Art Project Bridges Cooper-Young to Haiti
Reported by Reneka Toler & Latresia Sutton
Live music, food, and plenty of hand-crafted and oil-based paintings were all part of an art auction at Café Ole to help benefit an ongoing Haiti project.
The Haitian Project was founded by St. Joseph’s Parish, a Catholic church in Providence RI, to assist disadvantaged Haitian children. The nonprofit organization was created by an orphanage group 25 years ago. It is designed to help under-privileged students in a developmental center and boarding school. Students receive free education and boarding until 19 years of age.
The purpose of bringing the art to the Cooper-Young area is to bridge the gap between Memphis and Haiti art works. Residents observe and make purchases of handbags, beads and necklaces that were made from T-shirts by Haitian students.
Christina Moynihana, director of Outreach of Haitian Project said “Art is more a value than a skill, because students in Haiti treasure this gift.” As Haitian students value their gift of art, Cooper-Young residents gain awareness of malnutrition and lack of education in Haiti.
Moynihana named the art project Sa Bel De, which stands for Beautiful, “since people seem to think of beauty when the country Haiti is mentioned.” The Haitian project also sponsored an employment project which teach students to earn a living and work ethics.
The Haitian Project event occurs once a year in the spring. Art work pieces ranged from $10 - $200. The best selling art work in 2011 was Noah’s Ark which was sold for $1,000.00. Cooper-Young residents as well as other Memphians are encouraged to attend next year.
The Haitian Project was founded by St. Joseph’s Parish, a Catholic church in Providence RI, to assist disadvantaged Haitian children. The nonprofit organization was created by an orphanage group 25 years ago. It is designed to help under-privileged students in a developmental center and boarding school. Students receive free education and boarding until 19 years of age.
The purpose of bringing the art to the Cooper-Young area is to bridge the gap between Memphis and Haiti art works. Residents observe and make purchases of handbags, beads and necklaces that were made from T-shirts by Haitian students.
Christina Moynihana, director of Outreach of Haitian Project said “Art is more a value than a skill, because students in Haiti treasure this gift.” As Haitian students value their gift of art, Cooper-Young residents gain awareness of malnutrition and lack of education in Haiti.
Moynihana named the art project Sa Bel De, which stands for Beautiful, “since people seem to think of beauty when the country Haiti is mentioned.” The Haitian project also sponsored an employment project which teach students to earn a living and work ethics.
The Haitian Project event occurs once a year in the spring. Art work pieces ranged from $10 - $200. The best selling art work in 2011 was Noah’s Ark which was sold for $1,000.00. Cooper-Young residents as well as other Memphians are encouraged to attend next year.
Video by Chris Freitas
Photographs by Manon Priebe
Manon Priebe/ MicroMemphis reporter
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