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.
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.
@ coolp and alex: i appreciate the art work. very creative indeed. i guess since art is left to ones' interpretation, i thought as such. i also thought it captured the feelings of haitians living in haiti and some of us in the states. nice work. i think alex's work would be a great inspiration from which my students can write stories or essays.
so i don't wanna hear your comment paske mwen we ou pa konnen kisa ki rele renmen Peyi.... ou pa konnen kisa ki rele Love my country ! I wanna be Haros in my country .... I wanna make Art for life in my country.... Egal si ou te renmen Haiti se pa sa ou tap di !!!!! @ helene mondesir
Ti-Joe, I shared your post with Alex, and he says although he doesn't feel that way, everyone has the right to see what they want in art. What it means to you or anyone else, may not be the same to him.
Hellen : je ne pense pas que votre commentaire a de sens sous cette publication!!! Parce que cette publication nous montre un jeune Haitien qui nous rend fier par ses exploit a partir de ce qui fait notre honte "Fatra" so please pito ou di misye Congratulation epi ou fini!!!
nou vole propre sang nou, nou fe bussine avec propre famille pou pa dit nou vende ou too si nou te fle haiti kambe nou tap kambe longtemps mais nous refuse helene
tu as fait bien mais haitian ne va jamais changer koi je regarde le passe avec le present je pleure parce que notre pays n est plus le meme et meme nous sommes differnts on apprends mais on refuse de pratique nous sommes mechants avec notre pays sorry mais c est la realite helene
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