The Milagro Center Celebrates Haitian Heritage with The Arts!

Le Nubian Dance Inc

The Milagro Center lives within the heart of Delray Beach. Smack dabbed in a community some have even referred to as a "Lil Haiti". Fully aware, The Blueprint Gallery coordinator Nicole Escalera had a goal to bring about an exhibition highlighting Haitian culture and more. Reaching out to Haitian American artist and curator Jason "JaFleu" Fleurant to help make it so.

On Friday, March 10th The Blueprint Gallery became alive with the sounds and works influenced by Haiti. Music by Haitian legends such as Kompa heavy weights Carimi, T-Vce to Hip-Hop super stars The Fugees filled the room as DJ Fresh had feet moving to his vibe. The delectable smell of freshly made griot sent stomachs in a frenzy craving the taste made by one of the parents of the students that attend The Milagro Center.

Artist: Tracy Guiteau

Photographer: Lawrence Jean-Louis

Eyes were filled with fascination, amazement, curiosity and adoration as crowds of art lovers took in the works that displayed the perspective of the Tracy Guiteau, Delray's very own McKinson Souveran and Miami based emerging talent Felix Wendy were in attendance sharing the meaning and inspirations behind their creations. Photography by Lawrence Jean-Lous & new comer Farha Pierre as well as mystic painting stemming from the realm of voodoo by  Mackenson Jean completed the exhibition.
world through Haitian artists' art. Artists

Artist: McKinson Souveran

Artist: Felix Wendy

All that were in attendance were treated to performances that were sure to make Haitian ancestors proud. Poet Flose Boursiquot read words that spoke to the hearts of little girls from her first book of poetry "Close Your Eyes, Now Breathe" which was flying of the tables from sales. Le Nubian Dance Inc transported everyone within the gallery to the island while fully decked out in carabella outfits (two of which donated by Women Mastermind) with a routine that ended with roaring applause as they graciously moved to the music! Exhibit Treal's JaFleu The Artist closed out the evening performances, forsaking the mic to bellow out two of his spoken word pieces. Leaving it back to DJ Fresh to takeover and get the place jumping!

The Milagro Center's first Haitian Art exhibition was an successful opening night! The most precious of sight was the art of inspiration and joy that filled the children in attendance. As they dance, met the artists and got to pick their brains!

The exhibit is running until early May. The response from the opening and requests for another event may even lead to a closing reception. Stay tuned for details on that possibility.

To visit the "Haitian Heritage" Art Exhibit during The Blueprint Gallery's normal operational times contact The Milagro Center : 561-279-2970 or email Nicole Escalera: nescalera@milagrocenter.org.

To continue to help support Exhibit Treal please visit and donate to our www.gofundme.com/exhibittreal

The "Art' of Haitian Pride takes on Miami

The streets of downtown Miami were flooded with a sea of red and blue as the 18th Annual Haitian Compas Festival jammed on! Yet this wasn't the city's only celebration of Haitian Pride. Just a few feet around the corner on the 7th floor of Mindwarehouse Connect's event space was an art exhibit like no other. Exhibt Treal (who's founders Jason "JaFleu" Fleurant & Tracy Guiteau are proud Haitians) had come into town with their own contemporay showcase of works and performances by creatives of Haitian Decent.

With the flag predominately displayed with their banner, the entire 7th floor was transformed. From the moment you stepped out the elevator, an array of emotions and feels smacked your soul. Artwork ranging from artist as such as the very entergtic 4yr old Judah James Powell, who could barely contain his glee! Artist traveled far be apart of the evening such as Mackenson Jean who hailed from Naples for his first ever art showing and Ismael Duret who took the ride down from Jacksonville with family by his side.

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Tracy Guiteau

Brenda Presil

Judah James Powell

Ismael Duret

Lawrence Jean-Louis

Belina Wright

Mc Kinson Souverain 

Mackenson Jean

OMG Ray

Felix Wendy

Landy Tima

Mindwarehouse's curator Winsome Bolt was astoundish and

beyond proud of how Exhibit Treal put it all together. Upon arrival guest were left speechless at their surroundings. The energy was every bit as live as the festival on Bayfront! As the crowded floated in and around the massive gallery, picking the minds of their favorite artists and debating the meaning behind the works, you could not help but to be honored to be amongst it all and get caught up in the pride.

Art lovers were treated to a set of performances that were LIT and intimate. The 'unplugged' performances drew the listeners closers hanging on every sound. Co-hosted by Empress Prestige & Raa the Virtuoso.. the dynamic duos chemistry has ground leaps and bounds as they performed even filling in or adding each others songs smoothly. An onslaught of poeticly empowering messages came charginig out form Ayiti Bluez, slick mental gymnastics flows of O Solon and a show stopping, life breathing performance by single the return of Cleo J' Adore that many still are raving about!Their was even a special guest performance by founder & curator JaFleu that earned an encore that left him stunned at the request.

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The exhibit as provided an oppurtonity for What About The Children in Haiti's founder and board member Esland Berjuste & Chantel J to speak on their new domestic branch "What About The Children at Home?".  Nov 11 the will be having a Teen Summit of which Exhibit Treal will be involved in,

Next up for Exhibit Treal...

Saturday May 28th:
Exhibit Treal: "The Secret" Books & Bites South Florida Pop-Up Exhibit

Sunday May 29th:
Exhibit Treal: "Spell It Out" Spelling Bee x Book Fair x Art Show

Register today for Palm Beach Carnival next month!!!!
www.westpalmbeachcarnival.com 

'Black Lily' Transforms Wine Scene into Ground Zero for the Uprising with Art, Music & More during Sunfest Weekend!

Last night was the beginning of an uprising. Inspired by what The Root's QuestLove started in his living room, providing opportunities for performers to express themselves, Chris "Da' Imperial" Deon put together an event that is certain to send waves into the culture of Palm Beach. A night of which he dedicated to the passing of his Aunt; it was jammed pack with undeniable talents and homage to the legends that have left us. Including a set dedicated to the late great Prince that was sure to even have the Heavens shaking from the grooves.

"Black Lily Uprising"

An assortment of performers from Trinidad, Atlanta, Miami and West Palm rocked the stage, serving a feast of the most blazing Spoken Word, R&B, Dance and Hip Hop that rivaled those on of Sunfest!

"There is an Erykah Badu here" a confident Da' Imperial stated as he continue to let the crowd know he is determine to find the next great talents "This time next year there will be a Black Lily Festival!"

 

Video Recap

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Enter Exhibit Treal 

 Wine Scene set the perfect backdrop, with the massive eye catching murals that transported you to Miami's famed Wynwood Walls. But that's not where the art stops.... Exhibit Treal was in full affect! With artists not only painting live but selling their works left and right. The works, much like the performers varied stretching from all kinds of medium.

"This is our Coachella." visual artist O'realjinal Desijns expressed as she began work on her latest painting.

 

"Tonight was only a morsel, this was the setup." Da' Imperial stated. And we can't wait to see and share what happens next!

Stay tuned and remember.... Be Safe. Keep What You Kill & Stay Treal