Interview with Rosie Gordon-Wallace

              Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Rosie Gordon-Wallace
Miami, FL, September 16, 2013
Interview ASM0085000050
Interviewed by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis and Ben Morris
Length: 1:08:17
Interview with Rosie Gordon-Wallace, the founder and curator of Diaspora Vibe Gallery and Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, which specialize in cultivating Caribbean and Latin American art with a focus on supporting emerging artists. Originally from Jamaica, Gordon-Wallace studied medical microbiology at the University of the West Indies and immunology and microbiology at the University of Manchester. She worked at the University of the West Indies before coming to the United States in 1978 to research at the University of Miami. She was working as a senior consultant for Searle Pharmaceuticals when she decided to focus full-time on her cultural endeavors in 1999. Since then, she has initiated and produced a variety of transnational creative programs that redefine the concept of “diaspora,” including the International Cultural Exchange program, the Caribbean Crossroads series, the Artist-In-Residence program, and numerous community-based outreach programs. Gordon-Wallace is active in the local community, serving on the boards of the National Performance Network, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the Design & Architecture Senior High School, and Bay Shore Lutheran Church. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to the cultural community, including the In the Company of Women 2013 award for Arts and Entertainment and the Red Cross Spectrum award for culture.
This interview forms part of the Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Rosie Gordon-Wallace 2
September 16, 2013
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu.
INTERVIEW OUTLINE
− 00:00:13: Introduction
− 00:01:06: Just like a journey, let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little bit about your childhood, your family, where you were born, and all this good stuff.
− 00:05:20: Once you finished [studying medical microbiology], did you work in Jamaica or did you come over to the U.S.?
− 00:07:17: When you came to the U.S., did you come here to Miami, or some other place?
− 00:20:46: There’s also the Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator. Did you add this later? Does it compliment the [Diaspora Vibe] Gallery?
− 00:25:24: You’ve traveled to the Caribbean and Latin America discovering new artists, bringing them to Miami, or taking Miami artists to the Caribbean. Tell us about some of these artists. How did you discover them, and how do you help them to the next stage?
− 00:32:38: On the topic of art, we’re talking about your definition of art… how about sharing that?
− 00:53:16: We’re getting to the end, but there are a couple of things I want you to just touch on… There are other places where you put time and talent… The Adrianne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, what do you wish to see for that place?
− 00:56:21: Have the underserved communities been able to access it [the Adrianne Arsht Center]?
− 01:01:32: You’ve also won some prestigious awards for all of this work… Which one of those do you feel is most representative of you?
− 01:05:10: Among your accomplishments, which one makes you happiest – which one are you most proud of?
− 01:07:05: Is there anything else that you’d like to add for the archive?
− 01:08:17: END OF INTERVIEW