking for an efficient art agent…keep in mind that you are the best art agent you can have.

There is this painting in your collection called “The Day I Swam With the Water Lilies”. Is there a story behind it?
In 2009, the High Museum of Atlanta announced a four-year collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, that will bring several of Claude Monet’s Water Lily paintings to Atlanta that Summer. I suddenly had a flashback of my first art history class – where each student was asked to write an essay about one of their favorite Art Masters. Of course, I chose Claude Monet. As a founder of the impressionist movement, Claude Monet’s paintings made an impact in the art world to both Landscape and non-Landscape Artists like myself. For the first time I have to say that I felt this sudden urge to create my first landscape piece. There is such a big mystery that lies beneath those lily ponds, located in the back garden of Claude Monet’s home. I felt like I needed to unveil this mystery. After attending the Claude Monet Water Lily exhibit at the High Museum of Atlanta in the Summer of 2009 – after witnessing physically not only the magnitude of these paintings—they were extremely large panels mounted together—I was inspired to create “The Day I Swam With The Water Lilies”. Claude Monet focused on demonstrating those elements on the surface, I decided to demonstrate those same elements below the surface. The woman in the painting illustrates life below Claude Monet’s water lily ponds.

Does it take a lot for you to get inspired?
My inspiration comes and goes. I’ve gone months without holding a brush. I have to be mentally free to be inspired. A lot of times just listening to a song gives me a mental picture of a scene that I then want to materialize on a canvas. Sometimes by discovering a new place either outdoor/in nature or on a busy city street, I get inspired. Some are weak and some are strong. And if I look at all the pieces that I’ve created so far, I can pinpoint those created where my inspiration was at its peak and the other way around.

And once you do find that inspiration, do you have to have a particular atmosphere around you for it to keep on flowing?
No. Once that inspiration comes around, it comes and flows beautifully. Like I said earlier, each inspiration has its own degree of intensity. I automatically become a “girl interrupted”. I am constantly hunted until every element of it is transferred either on a sketch paper or directly on a canvas. My sketches are the foundation of my paintings. The color application and blending are the residual details being processed in my brain. I have an Art Studio at home. It is truly my comfort zone. That’s where I’m at peace. I am still not an Artist who can participate in groups paintings. I’ve tried many times and never succeeded. I have to be in my comfort zone. I have to be in my element.

What do you like most about being a painter?
The freedom that I gain to do practically what I want. The freedom to create what I want. The ability to tell a story. Writers, movie producers, designers—I feel that we all cherish this opportunity to be free.

You’re based in Atlanta. Do you feel that that’s been advantageous?
I lived in Miami for fifteen years. We all know that Miami has become, after New York, one of the greatest venues for art culture. When I lived in Miami, I felt like a small fish in a very large pond. In Atlanta, it’s different. It is a city in transition I will say, culturally. The art has greatly evolved in this city I have to say, from when I first moved in 2006. Atlanta is doing a great job in welcoming and providing opportunities to both local and out of state and international Artists. I professionally took my art to the next level when I moved to Atlanta. I have to say that I succeeded not only thanks to my go-getter attitude, but also by taking advantage of what the city itself had to offer me.

What is your biggest source of pride?
My biggest source of pride is when a client asks me to commission a painting for their home or office. It really is a great honor when your hard work and talent are appreciated. I’m also honored when a great non-profit organization contacts me to donate a painting for charity. The auction is generally for a great cause. I believe in giving back to the community in what ever way I can. Winston Churchill once said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” I go by these words everyday.

What happens when you’re out on the town, and out of nowhere an idea presents itself. Or you get hit suddenly with inspiration from something you lay your eyes on. But you are without your brush!
That’s a very good question. [Laughter] Over time, I’ve acquired the ability to improve my photographic memory skills. My brain has become a hard drive. It stores many things…sometimes too many things. So far I have been able to retrieve them efficiently. I hope those skills last a long time. Of course, over time, with the natural aging process, those skills may gradually diminish, but i think with the technology of taking a photo with an iPhone, I should be okay…eh eh eh…

What do you want your eventual legacy to be?
I want to be remembered as a Haitian woman, as a Haitian painter. As the little girl, once captivated by colors and movements. The one who dared to call herself a self-taught artist.

As a painter, what sort of materials can you not do without?
I’ve painted with oil in the past but now acrylic paint is the medium that I mostly use. It is known for its fast drying ability. Which can be a problem sometimes, since it restricts you as far as the time factor, to complete the blending process on canvas. Few years ago, a fellow acrylic paint Artist, enlightened me about The Retarder. It is an additive that increases the working time of acrylic paints. It increases workability for “wet in wet”techniques. It is a miracle in a bottle, if you ask me. I always make sure I have enough of that stored in my cabinet so I never run out. In addition, an artist must invest in great sets of brushes too. The Retarder and a great brush are materials I cannot do without.

What’s next for you?
I want to keep on painting. I want to keep on creating. I want to become a better painter everyday. Better than the one I was yesterday. My dream is to have my work exhibited in galleries, museums, clients homes, all over the world. One must always reach for the moon even if they end up reaching the lowest branch of the tree. I am currently providing private art lessons to an eight year old little girl. She reminds me so much of myself in so many ways. I am happy to be there to teach her the many art skills I’ve acquired over time. I am like a big sister, a friend, a mentor. She is very talented and has a great passion for painting. I’ve been her teacher for almost two years now. The way she looks up to me as an artist makes every single second of art lessons all worth it.

