Art Jamaica

The Art A[u]ction For Haiti Committee, in association with the Edna Manley Foundation, the National Gallery of Jamaica, Hi-Qo Galleries, Harmony Hall, the Mutual Gallery & Art Centre, and Roktowa, is pleased to present: Art A[u]ction For Haiti, a fundraiser to assist with the recovery of the Haitian art world.

This collaborative effort is the initiative of concerned members of the Jamaican Art community, who are responding to not only the physical devastation of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on the January 12, 2010 but also to the cultural and economic losses. Many are aware of the physical destruction and loss of life that occurred as there has been widespread coverage in the media, but there has been minimal coverage on the devastation to Haiti’s cultural sector.

The Haitian art world suffered significant losses in the earthquake. Museums and art galleries were damaged extensively, among them Port-au-Prince’s historic Centre d’Art (which was completely destroyed), which in the mid 20th century launched Haitian art into the international arena. The Haitian art collection at the College de Saint Pierre was also devastated, as were the famous murals of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. The devastation has also affected the artists’ collectives of the Haitian capital, most of which operate in the inner-cities and provide much-needed income for the artists and their communities.

Haiti benefit will take the form of an art sale and auction to be conducted by the Edna Manley Foundation and hosted by the National Gallery of Jamaica. The auction and sale include a variety of art works, including several Haitian pieces and Jamaican work by artists ranging from Edna Manley College students to some of Jamaica’s best known masters, in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, ceramic and photography. Among the highlights of the auction are important paintings by Sidney McLaren, Carl Abrahams, Albert Huie and Colin Garland and a rare John Dunkley.

The proceeds of this benefit sale and auction will therefore support the reconstruction and revival of the Centre d’Art, and the sculptors’ collective of the Grand Rue inner city community, which had in December 2009 hosted the Ghetto Biennale in which Jamaica’s Ebony Patterson participated. A portion of the proceeds will also go the upcoming residency of nine Haitian artists, including three Grand Rue sculptors, at the Roktowa studio facility in West Kingston.

The sale and auction preview will take place at the National Gallery from April 14 to 18, during the Gallery’s regular opening hours (10 am to 4:30 pm from Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10 am to 4 pm on Fridays, and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays). The actual auction will take place on Sunday April 18, starting at 3:00 pm. For more information about this fundraiser, please contact the National Gallery of Jamaica at 922-1561, or by email to natgalja@cwjamaica.com.