From the Peristil to the Pulpit in 3D

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This creative project will provide a foundational comparison of Haitian Vodou lakou or spiritual yard to the Negro Church through the theological, phenomenological, and ontological lens.   It will consist of a  visualization of a 3D printed model of a Haitian Vodou lakou temple and 3D printed visualization of the Negro Church . 

The lakou is a lineage-led, intergenerational sacred communal space that functions at the intersection of living and the dead. It is both a physical and spiritual environment where ancestral memory, ritual practice, and social organization converge. The lakou operates as a living cosmology, always in motion, reflecting Vodou’s values of continuity, collective responsibility, and relational balance. An active Vodou lakou becomes microeconomic, supporting the surrounding families and communities. Through spiritual services, shared resources, and communal labor, the lakou offer spiritual healing and community, while generating economic activity and mutual support within its immediate area. 

The Negro Church is a physical and spiritual space considered a symbol of respectability, racial pride, and dignity within the Black community. As a religious, social, cultural, and political center of Negro life, the Negro Church was a strong community hub, serving as a path to freedom and liberation for many African Americans. Through religious services, social services, and communal labor, the Negro church provided safety and refuge for Black people to organize.