St. James Haiti Outreach

What have we learned about Haiti?

After returning from a trip to Haiti in November 2008, Ruth Anne Olson and Louise Robinson wrote a series of essays to share their observations with us. This is the third of eight essays. See complete list here.

3. Humor, color, tradition and environmentalism in Haitian art

This installment written by Ruth Anne.

Haiti is a land of humor and joy—qualities that are nowhere more visible than in Haitian art. Sculpture, dance, drama, paintings, embroidery, furniture, storytelling and household decoration all reflect a sense of energy and humankind’s place within a larger universe. When we both visited Haiti in November and when Ruth Anne visited twice earlier in the year prior, we had the opportunity to see an abundance of creativity dominated by an awareness of nature, color, careful stewardship of resources, and religious symbols.

Metal sculpture display: Artist’s studio in Croix de Bouquette.

Whole communities, for example, have for generations worked with metal—designing and making large and small sculptures from discarded car bodies, oil barrels and food tins.

Other people create art from fabric and wood scraps, coconut shells, cow horn, seashells, rocks, palm fronds and other plant materials. On the island of Lagonav, women have developed an artists cooperative. Using traditional designs, they paint silk scarves and embroider linens that, with the help of an American friend, they sell via the internet, enabling them to send their children to school and even preventing the need to abandon them to servitude.

To be sure, Haitian artists have learned what designs will sell well to Americans. But brightly colored walls, whimsical metal hangings, and finely carved furniture in tiny 2-room cinder block homes make it clear that the primary benefit of Haitian creativity is its affect on people’s spirits.

We brought home a small collection of items that fit in our suitcases, and we hope you’ll take a look at them in Chapel Hall on December 7 and 14. Experience the humor and tradition they represent and admire the careful stewardship of resources in their making. You may even want to buy some for gifts to remind you and your family of Haiti. All proceeds will help pay the $10 monthly tuition for children in the village of Bigonet where we visited in November. Your purchases provide an enormous gift to the future of Haiti where family incomes average less than $300 per year.

We hear lots about the poverty and crisis that are so often part of life for Haitians—a people whom history has treated so cruelly. Our visit taught us the importance, too, of seeing the humor, color, tradition and sustainability in Haitians’ creative expression.

Women's Art Cooperative of Matènwa

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