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The first assignment in class was to capture motion. Here students participate in an upcycled materials Can Race.

Photography Class in Port-au-Prince Haiti

May 24, 2013 by delphhh

Project Hope Art Photo Program 2013 Haiti By Romel Jean-Pierre: Day-1 The Project Hope Art photo program will last for 16 weeks and started on Sunday 28 April in PHA Center at Haiti Communitere in Haiti. 12 participants were registered, 10 were present. Altidor Julio, 13 years old; Pierre Bergina, 16 years old; Leonis Junior, 14 years old; Fritzner Valdor 12 years old Pastor Jules was responsible for this group Blandine Lexine, 17 years old; Macdaline Fontis, 11 years old; […]

Categories: Art Projects, Photography Class 2013, Visual Storytelling

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Tap Tap Coloring Page – FREE Download

May 18, 2013 by kathybarbro

The very resourceful Haitians have a long history of traveling by Tap Taps, which are some of the most colorful vehicles you will ever see. Click HERE to download this original coloring page for FREE. Here’s a fun fact about their name – when a traveler wants to get off at a stop, they reach out and “tap, tap” the side to let the driver know to slow down. How efficient is that?

Categories: Art Projects • Tags: FREE Download

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Green Eggs and Ham, Fondation Maison d’Espoir

May 18, 2013 by Melissa Schilling

Each trip to Haiti, we tote along five foot Literacy posters showcasing memorable childrens books in English, Kreyol and French. After reading stories with children of all ages we settle into an art activity. For Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, it was easy to incorporate our beloved Moringa Powder into the eggs and cover everything in a rainbow cloud of vivacity. Big love, as always, to Aimee Gaines and Sarah Boll for making this program chug along the train […]

Categories: Art Projects, Visual Storytelling

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Help Wanted: Special Event Coordinator, 6-month volunteer position

May 8, 2013 by Melissa Schilling

Project HOPE Art is sponsoring three Haitian Artists to visit San Francisco, build sculpture and present our collective work in Haiti at our Third Annual Voodoo Donor Dinner in San Francisco. We need a strong, creative, tenacious individual to join the team for 6 months. Job Responsibilities: BROAD RESPONSIBILITIES • Oversee the donor dinner and arts sculpture program at Recology, in September • Develop and promote the mission, vision and values of Project HOPE Art • Work with peers and […]

Categories: Join the Team

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Coeurs Magiques

May 4, 2013 by Melissa Schilling

We LOVE the girls of OJFA so much, we wanted each girl to have a piece of our heart. Lead Artist Jenni Ward created these magic wands so the girls could invoke magic and hold tight to the idea that even from afar, we love them so much. You can support Art in Haiti AND have your very own coeurs magiques by clicking here. Handmade Art Hearts! Give a bouquet to the one you love! These hearts are made by […]

Categories: Art Projects, Fundraiser • Tags: art, clay, haiti, hearts, kiln, magic, photography, pottery, wands

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Art Trading Card Drive for Haiti

May 2, 2013 by kathybarbro

Art trading cards are little works of art that measure 2.5” x 3.5” in size. In July 2013, Project HOPE Art will once again be traveling to Haiti, and would love to deliver as many of these cards as possible to children who have so much less than the rest of the world. If you would like to take part in this drive, and send a message of good will, please follow the project requests below. Use any type paper […]

Categories: Fundraiser

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Art from Haiti

April 8, 2013 by kathybarbro

Want to see something amazing? These photos were just sent from Racine, Claudel and Romel, three Haitian artists that Project HOPE Art worked with last summer. They took some of Melissa’s photos of Haiti children and created these works of recycled art with materials found around their home in Port-Au-Prince. These pieces and more are going to be brought up for several art shows in Oakland this fall, but you folks get the first sneak preview. Aren’t they great?

