Miwa Ginen- Nou se Lwa (Mirror of Ginen: We are the Spirits)

Miwa Ginen- Nou se Lwa, an exhibit by Aisha Jean-Charles, is a series of devotional altar pieces that hold and radiate the presence of the Lwa, powerful Haitian spirits. This folk art form serves not just as decoration but as energetic vessels that ground ceremonies, honor ancestors, and invite the Lwa to inhabit the space. Funding for the creation of these pieces was provided by a Support for Artist Grant by the New York State Council on the Arts.

An opening reception will be held on June 19th during Schenectady Art Night from 5pm to 8:00pm. Stop by the New York Folklore Gallery to view the exhibit.

About the Artist:

Aisha Jean-Charles is a Haitian-born multidisciplinary artist whose work reflects the rich spiritual and cultural traditions of her heritage. Raised in New York after emigrating from Haiti at the age of nine, Aisha is a proud Pitit Ginen (child of Ginen), deeply rooted in Haitian Vodou folk practices.  In Vodou folk tradition artistic abilities are believed to be ancestral gifts, talents passed down through blood and spirit to honor and uplift Ginen, the spiritual place where the ancestors and Lwa reside.

Related Programming: TBA

The exhibit can viewed whenever the New York Folklore Shop and Gallery are open. New York Folklore is located at 129 Jay Street, Schenectady, on the Jay Street Marketplace pedestrian mall. The gallery is open  Monday through Friday, 10AM to 4PM,Saturday 10AM to 3:30pm and Sundays 10AM to 2PM. Please call 518-346-7008, email NYF at info@nyfolklore.org, or visit our web site, www.nyfolklore.org for additional information.

Parking in downtown Schenectady is free on Sunday, and there is ample parking both in convenient LAZ lots, and on the street.

Funding is provided for this exhibit by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and Schenectady County Initiative Program.