Poughkeepsie, NY (March 17, 2005) — Upwards of $40,000 in paintings and handcrafts will be offered in the Vassar Haiti Project's fourth annual benefit exhibit, auction, and sale, to be held on campus Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 10 in the James W. Palmer Gallery and College Center Multipurpose Room. All proceeds will go to education and and schoolday meals for the children of Chermaître, a desperately poor and isolated community in mountainous northwestern Haiti.
Fifty paintings and a sample of ironware and handcrafts will be auctioned April 8 in the Multipurpose Room, after a weeklong exhibit of the works April 1-7 in the Palmer Gallery (works will also be viewable online at http://outreach.vassar.edu/haitiproject/). More than 100 additional paintings and handcrafts will then go on sale the following two days, April 9-10, in the Multipurpose Room. Joseph Adelson, Gesner Armand, J. C. Blanc, Jude Derifond, Jean Idelus Edme, Calixte Henry, JaJ Luberisse, Pierre Maxo, Fritz Merise, Pascale Monnin, Audes Saul, and Josephot Tissaint are among the leading Haitian artists whose works will be offered.
The 2005 Vassar Haiti Project activities will kick off April 1 with a 4:00-6:30 p.m. reception in the James W. Palmer Gallery, followed by "Feet of Rhythm," an evening of Haitian dance, music, and storytelling featuring dancer/choreographer Nadia Dieudonne and storyteller Cleo Eqypt, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Taylor Hall. All events are free and open to the public (and outlined below).
"Just over two centuries ago, Haiti supplied Europe with two thirds of its produce. Today, Haiti struggles to feed itself," explained Andrew Meade, founder of the Vassar Haiti Project, and the Assistant to the Dean of the College. "Art is now one of Haiti's few viable exports. Unemployment there is at 70%, illiteracy is at 50%, and only 1.5% of the land is forested. Yet through the poverty, the constant political upheaval, and the environmental devastation, the dignity and spirit of the Haitian people remains vibrant, strong, and free. It's this spirit that shines so powerfully through their art."
Last September, Chermaître also suffered from the effects of Hurricane Jeanne, which devastated Haiti, killing an estimated 3,000 people across the country.
Meade founded the Vassar Haiti Project in 2002, to both support education in Haiti and educate Americans about Haitian culture and history. In 2003, when political and economic stability in Haiti made it possible for him to travel there and preview art works, he established relationships with many of the country's leading artists, gallery owners, and art dealers. He lived in the capital Port-au-Prince during the 1970's, while his father was chief of operations at the U.S. Embassy.
The following is a complete rundown of the April 1-10, 2005 Vassar Haiti Project activities:
Exhibition of Haitian Art
April 1-7, 12:00-6:00 p.m.
James W. Palmer Gallery, College Center
Opening reception: April 1, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
"Feet of Rhythm"
An evening of Haitian dance, music, and storytelling, featuring dancer/choreographer Nadia Dieudonne and storyteller Cleo Eqypt
April 1, 7:00 p.m.
Taylor Hall
Auction of Haitian Art
April 8, 5:00-9:00 p.m.
Multipurpose Room, College Center
Sale of Haitian Art and Handcrafts
April 9, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
April 10, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Multipurpose Room, College Center
For additional information on the Vassar Haiti Project, contact Andrew Meade at (845) 437-5831, and go to http://outreach.vassar.edu/haitiproject. For information on the James W. Palmer Gallery, and for individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations, contact the Office of Campus Activities at (845) 437-5370.
Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.
Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.
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