Large-Scale Exhibition of Contemporary Haitian Art Travels to MOCA from Apr. 23 – Aug. 11
What/Who: The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) will display “PÒTOPRENS: The Urban Artists of Port-au-Prince” which brings together the work of over 20 artists working in the Haitian capital. The museum will celebrate the exhibition with an opening reception that will take place on Friday, April 26 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy cocktails and canapés and have the opportunity to be immersed in a night of contemporary art. Rara Lakay will present a lively procession through the MOCA gallery, courtyard and MOCA Plaza to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. MOCA will also host its free Jazz at MOCA concert featuring LeNard Rutledge in the MOCA Plaza at 8:00 p.m.
Co-curated by Haitian-American artist and curator Edouard Duval-Carrié and British artist and curator Leah Gordon, and organized by Pioneer Works Founding Artistic Director Gabriel Florenz with special advisor Jean-Daniel Lafontant, PÒTOPRENS is a large-scale exhibition of sculptures, photographs, and films, accompanied by a recreated Port-au-Prince barbershop. The exhibition highlights Port-au-Prince’s many diverse centers of cultural production, informal street life, religious heritage and mythologies to create a compelling portrait of a historically significant and intensely complex city in flux.
Representing one of the most vibrant and creative cities in the Caribbean, PÒTOPRENS is not simply a survey show, nor is it a comprehensive snapshot of contemporary Haitian art. It is an exhibition that uses the city of Port-au-Prince as a lens through which to view the chaotic intersections of history, music, politics, religion, magic, architecture, art, and literature— to enable the viewer to reflect upon the past and speculate about the future of this vital city and its country.
Rara Lakay originated from the street of Miami’s Little Haiti Neighborhood. Rara is a festive form of religious, processional music that originated in Haiti and is typically performed during Easter week. Rara Lakay’s high energy music centers on a set of cylindrical bamboo trumpets, drums and cylindrical metal, single note trumpets which are made from recycled metal and painted in bright colors.
When:
Friday, April 26, 2019, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Free Jazz at MOCA concert in the MOCA Plaza begins at 8:00 p.m.
Where:
Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami
770 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL 33161
Cost:
Admission to the opening reception is $10 for the general public and free to MOCA members and North Miami residents. For more information, visit https://mocanomi.org/2019/04/potoprens-the-urban-artists-of-port-au-prince/
About Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami
The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) is dedicated to making contemporary art accessible to diverse audiences – especially underserved populations – through the collection, preservation and exhibition of the best of contemporary art and its art historical influences. The Museum is located at 770 NE 125th Street, North Miami, FL 33161. It is open Tuesday–Friday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed Mondays and major holidays). Admission to the museum is $10 and free to MOCA members and North Miami residents. For more information, visit mocanomi.org, call 305-893-6211 or email info@mocanomi.org.
MOCA's exhibitions and programs are made possible with the continued support of the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
