DArlen Projects: JOUVAY AYITI, A Carnival Project by the DCFA, UWI

Jouvay Ayiti (Haiti New Day),

A project by the DCFA, UWI.

12 February 2011.

I was asked by the DCFA, to conceptualize a costume design for their jouvay Ayiti Project, for this carnival season. Below is my conceptual thoughts and instruction on functionality of the object.

THE HEAD BANGER PIECE. A DANCE OF DEFIANCE.

Conceptual Thought- When I think of Haiti, there is a long sadness drawn from a lack of activity politically and socially by Caricom, my own country and an international community that has played a role in Haiti’s turmoil. But as I grew and learned of Haiti’s inner soul, I learned of a resilience, a defiance of a culture to lay down and sleep, you learned of the metal drum art, the music festivals, the textile makers, the artists...you learned of an ingenuity to live.

There was a philosophy being implemented through the art school movements. This philosophy implanted their culture into the imagination of the world. Be it misunderstood or not their cultural product is at the tip of world attempts at understanding them.

The head or body piece is a natural extension of the body, reaching for “that”, that makes us resilient, makes us a people, to continue in the dignity that they and we should all be, this continuation of the us is the re-embracing of our traditional craft making techniques, such as wire bending, weaving and dancing within the modernity of know.

1. The Frame – can be built using wooden strips that will give it a flexibility in move of the body.

2. Fabric-The Body piece will be knitted with coloured fabric. If cost factors are a concern twine can be used or strips of coloured cloth found.

3. The Bells- the bell will be installed on the body piece, at 52”/4=13” interval on the body piece, with the bells on spikes at the top on individual spike that emanate from the body piece.

4. The Dance- This should be a traditional dance of Haiti, that can be give modern over tones as we will be speak of tradition operating within a modernity and surviving because of adaptation.