A mermaid made of thousands of glittering beads, tin sculptures cut into shapes and paintings exploding with color and life — they’re all bringing the culture of Haiti to the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. The newest exhibition, “A Celebration of Haitian Art,” borrows from the Waterloo Center for the Arts collection, and Purdue’s Black Cultural Center is a partner. The exhibit opens with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and continues through March 17. Mona Berg, guest curator, said the art brings something new to the museum. Many pieces depict elements of the voodoo religion or tragic events in the nation’s history, but they all emanate a kind of joy, she said. “They kept their spirits up through their art,” she said. The exposure to a new culture is important, BCC Director Renee Thomas said, and it’s also part of the BCC’s mission. “The message we try to promote at the Black Cultural Center is that it is not just for the African-American community,” Thomas said. “We feel our partnership with the Art Museum offers an opportunity to expand our outreach to the broader community.”