HAITI FRIENDS’ MISSION

Haiti Friends, through art, expands awareness of the culture of the Haitian people and their economic and ecological needs while improving the environmental conditions in Haiti.  

In both Haiti and the US, the Friends’ mission focuses on education. In Haiti, working with the farmers in the desolate mountain communities, HTRIP technicians introduce farming techniques, which restore the soil and retain the water that is needed for food production for their families. HTRIP serves as a prototype for ecological restoration elsewhere in Haiti, through its unique approach to community ownership, collaborative work, and group decision-making. HTRIP could be used as a national model.

In the United States, art exhibits and presentations at educational and cultural institutions help to shape the global opinion of Haiti as a place of hope and joy, despite the challenging conditions and economic deprivations. The Friends’ gallery houses a large collection of Haitian artwork that is for sale and helps sustain the organization. Since 1985, Haitian art was a means of giving people in the US access to an entire culture. 

By sharing and selling Haitian artwork to people in the US the Friends has shown that artwork is a meaningful tool that might be used to put a human face on the complex problems of a troubled country. 

The Friends shares its artwork through art sales, open-houses, and special exhibits where the Friends host educational events about the Haitian artwork. Mounted in educational and cultural venues, these exhibitions help to illustrate and educate more accurately the needs of Haiti and its population both culturally and ecologically.

Haiti Friends is back with our second annual Hait Film Series

Click left and right to go through our deck about the 2024 lineup.

Haitian Art: Culture, Religion, History, and Revolution

Haitian Art: Culture, Religion, History, and Revolution

Please join us September 17th 2024 for our Haitian Art Exhibition in partnership with the Latin American Cultural Center - Pittsburgh’s newest museum

Haitian Art: Culture, Religion, History, and Revolution is an exciting introduction to Haiti and its relationships with the Caribbean, Latin America, and the world. This exhibit will display works from many of the rich artistic movements in Haiti—paintings, recycled metal sculptures from oil drums made most famous from the region of Croix des Bouquets; Vodou flags made with intricately hand stitched sequin patterns and images dedicated to religious spirits; as well as fine examples of Atis Rezistans, a more recent art form that has received international acclaim and curiosity.

Each of these artistic traditions reflects the life and history of Haiti in superb and moving ways, giving voice to the peoples and cultures of Haiti. This will be the first comprehensive exhibit of the Rawson Family collection assembled over decades of working with Haitian artists. Through the work of these artists, you will experience the rich cultural tapestry of this island nation.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

With your contributions, we will continue to focus our efforts in two areas where we have been having great success; ecological restoration and reforestation in Haiti, and the raising awareness of the great needs in Haiti through Haitian art exhibitions and presentations at cultural institutions.