You can visit Sandrah Chalmers website and see more of her work HERE.

L’a Belle Couture! First things first. The entrepreneur behind the line is Dorinne Jean-Gilles, born and partly-raised in Haiti. The entrepreneur says she was exposed to the business world at an early age through her mother who was the owner and CEO of La Colombre, a fashion and Culinary school. “On a yearly basis,” she recalls, “I witnessed a new graduating class of students [who] were taught by my mother, as well as her eclectic clientele.” But her mother wasn’t her only influence. Her father Moise, an industrial mechanic, handled all the sewing machine needs for his wife’s business. Dorinne was able to witness first-hand what solid teamwork can achieve.

In terms of early inspiration, she credits summer vacations in her grandparents’ hometown as her main tutor in terms of color spotting. Her dolls were the most fashionable in town, but outside of play-play world, it was her attending International Fine Arts College and sewing actual outfits for family members that led her towards the path of fashion designer. If L’a Belle Couture has a philosophy, it’s designing tasteful clothing for men and women while allowing them to retain their own sense of individuality and style.

Now…Read all about the designer and her journey.

Kreyolicious: I think L’a Belle Kouture is catchy and cute. Was it hard coming up with an original name for your line?
I was affectionately nicknamed la belle by a friend of mine and when I was trying to come up with ideas my roommate at the time Dominic suggested why not La belle…so I polled family members, researched the name, and came up with a creative way of spelling it to set myself apart…

Kreyolicious: Who taught you how to sew?
I have to give the credit to my mother. Although I attended art school after high school graduation, the initial process was all mom. By going to school, I learned how to combine the techniques I have learned from her and ones thought by school which helps my understanding. There are certain tricks however that cannot be taught by teachers it is better learned from the individual that does this on a daily basis.

Kreyolicious: Lots of people know how to sew, but it’s not everyone who knows how to sew who takes it to the next level.
That is so true, sewing requires a lot of patience and concentration and the willingness to start over sometimes in an effort to get it right…You not only have to sketch the garment you have to ensure that the execution is there in addition to properly finishing the garment. One must take pride in their work and makes sure that the client is getting exactly what they pay for. Your reputation and your skills as a designer depends on it.

Kreyolicious: Where do you find the inspiration for your designs?
I get my inspirations from everyday life. I remember once being inspired by a Coca Cola bottle…You know the old ones…Friends and family member often make fun of me…I can be watching just a regular movie, but I will catch a neckline that is interesting to me or sometime just the design itself. I will say things like, “Oooohhh do you see this dress?”—only to get these looks, but they are used to it by now.

The fabric store is another source of inspiration. When I walk out, I feel so recharged…[and so] ready to make something. I am an open-minded individual and very creative…so inspiration for me is not difficult…I even dream of of pieces sometimes and will wake up in the middle of the night, sketch it out and go back to sleep…Call me crazy…[Laughter]

Kreyolicious: When someone is trying to get a custom design from L’a Belle Couture, what should they keep in mind
When getting a piece customized, it’s a process. I usually ask a client to at least give me an hour to sit down[and]handle everything from measurement to customizing their wishes, undergarments needs, to fit their body type, in addition to discussing fabric and price. I attempt to always offer top-of-the-line service, so therefore I do not cut corners, I ensure I meet my clients expectations.

Kreyolicious: What was it like being part of Mimi’s Boutiq Fashion show this year?
Being part of the show for the fourth year in a row added certain stress for me as a designer…I am known for higher-end pieces and I wanted to show the audience that the everyday girl can look high-end at anytime. It’s a question of choice. I also featured men‘s wear to show my versatility as a designer…Additionally, this was Mimi’s fifth year and there were certain expectations that came with the whole show. The team—along with Mimi—worked really hard to put this whole event together…For a few months out of the year, their days are filled with countless, texts…meetings, sleepless nights just to ensure they iron out every detail…So, therefore once must do their part so we all make it great together.

Kreyolicious: What do you attribute your success to?​
​It depends on your definition of success…I think I have manage to accomplish my goal as far as taking this idea and making it into what it is today. I have clients. I am marketing myself, and I am trying my best for my brand to become a household name. I have to cross over, so complete success is yet to be achieved—but I am working hard at it.

CLICK HERE VISIT THE L’A BELLE COUTURE WEARABLE ART INSTAGRAM

Hey book lovers! This will surely make your day! Your first look at The Art of Death, Edwidge Danticat’s first memoir since Brother, I’m Dying and her first non-fiction book since Creating Dangerously.

The Art of Dying…that’s an intriguing title. It’s going to be as personal as memoirs come. Danticat’s mother was dying of terminal cancer as she was revising her young adult novel Untwine. The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story is her chronicle of those painful days and how she dealt with them, and the aftermath of the passing of her mother.

Photo Credit: Getty

The author has had so many losses…her beloved uncle and her father, but she still has a beautiful family, including two daughters to cherish, as well as the love of her fans and readers.

Edwidge Danticat’s The Art of Death is set to be released on July 11, 2017….

It’s not on Amazon yet, but be sure to check her author page in few more days, and you’ll be able to pre-order it. CLICK HERE to visit the author’s page on AMAZON.

CLICK HERE to read previous interviews/articles with/about her!