Sipriz: The Haitian Sailing Project

June 27–August 16

The 21-foot wooden sailboat Sipriz that left southwestern Haiti for the US on March 16 will be on view at the American University through August 16. Retracing a route of the Haitian "boat people," the expedition seeks to draw attention to the problems that lead to the ongoing exodus from Haiti, and to understand better the refugees' experience on the arduous and often fatal passage to Florida.

Celebrating Haitian boat building traditions, seafaring skills and art, the Sipriz, built on Ile a Vache last summer by crew member Oblit Laguerre, and the sail painted by artists from the FOSAJ Art Center in Jacmel, Haiti, will be on view along with text and images depicting this 800 mile voyage.