Categories: Fundraiser

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Bwat Aliminyom

April 4, 2013 by Melissa Schilling

Bwat Aliminyom means Aluminum Cans, in Kreyòl. We are always looking for ways to create fun, whimsy and art from unwanted discarded materials. So when Delphine Bedu spied these cans on a pier in Key West, Florida all of us sat up and took notice. As we speak, our home team artists at the Project HOPE Art Center at HC, Racine Polycarpe, Claudel Casseus and Romel Jean Pierre are devising a class around upcycling cans into planes, boats and cars. […]

Categories: Art Projects, Partners • Tags: art, cans, children, do, fun, haiti, make, race, trash, upcycling

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PHA Looks to Expand…

March 24, 2013 by kathybarbro

About 3 short years ago, I received an email from northern California, showing me one of my murals that was colored and hanging on a school wall in Haiti. Long story short — that exchange changed my life. I soon met the amazing women of Project Hope Art, joined their cause, and have had so many incredible adventures with them ever since. I’ve drawn, painted, colored, crafted, danced, laughed (and cried!) with them and some of the most adorable little […]

Categories: Join the Team

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Joining Forces with Burners Without Borders

March 19, 2013 by aimeegaines

Collaboration is the name of the game. Take it from Charles Darwin, who once stated, ”In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” That’s why HOPE Art is always looking to branch out and join forces with other similar, well-intentioned causes out there. Meet our newest partner, Burners Without Borders. Every summer Burning Man participants (aka Burners) meet in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada to re-engage with their […]

Categories: Partners • Tags: Burners Without Borders

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Colorado Art Show Benefit

March 5, 2013 by earthartstudio

Artist and art teacher Holly Johnson of Denver CO has generously chosen PHA to be a recipient of proceeds from her exhibit “I am Kid”. Thank you so much for the support Holly!! Read more about this event below… Pirate Contemporary art is proud to present— I am Kid. I am Kid, is a group exhibition featuring work by Holly Johnson who is a founding member of the Denver collective PINK COLLAR GLAM and students from her 1st through 3rd […]

Categories: Fundraiser

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Preview of New Haiti Mural

February 19, 2013 by kathybarbro

Here’s a preview of Project HOPE Art’s new Haiti Mural, available in just a couple of weeks. This original image was created by Shepard Fairey, an American graphic designer and illustrator who is best known for the iconic HOPE Obama poster. For just $10, you will receive a pdf file that you can print, color, and tape together to make an amazing 40″ x 60″ poster. All proceeds will go to fund Project HOPE Art’s ongoing work in Haiti. Stay tuned […]

Categories: Fundraiser

fragile beauty: botany and art

February 10, 2013 by Melissa Schilling

exploring the relationship between botany and photography . . . When I wake up in the mornin’, love And the sunlight hurts my eyes And somethin’ without warnin’, love Bears heavy on my mind Then I look at you And the world’s alright with me Just one look at you And I know it’s gonna be A lovely day -Bill Withers In 2011 and 2012, Project HOPE Art explored the relationship between food and illustration. We drew fresh fruit in […]

Categories: Haitian Culture/Language

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Claire Heureuse and the start of Freedom Soup

January 17, 2013 by Melissa Schilling

The girls began pummeling garlic and parsley in three seperate batches, in wooden mortar and pestles on New Years Eve. Twenty girls strong were all participating in a task associated with the famous Haitian Winter Squash Soup known as Soup Joumou or Freedom Soup. To make enough soup for 40 people the girls would cut, chop, pound, puree and stir into the wee hours of the night. Then a shift of girls would go to sleep and a new round […]

Categories: Haitian Culture/Language, short story series, Visual Storytelling • Tags: freedom, haiti, soup joumou

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short story: oranges and granola

December 16, 2012 by Melissa Schilling

Oranges and Granola The tall catholic church stood gleaming against the grime of the street. Women crouched on their heels hawking fruit across from the church. The most beautiful fruit. More beautiful than could be found inside the adjacent supermarket. More beautiful fruit than in any supermarket in all of Haiti. The only good thing about the supermarkets with the wilting produce was the air conditioning. It was almost worth it to purchase a single soft apple or brown tinged […]

Categories: short story series • Tags: desperate, food, granola, haiti, oranges, photography, poor, short story

First Teacher Training Workshops!

