HAITI: RECOVERING AS AN ARTIST FROM THE EARTHQUAKE

Port-au-Prince’s historical center was totally devastated

In Port-au-Prince, the Capital, the historical center was severely damaged.

The city of Jacmel, famous for its carnival and cultural life, was also severely damaged

Jacmel, a town south of Port-au-Prince, was famous for its cultural life and its annual carnival. It had been attracting tourists from across the Caribbean island and all over the world. Sadly, the earthquake also severely hit the city.

Flo McGarrell, an american born artistic director of the art center and non-profit organization FOSAJ died. Half of the painters and craftsmen lost their home. Destruction of the hotels and impoverishment of large sections of the population have deprived the artists of their wages, income and arts promoting places.

In June 2010, large parts of Jacmel were still buried under the rubble of buildings. Six months after the disaster, some of the artists still lived in tents or in their house cracked. Nightmarish, the victims condition was made even more precarious with the rainy seasons and the hurricanes.

Stricken-Earthquake artists committed to alleviate sufferings of children

Despite the disaster that hit their country on 12 January 2010, the artists have not given up to develop their art, notably inspired from voodoo culture.