Haitians Keep Heritage Alive Through Arts

SunSentinel September 4, 2005 | By Arlene Barochin Staff Writer While the media portray images of poverty, death and political instability from Haiti, some South Florida residents are trying to shed a positive light on a different aspect of Haiti for the incoming generation. Community members are passing on their culture and ideas through one of the oldest forms of Haitian communication: art. “Art is not limiting. Through art, people liberate themselves,” said Pascal “Kafe” Garoute, 47, of Lauderhill, lifelong artist and daughter of the internationally acclaimed artist Tiga. “Art for us is not an objective; it is a way of life,” Garoute said. Many Haitian artists share these ideals, and fear upcoming Haitian-American generations will lose sight of this part of their heritage. “Your children will know nothing about Haiti,” Garoute said, “and that will kill me.” To bridge the gap between the generations, artists such as Garoute and husband Christian “Kristo” Nicholas, 50, strive to…

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