NJ Monuments To Migration and Labor
Artist Interviews share the immigration stories from participating artists of the NJMML project.
NJ Monuments To Migration And Labor is a three-year initiative honoring immigrants’ contributions to the state. Through public events, and monument installations, it celebrates their resilience, hard work, and cultural impact, blending art, history, and storytelling to inspire reflection and appreciation. Artists from the Northern, Central and Southern regions of the state were invited to participate in community dialogue then create artwork in response to their discussions. This project provided me the opportunity to share my family’s immigration story and pour into a powerful creative process.
Project Director: Andy Urban (Rutgers University) Partners: Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Noyes Museum at Stockton University of Art
Supporters: Mellon Foundation, Rutgers University Project Website: njmml.com
RESPONSE ARTWORK
Onè Respè (Honor, Respect) by Nadïne LaFond is a mixed media assemblage that evokes a sacred altar, honoring Haitian history, cultural memory, and the strength of immigrant communities. On the altar “wall,” symbolic elements such as a central Taino hummingbird for rebirth and a prophetic Benin bird for survival, both painted in the vibrant style of Haitian Tap Tap buses, float alongside tongues of fire symbolizing inner strength, seeds linking generations, and nourishing cultural foods beneath lace representing colonial legacies then on the altar table, humble relics like a lace-wrapped hammer, a beaded bottle, and red yarn connecting histories pay tribute to labor and lineage. Together, these elements weave themes of diaspora, perseverance, and ancestral wisdom, forming a living homage to the Haitian values of honor and mutual respect.
Title: Onè Respè
Medium: Mixed Media Assemblage
Dimensions: 50” h x 25” w x 15” d
Year: 2025
NOTE: In Haitian culture, “Onè, Respè” (Honor and Respect) is a fundamental concept and a social expectation. It dictates how people interact with each other, especially when entering a home, engaging in conversation or interacting with an audience. The phrase “Onè Respè” is a call and response tradition that embodies the cultural value placed on mutual respect and grace.
Community Dialogue
Many Sources: Immigrant Labor and Cultural Heritage in South Jersey
Down Jersey Folklife Center
at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville, NJ
PROCESS
Extracting Concepts
Drawing Out Symbols
Choosing Materials
Building the Structure
Bringing In the Elements
Making It Interactive
COLLECTION
New works, based on the inspiration piece “Onè Respè”, will be presented soon.
NOTES
The research, family interviews and creative process inspired a new collection of works that delve deeper into familial and cultural migration stories.