Name: Fanal Art Workshop at Port au Prince Haitian Cuisine
Start: 2024-11-17T14:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-12-08T17:00:00-05:00
Location: Port-au-Prince Haitian Cuisine

Get ready to unleash your creativity at the Fanal Art Workshop hosted through collaboration of Teaching Artist(s) , AHP & Komite Ayiti Inc
About this Event

Fanal Art Workshop

Join us for a fun and creative fanal making workshop at Port au Prince Haitian Cuisine!
Get ready to unleash your inner artist and explore your creative side while learning more about this Haitian end-of-year cultural practice and celebration. A fanal is a traditional Haitian Christmas lantern – see links below for more background information.

Haitian Teaching Artist(s) will be guiding and leading fanal workshops on Sundays: November 17 and December 8, 2:00 pm -5:00 pm, at Port au Prince Haitian Cuisine, 7912 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. The artist(s) will demonstrate and showcase to workshop participants how to make fanals.

Fanals will be exhibited at the Embassy of Haiti on Dec. 20, 2024, in partnership with AHP and Komite Ayiti.

The workshops are open to ages 5 to adults. Workshop admission is free, but $10 (minimum) donation is encouraged to cover supplies and other misc. Older participants are encouraged to bring their own cutting tools, e.g., exacto pen knives/sharper scissors, as we will provide child-safe cutting tools. Assistance from parents (with or without an arts background) is welcome to manage the volume of children we expect. Portions of the workshops will be photographed/video-recorded for display on the social media feeds of co-sponsoring organizations/teaching artists.

Please note this will be in a restaurant setting where you can also purchase food and drinks during the workshop.

Useful Background Links

https://minustah.unmissions.org/les-fanaux-or-traditional...

https://haitiantimes.com/.../haitian-christmas.../

Participate in our Fanal Art Contest.

Click Here for more information and to sign up

Alphonse Piard (Alpi)- artist leading workshop on Sunday, November 17 at Port au Prince Haitian Cuisine.

Artist Statement

From the tender age of 12, under the guidance of a local naïve artist in Les Cayes, Haiti, I embarked on a journey of artistic exploration. My early years were marked by dedication and hard work, culminating in my first show sponsored by the French Alliance. This initial success set my brush on an unending voyage across the canvas, delving into the intricate meanders of aesthetic creativity.

Having spent nearly four decades abroad in Switzerland and the United States, I have been influenced by a myriad of art trends and movements. Yet, “l’Ecole de la Beauté” (the School of Beauty) has remained a cornerstone of my artistic philosophy. Unlike many of my contemporaries who adhere strictly to the group’s idioms—characterized by stylized women’s profiles with elaborate headscarves—I approach these elements with circumspection. My work expands these concepts into a phantasmagoric network of abstraction, particularly evident in my “Compositions” series, where intricate forms overlap in infinite meanders.

The pandemic brought a temporary halt to my painting, as I focused on meeting the high demand for my Fanals. Balancing a demanding work schedule and family obligations, I ponder whether I can create a surplus that would allow for an exhibition of these works. Such an exhibition would enable a broader audience to experience the skill, vision, and ingenuity that a select few currently enjoy in their homes.

Art, in my view, must not be regressive or static; it must evolve. I believe that referencing the past does not equate to clinging to tradition and the status quo. Instead, it involves being well-informed about historical achievements while striving to soar to new heights. This philosophy continues to guide my artistic journey, as I seek to push the boundaries of creativity and expression.

Artist leading workshop on Sunday, December 8 at Port au Prince Haitian Cuisine.

Mondy Pierre Auguste: Haitian Artistic Visionary

Mondy Pierre Auguste is a renowned Haitian entrepreneur, artist, and philanthropist, born in Pétion-Ville on July 8. As CEO of Mondy Art Expo and President of OPHANIP, supporting individuals with disabilities, Mondy's innovative spirit shines. Discovering art at six, he developed a unique, dramatic style, mastering knives and brushes. Mondy excels as a painter, business manager, and photographer, exploring various techniques and subjects. His artwork provokes thought, solidifying his position as a leading figure in Haitian art history.