Do I have a vision for the development of my community?

Am I developing useful skills that will serve the development of my community?

In my daily life, do I have a positive attitude and positive words that value my community?

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About the Art(ist)

Bio

Titi de Baccarat is a multidisciplinary African artist who builds community, at once painter, sculptor, jeweler, clothing designer, songwriter, activist, producer and author. His authentic style is based on the use of heterogeneous materials which gives his works the ability to provoke both questions and emotions. He firmly believes that whatever form it takes and whatever functions it may have, the primary essence of art is to awaken human consciousness and harmonize the functioning of psychic faculties so that the human being can thrive, overcome the normal stresses of life, perform productive work and contribute to the life of their community”.

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Mouyanga Bayidi Lingwala

The Gifts and Beliefs The effervescence of imagination and creativity that he received as a gift at birth and the metaphysical knowledge of the tradition of the Bantu ethnic group that he learned rigorously from his parents from an early age enabled him to have a completely different approach and definition of art and its function. This knowledge was reinforced in a religious way when for a particular reason he went to one of the forests in northern Gabon where he spent 6 months in the presence of pygmies. “Art is a being”, he says with conviction. Art is the being who comes to visit you. Except that this being who comes to visit you is invisible. Imagine that an invisible being comes to visit you, how do you know he is coming? How do you know he is there? How do you identify him? How do you communicate with him? Home and Production In Gabon, the paintings of Titi de Baccarat tell the story of the continent. He channeled his experiences of democracy, promoting a culture of peace and solidarity between communities and denouncing armed conflicts and wars that have claimed the lives of millions of people in Africa. His collection of ethnic jewelry, made with various materials - leather, wood and assorted metals - celebrates the beauty and courage of peoples in their quest for liberation. His collection of clothing for men and women, inspired by the concept of Siamese twins, consists of 27 models focused on solidarity and humanism. His essay entitled ''Ancestral sexuality in the forest of bees'' is a collection of erotic proverbs inspired by his six-month stay with the Baka in the forests of northern Gabon. Titi de Baccarat is still looking for a publisher. Activism Dedicated to social justice in a hostile political context, Titi de Baccarat organized an exhibition in which he presented two categories of portraits of African presidents. Those of the dictators and those of the nationalists .... Kidnapped and tortured then released, he was forced to flee his country, Gabon, with only the wealth of his artistic ability. New Home and Communities He moved to Portland, Maine in February 2015 and despite the many barriers such as language, he is convinced that "art has the capacity to rehabilitate love, to bring people together from all countries, origins, cultures and ethnicities". He immediately set to work by collecting artistic collaborations, art exhibitions and artistic residencies such as at the University of Maine, Berwick Academy, Space gallery, Indigo Arts Alliance...drawing on his African identity and artistic expertise to formally introduce himself to the Maine Art Scene to help build a more inclusive community. Titi African book My story – YouTube . The Unease Later, he felt a deep unease when he violently discovered the contemptuous and unjust treatment that some communities continue to suffer in the United States. He then decided to broaden the themes of his artistic work to the question of social justice and diversity to accentuate a better awareness and encourage people to fight against all forms of inequality/discrimination. He sets up community projects such as the Kneeling Art Photography Project to give local populations the opportunity to express their solidarity by demonstrating their commitment to justice and equality alongside minorities. www.thekneelingartphotography.com In 2020, he created artwork inspired by the American political climate and the evolution/revolution of civil rights for Black people. Two of his works including a photograph titled ''I Can't Breathe'' had been selected by the Portland Museum of Art to be part of the exhibition titled "Untitled, 2020: Art From Maine In A …………Time" Titi de Baccarat — Portland Museum of Art. Millennium goals As a community builder, he wants to revisit present and past history with fresh eyes to imagine an alternative future focused on how we could make happiness a collective project. As an artist he is interested in making visible the diversity that exists in Maine cities through permanent public art. As an activist, he is interested in creating socially engaging events that highlight activism as an instrument of liberation and change.

