Watching Brian Williams wrap up the New Year special with a look at what 2010 has brought us, reminded me of an inspirational art show that is opening on January 7th, 2011. Williams showed us scenes from the devastation that occurred on January 12th, 2010, when an earthquake hit Haiti and changed the world forever. On First Friday, January 7th from 6-9pm the ArtSpace located inside the Athenaeum (401 Michigan Ave. Indpls, IN. 46204) will revisit what this disaster has done to the people struggling to survive in Haiti. A New Year to Haiti is not just another art show. This event will feature an exclusive fashion show by Berny Martin of Catou, award-winning photographs of Haiti by Amy King and art by Haitian street kids and orphans. All of the funds collected during this exhibition will be donated directly to Haiti.

A New Year to Haiti is presented by Provocate-Haiti, an Indianapolis-based network of Indiana-Haitian partnerships and initiatives. You may recall last year I did a write up about a similar show, A Nod to Haiti that was created for the sole purpose of helping to bring awareness and support to Haiti in their time of need. Amy King, the creator and coordinator of both of these exhibitions, has traveled to Haiti both pre- and post-earthquake and has found not only a place in her heart for the Haitian people, but a passion for helping them get back on their feet and rebuild the country they love.

Provocate-Haiti is an organization created by John Clark, that seeks to stimulate ideas for solving problems by connection global and local initiatives. King has set up monthly networking meetings for groups working in Haiti; partnered with the Haitian Association of Indiana to provide language classes in the Haitian language Kreyol and has been working closely with staff members of Sen. Lugar and Rep. Carson to obtain assistance for groups in Haiti. Clark says, "A New Year to Haiti is the right way to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Haitian earthquake. Remember the losses Haitians suffered. Acknowledge the challenges the country faces. Recognize the local groups that have been working so hard to help. And celebrate the fact that all of us have a chance to be part of something special...building a better Haiti." If you would like to learn more about Provocate www.provocate.org.

If one of your New Year's resolutions this year was to step up and help out, and I hope it was, this would be a great night to start. Works by Indiana artists will be on display as well to help raise money along with original t-shirts created by Cultural Cannibals especially for this show. To start the New Year off right, grab some cash, or the check book and head out on First Friday to not only support the Indianapolis Arts, but the Haitians who have not forgotten about 1.12.10.