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Thursday 20 November, poolside of the Hotel Ibo Lele, with a wide nighttime vista of Pétion Ville, the airport and beyond, was the site of the formal opening of Promart Haiti art camp. Earlier that day, many of us had begun work on our first canvasses, interrupted by visits to other artist stations, exchanging business cards and contact information, still catching up with colleagues from last year’s camp. Andrea found us an ‘atelier’ with a serious view, and we began work.

Group shot 2014 Promart Artists

Group shot 2014 Promart Artists – Patrick Cauvin front row seated in white shirt

By 6pm, artists (painters and sculptors) representing Haiti, and from Slovenia, Eqypt, France, Albania, Germany, the UK, the USA, Jordan, and of course, Grenada, gathered for the welcome from Promart’s President, Patrick Cauvin who spoke about the concept behind Promart – to foster exchange between Haitian and artists of the world. He then introduced the mayoress of Petion Ville, Yvanka Jolicoeur Brutus, a petite powerhouse. Her speech encouraged all present to delve into the layers of what makes Haiti, Haiti, and to promote the best of her country to the world. The mayoress had heard we were from Grenada (birthplace of Henri Christophe), and extended to us a special welcome. It was an inspired start to what promises to be an exciting two weeks of cultural exchange and artistic interaction. The art camp is being held in Pétion Ville, the only Haitian-established city, in the world’s first independent Caribbean state. For Team Grenada, this bodes well for future Caribbean interaction, of which we are honoured to be part.

Team Grenada's atelier, poolside Ibo Lele overlooking Petion VIlle

Team Grenada’s atelier, poolside Ibo Lele overlooking Petion VIlle