Resume

Book 2023 - Book Publishing Taking a Knee for Change Public Art 2022 - The Reason We Come Together, 575 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 2020 - 2022 - The Art of Dying on One Knee and Rising from Dead on Your Feet 754 Congress Street, Portland, ME Commission Work 2021 - "We Are Here To Learn, Listen And Act Together" by Allagash Brewery 2019 - Palaver Strings, WELCOME HOME CONCERT, Portland, ME Installation 2020 - "1968": The timeline of a history of symbols, Space gallery, Portland, ME Solo Exhibition 2020 - Who Is It, Portland Media Center, Portland, ME 2020 - Colors, Lines, and Shapes, Coffee by design, Portland, Maine 2018 - With The Heart With The Reason, Railroad Square Cinema, Waterville, ME Group Exhibition 2022 - Afrofuturism, Creen Acre, Elliot, ME 2022 - Resilience Week, MECA, Portland, ME 2021 - The Kneeling Art Photo exhibit 5, UMaine, Orono, ME 2021 - The Kneeling Art Photo Exhibit 4, UMVA gallery, Portland, Maine 2021 - The Kneeling Art Photo exhibit 3, Colby college, Waterville, ME 2021 - The kneeling Art Photo exhibit 2, Francis Hotel, Portland, Maine 2021 - The Kneeling Art Photo exhibit 1, 525 Danforth St, Portland, Maine 2021 - Love/Rage: The Goddess in all her guises, Online exhibition 2021 - Untitled, 2020: Art from Maine in a __ Time, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine 2020 - The Mix: A Look Into American Diversity, New System Exhibitions, Portland, ME 2020 - Free Fall, Sistered, Portland, Maine 2020 - Nano, Engine Gallery, Biddeford, Maine 2020 - Resilience, Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine 2019 - Inherited Beauty, Green Acre, Eliot, Maine 2019 - Fortitude, Arta Custom Framing, Falmouth, Maine 2019 - Afro Futurism, Green Acre, Eliot, Maine 2019 - The Way Life Is, Portland Media Center, Portland, Maine 2018 - Home, Reflections On Place, Portland Public Library, Portland, Maine 2018 - Migration Experience, Portland Media Center, Portland, Maine 2018-2019 - Maine Eats: The food revolution starts here, Maine Historical Society, Portland, ME 2018 - People On The Move, Camden Public Library, Camden, Maine 2017-2018 - Fall Art Exhibit, Creative Portland, Portland, Maine 2017-2018 - Spark !, Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine 2017 - Arrival, Waterfall Arts, Belfast, Maine 2017 - Portland Fine Craft Show, Portland, Maine 2017 - PMA Employee Art Exhibition, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine 2017 - A Distant Holla, Abyssinian Meeting House, Portland, Maine 2017 - Vibe Art Gallery, Somersworth, NH 2016 - Portland Fine Craft Show, Portland, Maine 2016 - The Continuum for Creativity, Westbrook, Maine 2016 - On The Map, 3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH 2016 - Art In Exodus, Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine 2015 - Space gallery, Portland. Maine Panel 2023 - Producer Taking a Knee for Change RoundTable 2021 - Producer of The Kneeling Art Roundtable 1 - YouTube 2021 - Panelist Social justice through the lens of my camera, UMaine, Orono, Maine 2021 - Panelist Community Art Activism, Colby College, Waterville, Maine 2020 - Panelist ART + DISCUSSION, Green Acre, Eliot, Maine 2018 - Panelist Artist's Talk Panel, Speedwell Project, Portland, Maine Curating 2019 - Member of the curatorial team IMMERSION, Creative Portland, Portland, Maine 2019 - Member of the curatorial team ART IN EXODUS, Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine 2018 - Co-curator Migration Experience - Reflections of Maine Immigrant Artists Portland Media Center, Portland, ME Honor 2025 - AIGA Maine Board of Directors 2022 - Grantee of Maine Humanities Council Major Grant Award 2022 - Grantee of the Kindling Fund 2021- UMVA Board of Directors 2020 - Artist residency at Space gallery, Portland, ME 2019 - Artist residency at Indigo Arts Alliance, Portland, Maine 2019 - Artist residency at University of Maine, Orono, ME 2019 - Artist residency at Berwick Academy, Berwick, ME 2019 - Participant: Race Amity Conference, Quincy, Boston 2018 - Fellowship at Pickwick Independent Press, Portland, ME Collaboration 2023 - Social Justice Workshop with Community Organizing Alliance, Lewiston ME 2023 - Workshop Taking a Knee for Change, King Middle School, Portland, ME 2022 - Susan deGrandpre – Interviewed by Titi de Baccarat - The Maine Arts Journal: The UMVA Quarterly 2021 - The kneeling Art RoundTable 1, Portland Media center, Portland, Maine 2021 - The kneeling Art Photography Project kick Off, Monument Square, Portland, Maine 2020 - Counting For Thirteen, 754 Congress Street, Portland, ME 2020 - Music video Never Alone, with Myles Bullen. Portland, ME 2020 - Music video I Am Not for Everyone, with Myles Bullen. Portland, ME 2019 - CURING: FORTH- artists engaged in creative experimentation, Portland, ME 2018 - Our Wishing Houses: Home, Portland Public Library, Portland, ME 2018 - Workshop, Monson Arts, Monson, ME 2018 - CURING: TREE - artists engaged in creative experimentation, Hewnoaks Artist Colony, Lovell, ME 2018 - Workshop, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Haystack, ME 2018 - Workshop Children are the heirs to the world adults give them, Gardiner Regional School, Gardiner, ME 2018 - Workshop, how to draw to your unique talent to create the reality you need in time of crisis, St. George Elementary School, Tenants Harbor, ME 2018 - Workshop Community Voices, Telling Room, Portland, ME 2017 - Music video I AM with Myles Bullen ft Hannah Harleen, Portland, ME 2017 - Workshop, Telling Room, Portland, ME 2017 - Workshop + poetry performance, South Portland High School, South Portland, ME 2016 - New Mainers Project, Maine Historical Society, Portland, ME 2015 - New Mainers Project, Berwick, ME Film and Commercials 2019 - Thomas Moser Furniture, Derek Kimball, Last House Productions 2018 - Yellow Wagtail, Ian Carlsen and Jeffrey Griecci