by | Sep 13, 2012

Here’s a detail from a more sophisticated, contemporary voodoo flag (from the collection of the Galerie Monnin, in Pétionville). This is also an Erzulie flag, but obviously a syncretic Mary and Baby Jesus flag, as well.

by | Sep 13, 2012

I bought this voodoo flag in 1986 (see post on voodoo flags, above). It’s a quite plain flag with a veve calling design dedicated to the goddess Erzulie-Freda (at the top above the heart veve, you can just discern the word FREDA). Note that this flag has a loop...
Visit Haiti

Visit Haiti

by | Sep 6, 2012

This travel billboard (see photo below) just went up in Miami on I 95 at 69th Street. It’s a great idea for people to visit Haiti and see this incredible country. But this poster is unintentionally honest, hilarious, and tragic.

My favorite thing about it is the slogan: “Live the Experience.” I think it should say: Experience the life.

I wonder which experience of Haitians the promoters who paid for this sign are hoping that visitors will get to have? Living on a dollar a day? Not having running water? No health care? No house?

by | Sep 5, 2012

photo credit CBS Haiti tourism billboard, Miami See post above for my comments on this

by | Aug 30, 2012

This is the cover of my new book, to be published by Simon & Schuster in January, 2013. The featured artwork is a contemporary voodoo flag made by Renold Clerisier of sequins, pearl strands and other materials. It depicts the god Granbwa, master of the trees,...

by | May 15, 2012

Joan Didion and, far right, her daughter Quintana Roo Dunne, 1977 photo by Teresa Zabala/The New York Times