A first-of-its-kind sculpture workshop in Port-Salut

This is the first time in the Centre d’Art’s recent history that a workshop has more women than men.

A clear victory for André Eugène, who, from the very start of resuming his artistic activities in Port-Salut—a commune in Haiti’s southern department—pointed out the strange curiosity surrounding his aesthetic, with some even calling him a houngan or a “madman.”

Yet the sculptor remained remarkably optimistic. “I’ve faced and overcome that in Grand-Rue. I’ll conquer it here too,” he confided.

Even better, Eugène managed to attract 15 participants to his workshop, including both adults and teenagers. “It went beyond my expectations. I didn’t think it would happen so quickly,” he said.

“It’s been an extraordinary experience,” he continued. “They show a genuine enthusiasm for creating. They’re already producing quality work, and I haven’t even taught them that much. It’s mostly thanks to their open-mindedness. Let’s not forget that most of them had no prior experience with art—let alone sculpture,” said the Grand-Rue artist with delight.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the significant participation of women and girls. Out of 15 participants, 8 were women — a record in the recent history of the Centre d’Art, which has always promoted female participation.