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/

Are you going to be in the DMV area this week and through the month of May? Or do you live there? The Haitian Embassy in DC has been holding several cultural events throughout the month of May. Here are some you should consider attending in the next few days.

Date: Thursday, May 18, 2017
(Re)discovering Haiti through its Arts and its People: Embassy Open House

Those who are in the DMV area and beyond are invited to tour the Embassy in honor of Haitian Flag Day. Patrons will be able to view art pieces from the extensive collections of Galerie Monnin and Fritz Racine. The Embassy’s Pearls of Excellence, an exhibit showcasing the contributions of people of Haitian descent to the advancement of American life, will also be available for viewing. A poetry slam with Haitian-American author, emcee and motivational speaker, Jeff Dess, and Pages Matam, Director of Poetry Events at Busboys and Poet is also part of the menu. Haitian-inspired cocktails will be served.

Location: Embassy of Haiti (2311 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20008)

Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Cost: Free. Must RSVP.

Date: Friday, May 19, 2017

Where Do We Go from Here: A panel conversation on current issues in the U.S. featuring prominent Haitian-Americans at the forefront of sociopolitical affairs who will also reflect on how their Haitian heritage has shaped their political trajectory.

Panelists: Former US Ambassador to South Africa and former Democratic National Committee Executive Director, Patrick Gaspard, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine and former Massachusetts State Representative, Marie St. Fleur

Moderator: Yamiche Alcindor of the New York Times, formerly of USA Today

Location: Busboys and Poets (14th & V 2021 14th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20009)

Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Cost: Free

RSVP: Open to the Public (limited capacity)

Date: Saturday, May 20, 2017

The Soul of Haiti: Acoustic Performance by Internationally Acclaimed Haitian Songstress Emeline Michel

Emeline Michel is known for fusing pop, jazz, blues, and traditional Haitian rhythms into deeply moving, joyful music delivered with a charismatic live show.

Location: Busboys and Poets (Hyattsville – 5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781)

Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Cost: Free

RSVP: Open to the Public (limited capacity)

Date: Sunday, May 21, 2017

Rebuilding Haiti through Entrepreneurship: The Gift That Will Keep on Giving

Pop-up Shop Featuring Products from Haitian-American Designers and Entrepreneurs

The Bien Abyé “Les Jardins de la Mode” pop-up shop will display a collection of products sourced and/or inspired by Haiti. All the displayed items, from fashion accessories to home goods to gourmet products are created by a talented group of Haitian-American entrepreneurs. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase products from: Zesa Raw by Michelle Jean, Artisans du Monde by Nathalie Tancrede, Deux Noirs by Eddy Albertini, Vetiver Les Cayes by Reginald Canal and Bien Abyé by Dayanne Danier. In addition to seeing and buying these beautifully crafted products, you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the designers and entrepreneurs behind these brands.

Location: Embassy of Haiti (2311 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20008)

Time: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Cost: Free

For more information and to RSVP, please visit click HERE!