The Spady Museum Joins Three Cultural and Educational Venues in Delray Beach to Celebrate Haitian Heritage Month in May April 23, 2008

Toussaint L'Ouverture High School for Arts and Social Justice (TLHS), the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, and the Delray Beach Public Library announce a joint venture that celebrates Haitian Heritage month in May with exhibits, programs and a trolley tour through Haitian-Delray communities.

“Haitians of Florida: The Hope and the Future," a photographic exhibit celebrating the Haitian community of Florida, will be exhibited from April 30-June 4 at the Delray Beach Public Library 2nd floor gallery, 100 West Atlantic Ave. The exhibit, “Haitian Community Arts: Images by Iris PhotoCollective,” on loan from the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, will be exhibited at the Spady Museum, 170 NW 5th Ave., from April 7-June 30. Both exhibits are free and open to the public.

“Haitians of Florida: The Hope and the Future,” whose executive producer is Joseph Bernadel, features work by local photographers Michiko Kurisu and Jerry Lower, as well as students from the charter school, Toussaint L'Ouverture.

“Haitians need to become able to express and comment on, with their own words and images, the ever-accelerating, ever-multiplying events that are fashioning their story in Florida,” Bernadel said. Referring to the role of Lower and Kurisu, he also stated, “As observers capable of catching the decisive moments and of telling future generations what the oral traditions will not be able to transmit, photographers play an essential role both as witnesses and as artists.”

The “Haitian Community Arts: Images by Iris PhotoCollective” exhibit consists of 38 photographs of Haitian artists practicing their traditional skills and the aesthetic products of these skills. Award-winning photographers Carl Juste, Pablo Martinez Monsivais and Andre Chung of the Iris PhotoCollective captured the images. Chief Curator Dr. Joanne Hyppolite, along with fieldworkers from the Historical Museum of South Florida and photographers from the IRIS PhotoCollective, set out to document the expressive traditions of Haitians living in South Florida. From their documentation, the exhibition provides a rare view into the artistic, festive and religious traditions, including fè koupe (steel drum sculpture), woodcarving, dancing, singing, poetry, kite-making and children’s games.

Also during May, the Spady Museum will host a trolley tour on May 10 from 10 a.m.- noon with a stop at the Spady Museum. Cost for the Trolley Tour is $15 adults, $12 members, $10 children; pre-register by calling 561-279-8883. TLHS will host its Second Annual Toussaint L'Ouverture High School for Arts & Social Justice Haitian Flag Day from noon-10 p.m. on May 18 at Old School Square in downtown Delray Beach.
“The Delray Beach Public Library is honored to be working with TLHS and the Spady Museum on this project, and we hope that people will visit these exhibits and learn more about the Haitian community and its many contributions to our community,” said Library Director Alan Kornblau.

For information on “Haitians of Florida: The Hope and the Future," and/or the Second Annual Toussaint L'Ouverture High School for Arts & Social Justice Haitian Flag Day Celebration, please call TLHS at (561) 279-1100.

For information about the “Haitian Community Arts: Images by Iris PhotoCollective” and/or Haitian Community Trolley Tour, please call the Spady Museum at (561) 279-8883.

The Delray Beach Public Library can be reached at (561) 266-0194.

Official Website: http://www.spadymuseum.com