Filmmaker Jonathan Demme first encountered Haitian art in 1986 through the Haitian Corner, a gallery then located on Manhattan's Upper West Side. In the years since, he has collected hundreds of works of art, many from the artists themselves, acquiring in the process an intimate contact with Haiti's people, its artists and culture.
"When I was a fledgling filmmaker, my mentor, Roger Corman, was quick to point out to me that when a person views a film, the primary organ involved is the eyeball. Bore the eyeball, Mr. Corman cautioned, and you'll bore the viewer. For me the dazzling use of color that occurs throughout Haitian art is an eyeball-galvanizing energizer beyond compare."
Following is a small selection of paintings from Mr. Demme's collection. Click on the image to view a larger version of a picture and find out more about the artist.
A New York exhibit of Mr. Demme's collection was a great success (click for information). To complement the exhibition, Mr Demme published a comprehensive catalog displaying over 200 of his paintings, complete with commentary and essays. This book is a must for all students of Haitian art! To find out how to order the the book "Island on Fire: Passionate Visions of Haiti From the Collection of Jonathan Demme", just click here. Order the book today and see this wonderful collection in its entirety.
