Artiste
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We recently came across a talented artist from LaGonave and were very
impressed by his work. While he paints in a naive style, there is a
great deal of finesse to his canvases. An outcropping of rocks over the
water, a tree root, some scrubbery, all are imbued with depth, detail
and texture. His colors are exceptionally vivid and his canvases are
very clean. We hope that you enjoy his work as much as we do.
Now for the facts:
Duns Sylvaince was born in Anse-a-Galets on the island of LaGonave, 10
miles off the coast of Haiti in 1969. When we asked this talented young
man for a biography this what we received (written in the third
person)...
"Once upon a time there lived on the remote, poverty stricken island of
LaGonave, Haiti , a 14 year old boy named Duns. In the village of
Anse-a-Galets where there were so few things for young people to do,
Duns loved going each afternoon to an American missionary home where he
did pencil sketching under the watchful eye of the artistically
talented missionary woman. Seeing a sketch pad and some markers for the
first time, Duns willingly cleaned leaves out of her flower bed and
watered the flowers in return for owning these coveted items.
Later, while a high school student in Port-au-Prince, he lived with his
artist uncle and had the treat of sleeping in his studio. There he was
introduced to the medium of oil paints, and the rest is history.
Duns speaks French, Creole, Spanish, and English and enjoys teaching
English when he gets the chance. He also enjoys translating for
Americans who come to teach or preach on the island. Musically talented
as well, he plays drums, guitar, and enjoys singing.
He lives in his mother's stick-and-mud house with a younger brother and
sister and whom he helps to support as he is able."
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Wilkenson Bruna : Screenwriter/Producer/Director
Wind of Desire is the brainchild of Screenwriter, Director and
Producer, Wilkenson Bruna. This labor of love started back in Haiti as
a photographer and grew over the years. At the age of 17, he relocated
to Miami, where he was given the opportunity to show a view of the
Haitian-American community. Bruna decided to make a feature film that
reflected the story of a good friend who he had admired for many years
but to commercialize the story he change the ending.
"I chose to tell this story because a lot of people, including
myself, and the subject matter around the story and many of the
characters are a reflection of the people that I come to close
encounter with."
After coming to the United States, Bruna began to study his craft and
soon became a production expert. Bruna studied television production at
McFatter Vocational Technical Institute, producing and directing at
Hollywood Film Institutes. In addition to his studies, he had vast
hands-on experience while working for companies such as: HBO Latin
America, WAMI - TV69, WPLG Channel 10, and the Miami Broadcast
Center, just to name a few. He has Produced several TV commercials, and
documentaries, he also served as a grip on multiple Big Studio movie
sets.
Mr. Bruna gained experience in TV Programming, Producing/Directing
Editing, linear and non-linear, dubbing and quality control. Originally
from the small island of Lagonave in Haiti, Bruna speaks French, Creole
and English.
This talented Writer / Director / Producer is a member of IFP/Miami,
Indieclub, National Academy of Television Arts and Science (NATAS), the
International Freelance Photographer Organization (IFPO) and the
Association of Video Professionals (AVP). And currently Mr. Bruna has
two film in Development and two different feature Film on
Pre-Production potentially with some Big Name SAG Actors from Hollywood
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excerpt on Haitian musician Dadou Pasquet, who helps open the world of
Haitian music to the U.S. population while helping Haitians in the U.S.
maintain contact with their culture. He sings of the Haitian struggle
and the persecution of refugees.
Dadou Pasquet is one of the most exciting and legendary Haitian
musicians of the 21th century. In the mid 60's he began a musical
career with a New York based Band called, "Tropicale". He later joined
Tabou Combo where he brilliantly displayed his skills as one of the
most renowned guitarist in the world of Haitian music.
