</center>Pratt Institute’s Design Incubator and Art In Motion are sponsoring an art exhibit for teenage Haitian artist Alex Louis on Aug. 7th and 8th at 3rdEyesolation Gallery (1501 Broadway, Bushwick, BK). The show will feature dozens of sculptures and masks created by Mr. Louis both here in the U.S. and in Haiti.
Two months ago, nineteen year old Haitian artist and high school student Alex Louis was living on Grand Rue in a small make-shift house in his home town of Port-au-Prince, a city still recovering from an earthquake that devastated Haiti in January 2010. Today, he is sitting in on classes at Pratt Institute, one of the country's most prestigious colleges of art and design, gaining visual skills to take back with him to Haiti. The visit is thanks to the determination of Deb Johnson, Director of the Pratt Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation, who met Louis in Port-au-Prince while exploring how Pratt could lend its design expertise to help Haiti in its recovery efforts. Louis, who arrived the last week of June, is taking classes at Pratt through August 8.
According to Johnson, Louis's more formal training at Pratt and general exposure to the New York art world will lead to his growth as an artist, and more importantly, his ability to take his skills back to his neighborhood where they can be translated to other young and aspiring artists. Louis has also been a guest speaker at Pratt's pre-college program, where he has shared videos from his "TeleGhetto" series of reports on life in his home country.
"Pratt has given me opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of art and artists that will help me expand the materials and techniques I use in my work," says Louis.
"Alex's dedication to his art and his generosity in sharing his talents with others in Haiti is inspiring," said Johnson. "Despite its hardships, Haiti is a country rich in culture, and we are thrilled that he is here at Pratt getting a more formal arts training to bring back to his country, " she added.
Alex's art is a representation of his world - raw, resourceful, sexual, cunning - and pits his childhood innocence against his country's need to heal, survive, and thrive. This show captures the essence of our collective humanity through Alex's insatiable need to create art despite all odds. In the face of adversity, the human spirit can shine more brightly than ever. Ms. Watkins and Pratt Institute are on a mission to help shine that light and invite you to celebrate the transcendent power of art.
[About Pratt Design Incubator and Alex Louis: The Pratt Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation was launched in 2002 to help launch and grow social/environmental enterprise. Since its inception, the Incubator has supported the launch of 23 companies and consulted for 15 organizations. In 2010 our businesses generated more than $4.2 million in revenue and employed over 50 people. The Pratt Design Incubator is a part of the Center for Sustainable Design Studies at Pratt Institute. The incubator supports its start-ups with custom-tailored services for doing business in a sustainable way. Our start-ups have access to our training curriculum in Sustainable Entrepreneurship and to mentorship-based coaching.]
[About Monica Watkins & Art in Motion: Ford Model Monica Watkins grew up on a historical, smalltown ranch in Huntsville, Texas. Discovered at age 15 at the mall with her mom, she signed on to Elite Model Management, and made frequent trips to Milan before settling in New York City. Monica has worked on campaigns for Nivea and Christian Dior, been featured in Vogue magazine, and appeared on CBS with world-renowned designer Valentino. Feeling the need to step out of the insular and material world, Ms. Watkins has embraced art, community and charity like very few among us. She started a company called Art in Motion which seeks out and nurtures young, disadvantaged artists to grow, thrive, and effect positive change through art. Over the past several years, Monica has managed artists, hosted the Art in Motion TV/Radio Show at Urban Latino Radio, shot, directed, and edited film and photography campaigns, organized and produced numerous charity events, concerts, and art exhibits throughout NYC, most recently and notably at The Box for Haiti's Hope and Konbit Mizik. She has been given the name "God-Mother Magnificent" by the children of the Diakonos Orphanage in Carrefour, Haiti for her tireless efforts to empower and bless those most in need. ]http://www.artinmotionshow.com]
Related Link:
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=12&id=45052
