As many in South Florida gathered on January 12 to remember the second anniversary of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, local residents have found creative ways to honor and the Haitian spirit throughout the year.

In honor of this spirit, the Art Gallery on the Eissey Campus at Palm Beach State College has opened a new exhibit, "Art and Life: The Spirit of Haiti," which will run up to February 10. The exhibit seeks to celebrate the "family and national ties among the Haitian people, both here and elsewhere in the U.S...Through artists we can see this strength of character and love of life."

The show, assembled by Onajide Shabaka, gallery director of Artlab33 Art Space in Miami, features 27 pieces from a cross section of nine Haitian American artists in South Florida, as well as art and crafts by youths from the Art Creation Foundation For Children (AFFCF) in Jacmel, Haiti – home to many historic Haitian artists. The Jacmel youth collection "includes papier mache, paintings, mosaics, and pieces from a special post-earthquake exhibition that links rubble, stories, and paintings."

The exhibit is free and open to the public. The gallery is opened Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.