Weeksville Heritage Center on Saturday welcomed families, neighbors and visitors from across Brooklyn for a vibrant afternoon celebrating Fanal – Fè Limyè, the ten-foot sculptural installation by Harlem-based artist Fitgi Saint-Louis. Rooted in the Haitian tradition of handmade holiday lanterns, fanal, the work is a symbol of creativity, heritage and community connection at one of Brooklyn’s most historic Black cultural sites.
The event began with a fanal-making workshop, where Saint-Louis guided participants through the history of the Haitian practice and invited them to craft their own lanterns. The room was filled Brooklynites engaging with the tradition for the first time, while others recalled memories of home.
“Our communal sculpture lighting of Fanal – Fè Limyè and fanal workshop brought together families across generations to honor the internal light we each carry and the power which emanates from our collective presence,” Saint-Louis said. “Haitian culture is luminous and layered. To share this tradition—crafting in community on this land which holds Black legacies—was an envisioned dream realized.”
As the sun set, participants moved outdoors for a lighting ceremony, where live performances and words of reflection led into the moment when the sculpture was illuminated.
The installation embodies all that is great about the season while allowing us to learn more about this beautiful Haitian holiday tradition, said Dr. Raymond Codrington, president and chief executive officer of Weeksville Heritage Center.
"It is a stunning addition to our site that shows the strong connection between art, culture and community," he said.
Originally commissioned for the 2025 Harlem Sculpture Garden Exhibition at St. Nicholas Park, the sculpture is now on view at Weeksville through January 2026, thanks to support from the Beam Center’s Student Build Program, where young makers collaborated with the artist in its construction.
