SANCTUARY: Our Sacred Place

n the womb, there is innocence and unawareness of the world beyond. The surrounding environment matures individuals, preparing them to meet their destiny and the path ahead. Anchored to this initial sanctuary and sacred space, the womb provides protection, depth, warmth, nourishment, and connection. Upon leaving this place to face the wider world, there is often a continued search for the same sense of sanctuary.

Indigenous peoples understood the importance of creating rituals to ease this transition. They recognized that sacred spaces are essential to the human experience at every stage of growth. Sacred spaces serve as portals to commune with the earth and other life forms, offering a way to make sense of existence and build resilience.

These spaces hold more than comfort and community. They are sites of revolution, healing, gathering, and justice. In these sanctuaries, collective forces embolden the spirits of weakened bodies and troubled minds, providing refuge from a world shaped by injustice, confusion, and greed.

The photo series documents sanctuary rituals, venerations, and commemorations that reflect the human condition’s quest for peace. Manifested in various forms—Mawu-Lissa, Gran Mèt, Allah, God, and Almighty—these sacred practices offer a glimpse into the depths of the multiverse and the spirit world.

About the Artist

Born and raised in Little Haiti, Woosler Delisfort is a self-taught documentary photographer and filmmaker whose mission is to explore the core principles affecting the collective human spirit. His practice uses storytelling to weave together experiences and anecdotes to illuminate the realities of the world. Delisfort began his career documenting the emotions, humanity, and spirituality of the people of Little Haiti in the hopes of replacing the negative stereotypes of crime, drugs, and poverty often associated with his hometown with more positive and personal images of joy, life, and creative expression.

Photographs by Woosler Delisfort. Guest Curators Marie Vickles and Ireọlá Ọláifá. The team acknowledges the staff at the HistoryMiami Museum that have contributed to and worked on this exhibition, as well as the practitioners and extended networks of support both in front and behind the camera lens.

HistoryMiami Museum
101 West Flagler Street Miami, FL 33130
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