Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Reinold Clerisier (HA) with creative direction by Gael Monnin (HA).

This image has been transformed into Baron La Croix (Baron of the Cross). A Loa of the dead and sexuality, along with Baron Samedi and Baron Cimetière. He is the ultimate suave and sophisticated spirit of Death - quite cultured and debonair. He has an existential philosophy about death, finding death's reason for being both humorous and absurd. Baron La Croix is the extreme expression of individuality, and offers to you the reminder of delighting in life's pleasures. Live happy and live well, for even the most rich and talented, or the most poor and resourceful people are not spared the ultimate universal experience - Death.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Reinold Clerisier (HA) with creative direction by Gael Monnin (HA).

This image represents Ayida-Weddo - the female version of Damballah, which is one of the most important of all the loa. Damballah is the Sky God and considered the creator of all life. He is both a member of the Rada family and a root, or racine Loa. In Haiti he is often depicted as a serpent and is closely associated with snakes. He is considered the father of all the loa as all Spirits are aspects of Damballah. His wife/companion Ayida Wedo, is also a Loa of creation. Damballah rules the mind, intellect, and cosmic equilibrium.

Notice on the woman's belly the Veve (symbol) of this spirit.

Translation: Band Leaders 

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Pascale Monnin (HA). 

The right Lemur has his chin pressed down to his neck because he talks down to the public. The middle one is laughing his way to the bank and the left one is sneaky and sly.  The Lemurs represent the leaders of the people, the politicians. They have taunting expressions that represent how the public view them and why the public distrust them.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Pascale Monnin (HA). 

James’ photograph represents the dead of the earth. The Lemurs in this image mock us, we have lost touch with what is truly important but there is hope that we will rediscover our own way.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA). 

January 12th, 2010. The school collapsed. Small bodies intermixed. Distress calls. Determination of the mother who raises, moves, looks. Strength of Mother Earth, invincible. Beauty of nature still. Renaissance.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

The goddess Erzuli* speaks softly to Dieudunord, blacksmith of his condition. The time has come, Dieudunord, claimed by the lwa,** cross the fence to marry her.

*Erzuli: This is the Virgin of Vodou, the Goddess of Love.

** God of the Vodou Pantheon.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Bath of leaves and earth. The slag swallowed by the mother; lightness; living space available. The spirits, satisfied, approach and sniff purity.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Emergency. Survival. Exodus. A random addition. The essential and necessary. Memories to shreds. Benchmarks burst. Father, mother, sons and daughters, where are you, friends, neighbors?

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Earth is the Sea Body. Water stained life. Placenta, umbilical cord, spring. Haitian women gave birth to all Haitian man.

Post-seism

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Sacralization of the dead bodies; strength and courage; offering to pain, dove of peace; inner dialogue; hope and Life.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Mix of earth and blood pharmacopoeia of leaves-medicine call to healing of the unbearable pain Haiti suffers.

*Pake Kongo: Small bag artistically wrapped with leaves, clothes, ribbons... used for healing. Source of magical power.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Taïnos* faces in stone observe the fisherman. The coelacanth has already to bait the hook. Meteoric rise over time. Petroglyphmineral which tells the story of a people decimated by the savagery and stupidity... sorry.

*Taiinos: Indigenous people of Haiti.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Zaka* guides the hounsi through the foliage. "Fey O, wa Sove lavimwen, nanmizè mwen ye O ..." [O leaves, save my life. In misery I am O.]

*Zaka: Divinity of land, divinity of the cultivated fields.

Travelers at Dawn

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Colors of dawn; Road to Montagne Noire; Marie-Chantal, Idovia, Ayzan* call Erzuli** with their songs; the day will keep its promises.

* Ayzan: God of the forrest.

**Erzuli: This is the Virgin of Vodou, the Goddess of Love.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Council of Wise Men on broken chairs. Erzulie* asks: "Where are our trees, our rivers, our forests? What have they done? Why is the land of Haiti crying?

Woe to those by whom the offense cometh... Wise Men stand up and set off.

*Erzuli: This is the Virgin of Vodou, the Goddess of Love.

Metamorphosis of the Sun orchid

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Birth of love; blissful contemplation of a chef-d'oeuvre, promise kept.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Meeting of people, meeting of souls. I do not understand what you say but you are the one who is there. Strange foreign language! Loss of memory. There is only tomorrow. Tomorrow. In the light...

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Natural disasters. Disruption of unreal lives. Transcendence of death. Back to Mother Earth. Supernatural hope. Divine intervention. Love and Compassion.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Wooden legs broken. Intolerable cracks; the fine lines of light illuminate the heart. The soul rose! The divine eye gazes at its child. The song gushes: AYIBOBO!*

*AYIBOBO: Cry of Happiness.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

January 12, 2010. Mother Earth quakes with all its strenght. Fear, rage or despair? Simbi** Mermaid oozes out of the fault and soars to the heavens. The Spirit accompanies the three hundred thousand souls released.

*La Sirène: A representation of Erzuli, wife of Agwe, God of the Sea and Water.

** Simbi: Spirit of Water

From Africa to the New World

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Haitian's outlook on memory, the Middle Passage, the tragic crossing of men, women and children protected by the spirits of their ancestors from extermination.

Outcomes of the Crossing

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

The shadow of Damballa* - the mythic snake embeds the rock. Crystallization, creolization. Métissage** of emotions.

*Damballa: Is the God Light of the Vodou temple.

** Métissage: Combined Cultures.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

The crown of King of Africa ran aground on a beach in the New World. The Scepter lands on the Zemi.* Ayiti Bohio Kiskeya.**

*Zemi: God of the Taiinos. Taiinos were the Indigenous people of Haiti.

** Ayiti Bohio Kiskeya: Name that the Taiinos called Haiti; the first name of Haiti.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Standing of the land of Haiti, vestiges from the ancestors underneath our feet, through our bowels speak and guide... "Legba!* Ouvri Barye!"

[Legba!* Open the Gate!]

*Legba: God's Son. He Keeps gates, especially the temple's door.

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

The mirror alights the face of light that illuminates with the same reflection as the star light. "Tezen, vini non,Tezen ..." Tezenpwasonzile emerges from the dried leaves of brown tobacco and waits quietly the terrible ridden by the spirit.

The sheep

Photograph by Russell James. Collaborative art by Philippe Dodard (HA).

Offering to Agwe, God of the Sea in Vodou religion of Haiti; homage to all the enslaved and to those whom the sea served as burial place.