Ghetto Biennale performance success!

Hello All!

The performance was a huge success and very well received at the Gran Rue in Port-au-Prince. Our performance took place in a courtyard in the center of the Gran Rue neighborhood, we had a great crowd of locals and international visiting artists alike. The performance was followed by a question and answer discussion between the audience and our group.
There were several interesting questions about the use of the loup garou metaphor as it relates to Haitian identity. We plan to have another performance in Jakmel at FOSAJ this Wednesday Dec. 28th at 7 pm.
We will have the opportunity to film this performance.
I will attach photos of our PAP performance in the near future.
We are approaching the end of our campaign and are near our goal of $3000. The remaining money is for stipends for my collaborators and anything left over will go towards Jakmel Ekspresyon Community Arts Center. Please help spread the word, we are so close!

Thanks!
Ivy Jeanne

Idantite an Aksyon- 2nd Ghetto Biennale December 2011

Here is the final updated info:

Idantite an Aksyon- 2nd Ghetto Biennale December 2011
A theatrical performance written by Jean Elie Gilles, Ivy Jeanne McClelland and Ebby Louis Angel
performed by Gran Lakou performers Yonel Charles, Miguelita Joseph and percussionist Sama Francain
Papier Mache masks by Scutt and Macarthur L' Amitie

Please join us for our performance at the 2nd Ghetto Biennale
where we use theater, dance and music to explore Haitian identity
and the folklore of the shape shifting Loup Garou
Wednesday, December 14th at 2:30 PM
622 Boulevard Jean Jacques Dessalines (Gran Rue) Port-au-Prince, Haiti
followed by a 3:30 pm Procession for 1st Ghetto Biennale participants lost in the earthquake
Screening of our Jakmel footage will be the following day, Thursday December 15th 6 pm.
Meet at 5pm at 622 Boulevard Jean Jacques Dessalines (Gran Rue) for directions to the screening

Mezi Anpil!

Indie gogo campaign info

Idantite en Aksyon- Ghetto Biennale performance

Idantite en Aksyon- 2nd Ghetto Biennale December 2011

A performance by Jean Elie Gilles, Ivy Jeanne McClelland and Ebby Louis Angel
performed by Gran Lakou performers Yonel, Miguelita and percussionist Sama

Please join us for our performance at the 2nd Ghetto Biennale
where we use theater, dance and music to explore Haitian identity and
the folklore of the shape shifting Loup Garou

Wednesday, December 14th at 2:30 PM
622 Boulevard Jean Jacques Dessalines (Gran Rue)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
followed by a 3:30 pm Procession for 1st Ghetto Biennale participants lost in the earthquake

Screening of our Jakmel footage will be the following day,
Thursday December 15th 6 pm.
Meet at 5pm at 622 Boulevard Jean Jacques Dessalines (Gran Rue)
for directions to the screening

Mezi Anpil!

Ghetto Biennale update

Bonjour Tout Moun!
The project is coming together slowly but surely. Jean Elie and I have met several times to discuss the theoretical framework of the project rooting it firmly in the readings of Homi K Bhabha, bell hooks, and Franz Fanon. I have been doing research in Jean Elie's extensive library. He is an authority on Haitian history and a wonderful host!
We have one fabulous actor, Gran Lakou choreographer Yonel and are looking for one female actor and a drummer for the performance in Port au Prince. The performance date is still to be confirmed.
We have also teamed up with FOSAJ artist Macarthur to assist in making papier machet masks to be used in the final performance.
Jean Elie and I will go to the Jacmel countryside within the week to collect stories for our project.
Thank you all for supporting our project, we will keep you posted with images and writings as the project unfolds.
Mezi Anpil!
Ivy Jeanne

Ghetto Biennale International Folklore Exchange project

Hello All!
I recently launched an Indie GoGo campaign (http://igg.me/p/47006?a=283873) for the International Folklore Exchange project at the 2nd Ghetto Biennale in Port au Prince this month. Jakmelian artists Jean Elie Gille, Ebby Louis Angel and I will facilitate art, writing and theater workshops with traditional story tellers, mountain villagers and city dwellers, and visiting international artists. We will synthesize the narratives and create a final live performance about Haitian identity and autonomy complicated by colonialism/ neo-colonialism after the earthquake. The workshops include: papier machet mask making, theater and dance, and folklore writing. We have collaborated with MESS to use their office for our workshops to begin next week.

We have raised $760 towards a goal of $3000 to fund our project. We need money to pay for artist materials, stipends, and travel and living expenses for the participating artists. There are fabulous gifts for those who donate including limited edition artwork by E.Conner, Duskin Drum and a limited edition DVD with films by emerging Jakmelian filmmakers Zaka Chery and Ebby Louis Angel.
Your contribution will help us fully realize our project. Through the International folkore exchange project, we hope to heal trauma caused by the earthquake and to celebrate Haiti's folklore and culture of resistance.
Please post this link far and wide, facebook and other social networks:http://igg.me/p/47006?a=283873

Thank you so much!
Ivy Jeanne
Jean Elie
Ebby Angel
dispatch from Jakmel

Jakmel Ekspresyon Super eight Workshop July 2011

Jakmel Ekspresyon Super eight Workshop July 2011, a set on Flickr.

American filmmakers Matthew Christensen, Ivy Jeanne and Cary Cronenwett and Haitian filmmaker Ebby Louis Angel co-facilitate a 4-day super eight filmmaking and hand processing workshop at Jakmel Ekspresyon in July 2011.

Thank you message from MESS

The following is an email we received from MESS expressing their thanks
for the support:
First, I want to thank each one of you for your support. Since we met you friends,we never stop making progress, with your support we have inaugurated the office of MESS we have done a big step I send you some pictures to how was the event. All the members were happy, and other authorities of the town like the Mayor the dean of the law facuty of Jacmel who were, encouraged us to continue and to be careful. Right now we are working on diffrent projects (Project center cybernetics and computer training office for pupils and students) Cholera,and all our objectifs.

The photos are from their office grand opening.

December Fundraiser Success!

We would like to thank those who helped us reach our goal of $3000
to secure MESS an office space in December. MESS also extends their gratitude
to those who donated.
MESS signed a year-long lease for an office in Central Jacmel for $1520
per year with the remainder being used to set up the office space
with furniture and various other office supplies.
Please get in touch if you can donate any office supplies and digital media equipment
such as computers, printers and scanners.
They are now working to set up their cholera prevention campaign and computer literacy classes
after the office fully functional. With their office space, they can now finally
begin the organization's legalization process which in turn would open up
many more opportunities to funding and collaboration.

Thanks again!
~Ivy Jeanne