Although
I was born in Nassau in 1967, I grew up and schooled in Haiti.
Thus I had an opportunity to absorb the rich heritage of Haitian art, which
far transcends the colorful primitive art familiar to tourists.Although
I was born in Nassau in 1967, I grew up and schooled in Haiti.
Thus I had an opportunity to absorb the rich heritage of Haitian art, which
far transcends the colorful primitive art familiar to tourists.
As a child I wanted to be an architect. Watching with great delight a neighbour's new house take shape, I would try to recapture with pencil and paper the shapes and emotions that exciting sight conveyed. With some influence from my uncle who produced ceramics and charcoal drawings, I went about recreating my favourite comic books superheroes. I hung out at the National Museum of Art of Haiti as well as at the respected Nader's Gallery, absorbing all I could. Art was becoming much more appealing than architecture.
I began to take art seriously when I returned to the Bahamas at age 15, thanks to the devoted efforts of my high school art teacher at C.C.Sweeting, Sue Bennett-Williams. Under her guidance, I learned how to properly handle the various mediums such as acrylic, oil and watercolor. She was also instrumental in my taking the 'A' Level G.C.E. in art, which I passed in 1984.
The recurring theme in my early paintings was the old style clapboard houses. They reminded me of the little house scenes in the countryside favoured by Haitian artists. During the late 1980's, I participated in the Annual Central Bank of the Bahamas Art Competition and the Longbranch Arts and Artisans Show. Recently I was honored to have one of my pieces "Fort Hill Houses" selected for the first Inaugural Exhibition of the National Gallery of the Bahamas in 2003.
In 1998 I married my friend and fellow artist Roshanne Minnis. We have structured our lives to fulfill our twin loves: creating art and serving as volunteer pioneer ministers of Jehovah's Witnesses, particularly to the Haitian community in Nassau. I also work as a freelance translator in Haitian Creole, French, and Spanish.
Michaelangelo, considered one of the greatest artists of all time, confessed 'The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection'. As an artist I continue to be inspired by our Creator, the most neglected artist of our time.