“Tipa Tipa, N’ap Avanse” exhibition
Exhibition runs from Feb 22 - Mar 23, 2025Court Tree Collective is proud to present “Tipa Tipa, N’ap Avanse” an exhibition celebrating the resilience and creativity of Haitian artist Charles Art Jerry, alongside the evocative works of mepaintsme and Michael McGrath, and art by the talented students of Art School Jerry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The title, Tipa Tipa, N’ap Avanse (Step by Step, We Move Forward), reflects both the steady journey of artistic growth and Haiti's enduring strength amidst ongoing social and political conflicts. This show highlights the transformative power of art in preserving culture and fostering hope in the face of adversity.
Charles Art Jerry’s vibrant works honor Haiti’s Vodou heritage, while his students’ creations offer fresh perspectives shaped by the realities of their lives and their community’s spirit. mepaintsme and Michael McGrath, dedicated supporters of Art School Jerry, are honored to present their own works alongside this remarkable collective in a celebration of progress and connection.
This exhibition invites us to reflect on the struggles and aspirations of communities both in Haiti and the U.S., celebrating art as a universal tool for fostering connection, cultural preservation, and forward momentum.
PREVIEW THE COLLECTION ︎
Charles Art Jerry is a Haiti-based painter whose work delves into the rich traditions of Haitian Voodoo and the natural world. His passion for art was ignited after participating in the "Ghetto Biennial," an artistic festival celebrating Haitian Voodoo and black magic culture. His paintings feature Veve symbols—sacred religious and spiritual motifs—which he believes can bring success to those who have faith in their power. His artwork has been showcased at his art school in Haiti and exhibited in galleries worldwide.
Since 2016, Charles Jerry has been providing free art lessons to children in his community of Port au Prince, where students learn to paint as well as learn about Haitian history and culture. He sells not only his own work, but also helps his students sell their paintings. The money his students make selling their art helps them pay school fees and buy food and clothing.
mepaintsme (pseudonym) is an artist and curator who lives and works in the United States. He received a BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art and attended artist residencies at AICAD, New York Studio Residency Program (New York, NY) and the Santa Fe Masters Program (Santa Fe, NM). For the past 30 years, he has worked as an illustrator and painter. He currently runs the online gallery MEPAINTSME with his partner, and is the sole curator behind the @mepaintsme Instagram account.
Michael McGrath lives and works in Rhinebeck, in New York's Hudson Valley. His recent work is inspired by his current upstate NY environment and its history, and also in his curiosity in the cults of mysticism, mythology and religion through the lens of naivety. He is interested in religion, magic and mythology, and also more mundane aspects of daily life. His ghosts and skulls symbolize death and afterlife, with a measure of happiness and hope. His faces are often gods, deities or the deceased, and he imagines that “…if there were gods, ghosts or magic, they would exist in nature and in the landscape; not just beings in the sky, but also in the ground, in the trees, in the flowers and in the animals.”
Michael’s work has bee exhibited in Rhinebeck, New York, Germany, Belgium, and a solo show at Fir Gallery in Beijing, China.