December 11, 2012 by earthartstudio

Project HOPE Art is kicking off 2013 with teacher training workshops at Haiti Communitere’s new Project HOPE Art Center on January 5th the workshop will be repeated again at Sakala on January 6th. The workshops will focus on both Art and Science. In the morning, local teachers will have the opportunity to experiment with art materials and learn techniques that they can use in their classrooms. The afternoons will focus on sustainable agriculture and nutrition for children. The workshop will […]

Categories: Partners

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The Magic Moringa Tree vetted by National Geographic

November 13, 2012 by Melissa Schilling

We’ve been working with the Magic Moringa Tree for nearly a year. We have passed out 20 literary packets of information, in Kreyol, about the Moringa Tree to teachers, educators and community caretakers all over Port au Prince. That is nearly 2,000 pages of solid anti-malnutrition information. All that reading material led to roughly 200 Moringa Trees being planted in Cite Soleil by teacher Luc Winter of RAJEPRE. Now with the help of a few pods of our favorite children […]

Categories: Art Projects, Fundraiser, Haitian Culture/Language

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Let There Be Light!

November 12, 2012 by earthartstudio

In honor of the third anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince Haiti, Project HOPE Art is building a sculpture from recycled materials with Haitian artists, students and other project partners called “Let There Be Light”. We will be creating a chandelier of plastic trash collected from the streets of Port au Prince. Local artists from Atis Rezistans in Port au Prince are designing and building the trellis from which it will hang. Students from Centre d’Education et de Formattion des Jeunes are collecting and […]

Categories: Art Projects

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October was our PHA 2-year birthday!

November 1, 2012 by Melissa Schilling

To celebrate we made a Wordle Word Art of the most popular words used to describe our Art Projects! Thank you so much to our generous donors, supporters, cheerleaders, volunteers and friends who made this project possible. We thank you somuch for allowing to feel joy and spread that around for more people to enjoy.

Categories: Art Projects, Thank Yous, Visual Storytelling

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PhotoPhilanthropy Visual Essay Submission, 2012

October 21, 2012 by Melissa Schilling

Bleak Landscapes and Grim Living Conditions meet your arch nemesi: Vibrant Color, Laughter and Creativity. This photo essay follows a group of American artists through the slums of Port au Prince and into schools, hospitals and orphanages. In their war against despair the best weapon of choice is intentional whimsy and purposeful joy. Project HOPE Art is comprised of a colorful cast of characters that appeal to my inner child. They work fervently to heal and inspire the children around […]

Categories: Art Projects, Join the Team, Visual Storytelling • Tags: art, children, culture, haiti, Joy, Living Angels, photography, Third World, Visuals, Whimsy

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art & vibrancy in Haiti

October 5, 2012 by Melissa Schilling

Bleak Landscapes and Grim Living Conditions meet your arch nemesi: Vibrant Color, Laughter and Creativity. This photo essay follows a group of American artists through the slums of Port au Prince and into schools, hospitals and orphanages. In their war against despair the best weapon of choice is intentional whimsy and purposeful joy. Project HOPE Art is comprised of a colorful cast of characters that appeal to my inner child. I choose to photograph this organization’s journey into the Third […]

Categories: Visual Storytelling

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Project Express Yourself

October 4, 2012 by earthartstudio

Project HOPE Art is proud to support performance artist Pamela Crawford and her Project Express Yourself via our Visiting Artist Program. Her goal for her two weeks in Haiti with PHA partner organizations is to bring self and group expression to the children of Haiti through the art of Hooping. Pamela will teach hooping skills that will culminate in a community performance at the end of her residency in Haiti. This performance and the days leading up to it will be filmed for documentation. […]

Categories: Art Projects

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sirèn, zetwal lamè ak avanti anba dlo a

October 4, 2012 by Melissa Schilling

To make believe: (idiomatic) To pretend or imagine. To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one’s mind. For our January 2013 trip to Haiti we will be creating an under the sea adventure for classrooms, hospitals and orphanage bedrooms. Sirèn, zetwal lamè ak avanti anba dlo a (mermaids, sea stars and underwater adventures) will abound. Christopher Columbus reported seeing mermaids while exploring the Caribbean 500 years ago. People have spotted mermaids in the […]

Categories: Art Projects • Tags: art, carribbean, crafts, DIY, haiti, imagine, mermaids, ocean, pretend, sea

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