Crown Heights’ Haiti Cultural Exchange hosts conversation with Marc Baptiste
Haitian-born Brooklynite Marc Baptiste has an eye for beauty. A favorite amongst Hollywood and music stars, Baptiste has photographed some of today’s most popular icons, including Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, and Kanye West, among others. While his clients may take him far and wide, Baptiste lives here in Brooklyn with his wife and daughters – and will be speaking at FiveMyles Gallery in Crown Heights on Friday, March 22.
Friday’s event is hosted by Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) – a nonprofit organization that aims to cultivate and promote the cultural expressions of the Haitian people. Régine Roumain, executive director of HCX, told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, “Multiple generations of immigrants and their descendants in the Haitian Diaspora consistently seek out avenues to reconnect with their heritage. Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) helps meet this need for cultural engagement by providing year-round, accessible programming in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.”
Baptiste’s presentation is part of HCX’s An n’ Pale | Café Conversations series – a monthly run program that features a wide range of artists whose work reflects their connections to Haitian culture. “Our An n’ Pale program is a monthly public forum designed to engage multiple and diverse audiences in conversation with artists, cultural workers, and academics…[the program] provides a platform for artists to present their work, foster community engagement, and provide participants with the opportunity to discuss issues relevant to our community,” said Roumain.
Friday’s event will include an hour of networking from 6 to 7 p.m., after which Baptiste will present his photographs to the audience. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions.