Location: Haiti
Didier Civil Artistic Resume
1973 Born 20 February in Jacmel, Haiti
Residence: Jacmel, Haiti
Personal statement:
I was born in 1973 io Jacmel, Haiti where I still live. I am an artist who works in paper mache. I have spent a long time teaching my trade to young adults and children. As a result of these skills, many of them are now able to provide for their families. This is the reason I founded CFAJ (Centre de Formation Artistique de Jacmel) - to keep the ripple effects of mentorship and teaching reaching into the future.
I grew up in a town where art was valued and masks were always being made for carnival, “madigras”. The real value of papier-mache occured to me when I learned about Lyonel Simonis, a master and pioneer of papier-mache mask-making. He was the first to make masks representing the indigenous inhabitants of Haiti. Being an artist enables me to show this art form -and its place in mask-making history- to the world.
When I do paper mache, I like to create the personalities of Vodou and scenes of life around me. Vodou is part of my culture, and paper mache is a way to show the world what it means, and the value it holds.
This is now truer than ever before.
I need an opportunity to make art and be able to support my young son and family in Haiti. This has become impossible since the earthquake.
http://www.didiercivilartsjacmel.com
dicivil7@gmail.com
1994 – Hotel La Jacmelienne where I first met Jonathan Demme who bought several of my paintings. Featured in his book ISLAND ON FIRE with a forward by Edwidge Danticat
Exhibitions:
2010 Sept 28 – November 24th – AFFIRMATION ARTS, NYC – Selebrayson!
2008 - JAC-MEL-ANGE - Organized by The Alliance Francais in Jacmel.
2007 - Musée d’ethnographie de Genève , Switzerland Exhibition: Le vodou, un art de vivre
2007 - Novembre Exhibition at Seattle Central Community College, Seattle WA.
2006 et 2007 - Two installations at CFAJ dedicated to two deceased artists from Jacmel – Jean Rony David and Lionel Simonis, two pioneers in the art of paper mache.
2003- 2004 FOSAJ (Fondation Sant d'Art jacmel)
May exhibiiton at the Hotel Florita of jacmel Vodou Riche,Chicago
2002 – November – Invitational by the University of Notre Dame Haiti, organized by l'UNDH(universite Notre dame d'Haiti)
1997 – May: Exhibition organized by the Alliance of Jacmel and the Cultural Center - in the public library of Jacmel
1997 – February : Exhibition organized by the Alliance of Jacmel on the occasion of Carnival.
1996 – Three murals
1994 - April - May Chamber of Commerce, Port-au-Prince
1990 – Group exhibition of paintings at LFAGO in Jacmel
Professional Affiliations:
2004 -2007 - Director of CFAJ - Jacmel Center for Training in the Arts
2000-2004 Founding member and Artistic Director of KAY (kominote Atis Yo)
1990 – 1998 Director/Founder of the mascarade group LA PAIX
Awards and Recognition:
2007 *1st Place – Minister of Culture of Jacmel
the same mask won two awards
2007*1st Place for the Lionel Simonis Prize Vampire
2000 *1st Prize for the Carnival Theme: Famous people of the 20th Century
Commissions:
2010 – Anne-Marie Martin – Icelandic Pony
2010 – Halloween Day Parade – NYC- Le Baron Samedi and Brigitte
2010 – Roswell Rudd, Portrait
2009 – Werewolf – commissioned by La Paix de Jacmel to create this figure for them
2007 – Musée d’ethnographie de Genève , Switzerland Exhibition: Le vodou, un art de vivre
Workshops:
2011 – University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2010 – December, Brown University, Providence, RI
2010 – November Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
2007 - Workshop papier mache - BROOKWOOD SCHOOL in GLOUSCESTER, Mass
http://www.artdaily.com/indexv5.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=19852
2007 - Conference on Haiti at MONSSERAT COLLEGE, Boston, Mass
2007 - SANTA FE, New MEXICO at the FOLK ART MARKET
Residencies:
2011 – Feb-March University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2010 – December, Brown University, Providence, RI
2010 – November Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct
2010 – November Brown University, Providence, RI
2007 - The Papier Mache Tradition of Jacmel Monsserat College, Boston
I admire this great man, There is a tradition of mask making in Jacmel and I have been doing portraits for a long time.
Roswell Rudd is a legendary jazz trombonist. We became friends in New York. This is his portrait.
I was commissioned by Jason Moran, the Director of the Jazz Program The Kennedy Center, to create this portrait of the great jazz pianist Fats Waller.
Mr. Moran wears his mask during his Fats Waller performances.
“President Obama”
“Roswell Rudd”
“Fats Waller”
