About The Artist

Didier Civil Artistic Resume 1973 Born 20 February in Jacmel, Haiti Residence: Jacmel, Haiti Personal statement: I was born in 1973 io Jacmel, Haiti where I still live. I am an artist who works in paper mache. I have spent a long time teaching my trade to young adults and children. As a result of these skills, many of them are now able to provide for their families. This is the reason I founded CFAJ (Centre de Formation Artistique de Jacmel) - to keep the ripple effects of mentorship and teaching reaching into the future. I grew up in a town where art was valued and masks were always being made for carnival, “madigras”. The real value of papier-mache occured to me when I learned about Lyonel Simonis, a master and pioneer of papier-mache mask-making. He was the first to make masks representing the indigenous inhabitants of Haiti. Being an artist enables me to show this art form -and its place in mask-making history- to the world. When I do paper mache, I like to create the personalities of Vodou and scenes of life around me. Vodou is part of my culture, and paper mache is a way to show the world what it means, and the value it holds. This is now truer than ever before. I need an opportunity to make art and be able to support my young son and family in Haiti. This has become impossible since the earthquake. http://www.didiercivilartsjacmel.com dicivil7@gmail.com 1994 – Hotel La Jacmelienne where I first met Jonathan Demme who bought several of my paintings. Featured in his book ISLAND ON FIRE with a forward by Edwidge Danticat Exhibitions: 2010 Sept 28 – November 24th – AFFIRMATION ARTS, NYC – Selebrayson! 2008 - JAC-MEL-ANGE - Organized by The Alliance Francais in Jacmel. 2007 - Musée d’ethnographie de Genève , Switzerland Exhibition: Le vodou, un art de vivre 2007 - Novembre Exhibition at Seattle Central Community College, Seattle WA. 2006 et 2007 - Two installations at CFAJ dedicated to two deceased artists from Jacmel – Jean Rony David and Lionel Simonis, two pioneers in the art of paper mache. 2003- 2004 FOSAJ (Fondation Sant d'Art jacmel) May exhibiiton at the Hotel Florita of jacmel Vodou Riche,Chicago 2002 – November – Invitational by the University of Notre Dame Haiti, organized by l'UNDH(universite Notre dame d'Haiti) 1997 – May: Exhibition organized by the Alliance of Jacmel and the Cultural Center - in the public library of Jacmel 1997 – February : Exhibition organized by the Alliance of Jacmel on the occasion of Carnival. 1996 – Three murals 1994 - April - May Chamber of Commerce, Port-au-Prince 1990 – Group exhibition of paintings at LFAGO in Jacmel Professional Affiliations: 2004 -2007 - Director of CFAJ - Jacmel Center for Training in the Arts 2000-2004 Founding member and Artistic Director of KAY (kominote Atis Yo) 1990 – 1998 Director/Founder of the mascarade group LA PAIX Awards and Recognition: 2007 *1st Place – Minister of Culture of Jacmel the same mask won two awards 2007*1st Place for the Lionel Simonis Prize Vampire 2000 *1st Prize for the Carnival Theme: Famous people of the 20th Century Commissions: 2010 – Anne-Marie Martin – Icelandic Pony 2010 – Halloween Day Parade – NYC- Le Baron Samedi and Brigitte 2010 – Roswell Rudd, Portrait 2009 – Werewolf – commissioned by La Paix de Jacmel to create this figure for them 2007 – Musée d’ethnographie de Genève , Switzerland Exhibition: Le vodou, un art de vivre Workshops: 2011 – University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 2010 – December, Brown University, Providence, RI 2010 – November Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 2007 - Workshop papier mache - BROOKWOOD SCHOOL in GLOUSCESTER, Mass http://www.artdaily.com/indexv5.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=19852 2007 - Conference on Haiti at MONSSERAT COLLEGE, Boston, Mass 2007 - SANTA FE, New MEXICO at the FOLK ART MARKET Residencies: 2011 – Feb-March University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 2010 – December, Brown University, Providence, RI 2010 – November Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct 2010 – November Brown University, Providence, RI 2007 - The Papier Mache Tradition of Jacmel Monsserat College, Boston