Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom

Overview

Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom takes as its point of departure an extraordinary—and now lost—historical artifact: a so-called “Book of Paintings.” Its creator was José Antonio Aponte, a free black carpenter, artist,and former soldier who was also the leader of an ambitious antislavery conspiracy in Cuba in 1812. During his trial, Aponte was forced to provide testimony describing each of the pictures in his book. They portrayed a wide array of subject matter, from Biblical scenes to landscapes to episodes in the history of Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Using those descriptions, fourteen contemporary artists have reimagined Aponte’s book for our present, inviting us to think about the role of art and history in making social change.

This exhibition is made possible by the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance (Alyans Atizay Ayisyen, Inc.). Founded in 1994 as a nonprofit, 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, HCAA is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Afro-Caribbean culture, with a focus on Haiti, for the benefit and enrichment of the local community. It is HCAA’s objective to become a one-stop information, recreation, and research center for Afro-Caribbean history and art enthusiasts that contribute to developing a strong sense of community awareness, individual pride, self-worth, commitment and involvement in the Afro-Caribbean community of Miami. HCAA invites you to join and support our organization so that through our joint endeavors we continue to achieve this objective. The core mission of The Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance (Alyans Atizay Ayisyen, Inc.) is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Afro-Caribbean culture, with a focus on Haiti, for the benefit and enrichment of the local community.

Curated by:
Édouard Duval Carrié, Artistic Director, HCAA and the Global/Borderless Caribbean Series
Tosha Grantham, Coordinating Curator, Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom
Marie Vickles, Curator-in-Residence Little Haiti Cultural Complex
with:
Ada Ferrer, Ph.D., New York University
Linda Rodriguez, Ph.D., New York University
Laurent Dubois, Ph.D., Duke University

MIAMI: December 8, 2017 – November 17, 2018

NEW YORK: February 23, 2018 – May 4, 2018

DURHAM: September 19, 2018 – November 17, 2018

PLAZA VIEJA- LA HABANA: September 20, 2019 – October 25, 2019

SANTIAGO DE CUBA: November 5, 2019 – December 1, 2019