Community Collaboration through Art

On Tuesday, we spent the entire day in Citi Soleil working on our memorial mural.  It was one of the most intense, rewarding, and inspirational days I've ever had.  We gathered an entire community around an art project, facilitated the first collaboration between the Haitian street artists, Jerry & Snake, and brought a new type of mixed media street art to Haiti.  It was beautiful day I will never forget.


Here are some pictures from the installation.  

Jerry & Snake Wheat Pasting on the wall.

Jerry & Snake work as the community gathers to watch.

Community members checking out the Cathedral installation.

Jerry spray painting part of the mural.

Local children pose in front of the new image promoting education. 

One generation of Haitians pose in front of another. 

Jerry & Snake tag their collaboration.

Here's something I'd like to share with you that Jerry said at the end of the day.  He brilliantly captures what the project was all about.    


"I hope that there will be more of these kinds of initiatives such as we’re doing today, done voluntarily, because it helps children and youth when they see how this has been done. It also gives another face and image to a place which everyone calls a ghetto.  It can help places like this improve it's image, where everyone can come and hang out, and do what they feel like doing. This is what’s important for us to experience." 


I couldn't agree more.  This project wasn't just about putting art up on a wall.  It was about bringing a community together and using the art as a tool for social commentary.  Citi Soleil is often misrepresented and categorized as a dangerous place that people should avoid.  This mural is a way for these people to tell their story; show the world what their community really is about.  I hope the mural continues to bring their community together and inspires more collaboration throughout Citi Soleil.