We just returned from Haiti where we went to make final arrangements to ship the vintage metal sculpture from El-Saieh Gallery to the Tarble Arts Center at Eastern Illinois University for the exhibition that opens in March 2010 and runs through May. Although this was not a major buying trip, we couldn't go to Haiti without a visit to Croix-des-Bouquets where all that wonderful metal work comes from. We did acquire some very beautiful pieces by Jean Mikerson at Jolimeau's show room, the usual interesting "masks" and demoiselles from Jacques Eugene, and an absolutely formidable fish made from the jawbone of an ass by Jose Delpé. (That's Samson used to slay the Philistines!)
 
For the last few years the European Union has sponsored a festival in October promoting the artists and artisans of the area on the grounds of the old sugar plantation near the village. The EU has also built an exposition stage and space on the grounds that have been named the Musée Georges Liautaud. Again with the help of the EU, the artists have organized themselves into the Association des Artisans de la Croix-des-Bouquets (ADAAC). ADAAC has the following objectives -
 
1) To train the artists and artisans to work together socially
2) To encourage the blossoming of young talent
3) To help develop an understanding in the greater population of the value of art and craft
4) And finally, to play a role in the development of the country as a whole.
 
It was our great pleasure to meet Jean Eddy Rémy, the president of ADAAC, who just won first prize in the sculpture category of the VIèmes Jeux de la Francophonie (the 6th Competition in the Arts of French-speaking Communities). It's great to see the arts being used successfully as a development tool. And Haiti is a country very rich in the arts.
 
Shop ARTFULLY this holiday season . . .