ADIEU

Approaching the end of my Haitian sojourn at the Ciné Institute, I try to heighten my awareness of everyday existence as a way of holding onto the experience a little longer – waking up in the thick warm air, throwing off my mosquito net, jumping under the thin jet of cold water that is my morning shower – stepping from my bungalow, greeting Monsieurs Richot and Labiche as they sweep the campus grounds, sending bonjours to Madame Richot and Jacqueline as they begin their daily chores cleaning the bungalows and doing laundry – pausing at my favourite place on the rocky promontory overlooking the Caribbean Sea to watch the sunrise and let the salty spray fill my nostrils – nodding to vigilant security guards Pouchon, Fritzner and Guy – proceeding to the outdoor dining room where a breakfast of fruit, pancakes and coffee awaits me compliments of Madame Annette and her faithful helper, Micheline. Filled with the sounds of waves lashing the shores, distant farm animals and insects coming to life, as well as, odours and subtle skin sensations, my morning ritual will begin to fade in the weeks following my return home but the faces attached to it will linger in time. Other familiar faces bearing frowns, grins and consternation will also inhabit my future memory – Mami Paula, Jessica, Marie Lucie and Ebby. Our last days are taken up with helping the students finish their final film projects, sharing in their excitements and disappointments, handing out marks to first year students and, overseeing the graduation ceremony of the second year students – all the while building to the climax of screening their films to an international audience of school patrons and friends.

My personal project this year was not a film but a series of photographs – portraits of the eight young women in the graduating class. Assisted by an excellent first year student by the name of Gasner, and armed with the theme of “destiny,” I undertook the project at the beginning of the year; in January and February. For each portrait I chose a place in our rocky cove by the sea – during a ten minute window at sunrise when the sun was just peaking over the distant cliff – the women were asked to tilt their head upwards to gaze directly at the sun (so that it could be seen in their eyes) – with a determined look on their face and with a subtle, ironical smile –

“For a moment at sunrise
During the early days of Two Thousand and Thirteen
Eight women from the graduating class of Ciné Institute
Gaze out over the Caribbean Sea
And ponder their future.”
Each portrait was printed and slipped into the envelope containing their diploma.

Philogène

Betty

Lovelie

Charline

Myriam

Johane

Nadia

Ossela