With the emergence of Magnum band in 1976, Dadou Pasquet and his
brother, Tico Pasquet, created a unique sound in Konpa that blends
elements of Haitian root, jazz, pop, and soul filled Creole music. Some
of their most famous works include" Paka Pala", "Ashadei", " Fierte", "
Moun Sa", "Pike Devan"," Severite", and my personal favorite,
"Courage". After 27 years in the business, Magnum band built a musical
legacy that has influenced many musicians of our generation. Today
Magnum band is still performing strong, and sounds just as good now as
it did then. As a testimony to their faith and endurance in the long
journey in the Haitian music industry, Magnum Band released their 32
second album in May 2001 just before they travel to Paris to perform in
one of the world's most acclaimed musical stage, Zenith. This summer(
2003) you can look forward to Dadou's solo project " Dadou Pasquest en
Troubadour, a collection of Magnum Band's classic tunes.
For the better part of the past two decades, Magnum band and Dadou
Pasquet have been gracing stages in Haiti, and abroad. Over the years,
this combination has come to represent one of the highest standard in
Konpa music, and Magnum has produced recordings that stand today as the
pinnacle of Konpa music. Dadou Pasquet, the legendary musician behind
Magnum band, is one of the few special Haitian artists who possess
uncanny ability to deliver music in a genuinely convincing and
effortless fashion. His subtlety phrasing and smooth guitar playing
with flawless intonation has become synonymous with Magnum. Dadou
Pasquet plays the guitar with such passion, warmth, vibrancy, and
accuracy; with his only one of a kind vocal and command guitar
technique that can only be achieved through years of experience and
Allah' s giving talent ( Dadou is of Muslin Faith).
In today's world, making music requires much more than talent. Anyone
who is involves in the Haitian entertainment industry can testify to
the fact that the contemporary business practices by the so-called
Haitian producers are not very effective and progressive, and most
Haitian artists at one point in their career, have been victimized by
producers' lack of business savvy and social bias. Haitian producers
usually do not set chapters on goal setting, developing a marketing
plan, time management, networking, contracts, getting bookings and
radio play, using the Internet to promote konpa, or customizing a demo
for maximum exposure, as well as how to put together a press kit. In a
recent dialogue, Dadou Pasquet voiced the frustrations he encountered
over the years dealing with Haitian producers. Dadou believes that most
Haitian producers fail to understand certain ethical principles and
adopting solid business to promote Haitian music. As a result of
producer's lackluster efforts, Haitian artists are struggling to be
heard and to be successful. This is evident if one considers the fact
that no single Haitian artist has ever sold more 100,000 copies of
their products since konpa Direck was launched in 1955. When Haiti has
a population of more than 8 million natives here and abroad. This is a
very sad state of affair, as we all know that most Haitian artists die
poor and are under-appreciated. Antoine Rosini Jean Baptiste (
Timanno), Ti Paris, Roge Colas, Coupe Cloue , Nemour Jean Baptiste, and
Weber Sicot have all died penniless.
As we all know the subject of criticism in Haitian music is a very
complicated matter. If you write or talk about certain issues over the
radio that do not convey a positive image of Haitian producers, they
tend to take everything personal and alienate the artist in question.
When it is in fact producers label owners, and promoters have really
failed to do their job or honor their contract with artists. According
to Dadou Pasquet, Magnum has been the victim of a deplorable incident
with their most recent album "Revelation" released 3 years ago. To this
day, the producer in question failed to honor his contract with Magnum
Band, as a result the album was never promoted and the band was not
provides with with a video clip as required per contract. I don't mean
to make any value judgments, but producers have a lawful responsibility
to honor their contract, regardless whether they think an album is a
commercially viable product, otherwise you tend to compromise with the
creative spirit of an artist.
