Washington, DC. Artists from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, two countries sharing the island of Hispaniola, came together in a rare event at the Embassy of Haiti for an art fundraising exhibit that opened on October 23, 2009. The show, which runs through November 13, was organized by the Embassy of Haiti in collaboration with Studio Wah Exhibitions, LLC, producer of the International Caribbean Art Fair.

 

This great event gathered contemporary Caribbean art, great haitian music, and hundreds of visitors to help support the Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFC) in Jacmel, Haiti.

 

The show carries the symbolic name "Back to Back | Face to Face: The Art of Haiti and The Dominican Republic," to stress the vicinity of Haiti and DR and that partnerships can be forged, despite differing politic views and historical "baggage."

 

One of the organizers, Marcel Wah, an artist himself and president of Studio Wah Exhibitions, explains that the idea of this show became a worthwhile pursuit after his conversations with Haitian and Dominican artists.

 

"I experienced how great it was to see Caribbean artists come together in one place at ICAFair, the international art fair that exclusively represents Caribbean art. And because of the fair, I have come to know some wonderful Haitian and Dominican artists. My discussions, particularly with Scherezade Garcia, was really the drive behind it. While others struggle to work through political or economic issues that keep Haiti and DR divided, we, as artists, can rise above all these things to effect change through culture and artistic pursuits," Wah says.

 

Stéphane Rosenberg, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Haiti, noted that Haitian people often express themselves through artistic creation, and the embassy truly wanted to showcase the work of upcoming artists from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

 

"Haiti and the Dominican Republic share an island and a tumultuous history. It was, therefore, important for the Embassy of Haiti to seize the occasion, through artistic creation, to foster goodwill between the two countries," added Ms. Rosenberg.

 

This art exhibition had a higher meaning, that being to raise money to support ACFC, a 501(C)3 arts organization for children. The Art Creation Foundation for Children was selected as a beneficiary because of the great work the organization has been doing with children in Haiti. "There aren't too many organizations that I know of that are doing the work that ACFC does. I admire the work they are doing with the children in Haiti, the people behind the organization, and the results achieved thus far," explained Marcel Wah.

 

The participating artists were as enthusiastic about the idea of a Haitian and Dominican art exhibit, as well as the cause it serves. Representing Haiti were Turgo Bastien, Blondel Joseph, Yvon Fleurival, and Daphne Meyer; Scherezade Garcia, Iliana Emilia Garcia, and Luanda Lozano were the Dominican counterparts. Other works by Patrick Wah, Edouard Wah, and Jean Dukens Boivert are also on display.

 

Scherezade Garcia, a Dominican artist living in New York, shared that she finds this kind of exhibition to be provocative and an act of solidarity all at once. She believes it is important and necessary to open a cultural dialogue between the two nations that share the island. She says: "I enjoy and celebrate the beauty of our differences. It inspires me. We come from one island with two nations."

 

Blondel Joseph, a haitian artist, stressed that it's important to support children in Haiti through the arts. He shared that, "The show was very successful because there were many people wanting to support Art Creation Foundation for Children in Jacmel, Haiti. This is a great cause and I want to be part of it. I want to create an art center like this in my home town in Haiti, to give to those children a voice that could speak louder."

 

The visitors of the art show participated in a silent art auction, and enjoyed the opportunity to acquire quality works of art at a great price. They also had a chance to purchase the lively colored art crafts created by the children of the center.

The show attracted hundreds of visitors: collectors, gallery owners and art enthusiasts. The atmosphere was energetic with significant purchases made. The audience showed great support for the children in Haiti, and for the arts in general. Margaret Hayward, who purchased a painting by Blondel Joseph, said: "It was a wonderful event. I feel privileged to be a new owner of Haitian art; it is quite a rare commodity and a good investment. It's through the talent and creativity of artists like Blondel that we are able to better appreciate the richness of Haiti's culture and its resilient people."

 

The show "Back to Back | Face to Face: The Art of Haiti and The Dominican Republic" runs through November 13, 2009, at the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, DC. It is free of charge and open to the public Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.