Philippe Dodard

Philippe Dodard, a native Haitian, studied from a young age with the Haitian masters Jean- Claude Garoute (Tiga), Patrick Vilaire and Frido - founders of the Poto-Mitan School. Complimentary academic study at the Academy of Fine Arts of Port-au-Prince and the International School of Bordeaux, France, focused on pedagogic graphic design. A quest for a deeper knowledge of spiritual man led him to the Kripalu Yoga Ashram. After the popular uprising against dictatorship in Haiti in 1986, his style completely changed from his much lauded, fluid water imagery to much stronger strokes of black and white inks, coated paintings, wooden totems and metal sculptures reflecting the ‘Cry for Freedom’ of the Haitian people. He became co-founder and President of socially conscious Fondation Culture Creation (1992-1999), Dodard was also the Cultural Adviser for the First Lady Elisabeth D. Preval, and the artistic leader of Plas Timoun, a psycho-social project created for the relief of children affected by the earthquake of January 12, 2010. He was instrumental in the reconstruction of the iron market in Haiti as the project chief for Arts & Ambiances. His new work ‘The Rising Soul’ is now in the permanent collection in Triennal Internacional del Caribe au Museo de Arte Moderno a Santo Domingo. In 2011, after meeting Donna Karan and Russell James in Haiti, Dodard began his collaborations with Urban Zen and Nomad Two Worlds and was the July 2011 Ambassador of Urban Zen Foundation.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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).

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...

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

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

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).

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).

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).

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.