Dadou Pasquet's frustration with the Haitian Music Industry and
producers who demean and threaten konpa's distinctive aesthetic values,
may lead him to eventual stop writing and producing konpa music . When
asked to highlight some of the best and worst moments in his musical
career, on reflection, Dadou considers the loyal fans' appreciation for
Magnum band over the years. The low point of his career occurred when a
particular producer rejected an Emo project, an upcoming group from
Lagonave, which Dadou directed. Emo's project was not rejected for lack
of talent but because its members were dark in complexion. This a
serious problem in the Haitian music industry that needs to be address
by industry personnel. Today in order for a Konpa group to be
succesful, its members cannot only comprised of people of color,
depicting the depth of prejudice against skin color within konpa music
industry. Dadou Pasquet 's and Magnum band outstanding contribution to
Haitian Konpa exemplify tenacity and courage in the Human spirit, and
the Haitian public will never loose faith in them. Learn more about him
http://www.magnumband.org
By Rene Devis
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September 13, 2004
*Courtesy Lee University SID
Lee Defeats SWU 2-0 in Men's Soccer
Central, SC - The Warriors drop to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in SSAC play as
Lee wins 2-0 over the weekend.
In what coach Henry Moyo called "his team's best effort of the season"
the Lee University Flames defeated visiting Southern Wesleyan
University 2-0 on a near-perfect soccer Saturday evening at the Lee
Soccer Field.
Moyo pointed out that the visitors were conference champs last year and
this was a very important victory for his young soccer team. "We came
out ready to play and dominated a very good team," said Moyo. "I'm very
pleased with the effort of these young men. They are playing very well
together and with a lot of spirit."
The Flames got the only goal they needed just 9:30 deep into the
contest. Jeremy Van Valin delivered a near-perfect pass to Ben Stewart
who knocked the short chip into the back of the net. "That was pure
hustle on Jeremy's part," said Moyo. "Stewart is always running the
field and was in position to make the shot."
After the hard-fought first half ended with the Flames on top 1-0,
Casey Magner put the game out of reach with a goal at the 58:44 mark.
Alex Wilkes delivered the assist. The Flames kept the pressure on the
remainder of the evening and improved their record to 6-1 overall and
3-0 in the Southern States Athletic Conference.
Moyo praised the effort of his entire team, but he carefully singled
out Neremie Deronvil. "Neremie is a very valuable member of this team,"
the coach stressed. "He does a lot of different things for us." Chris
Walker, Stewart, Van Valin, and Magner were also praised.
The coached added that Dan Bausum is finally overcoming a series of
injuries and is really starting to play well. He also gave a pat on the
back to Wilkes, Garry Pedder and David DeLotelle. Goalkeeper Tuda
Murphy dominated the net again and kept SWU backed-up with his long
punts.
The defensive battle saw Lee out-shoot the visitors 15-7. The Flames
only had four shots on goal, while Southern Wesleyan had only one kick
towards the net.
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A taciturn, introverted youth, Duffaut lived through an unhappy
childhood ruled by an incompetent mother, with drawing as his only
expressive outlet.
He recounted that the Virgin Mary appeared to him in a dream at La
Gonave Island, leading him to produce an ornamental sculpture for the
chapel dedicated to her. A poet and mystic, he might be said to be a
painter of dreams depicting his hopes and beliefs, as exemplified by
his famous painting Virgin on the Mountain Top. Rigaud Benoit and a
group of artists went to Jacmel to look for new talent and found
Duffaut . During the night he had a dream: the Virgin appeared to him
with outstretched hands perched on the summit of a mountain and she
told him to paint his city Jacmel. Duffaut joined the Art Center in
1948. In 1951, he painted a mural at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Duffaut strives to reconstruct a frantic reality: winding vertical
streets and delicate and colorful houses constructed at the turn of the
century that characterize Jacmel. Not leaving anything to chance, he
writes on his painting the names of the buildings: school, customs,
police, and hospital. The effect is striking. His innate sense of com
position, genius of colors and pictorial clumsiness make his first
works masterpieces of naive art.
Préfète Duffaut
Size: 32x20
Medium: Oil
Support: Canvas
THIS PAINTING IS SOLD