Stephen’s work trusts in the omniscience of the Universe: that what we seek exists before us, for us. Each piece he create is one foothold amongst a constellation of entry points to layered subject matter: my Haitian-American experience, place and space, Vodou and Vodun.
Entitled Big Good Angel, this presentation takes its namesake directly from “Gwo Bonnanj” the Haitian Vodou term for half of one’s soul—the half that emerges
from the pool of life (the Gran Mèt) to bring breath, and returns to the vast expanse upon death. He imagine it as a gliding, shadow-like force that is ethereal
and yet sovereign, invisibly embodying the cycle of life while drifting in and out of our dreamscapes. Its counterpart, the Ti Bonnanj, fills this shadow-like glider with color and texture, offering personality and character, while the Lwa, a cast of protective spirits, hover, guide and heal the Soul. Each of these essences—the Gwo Bonnanj, Ti Bonnanj, and Lwa—have emerged in his work, showing themselves in the faces, shapes and techniques that he incorporate.