Art for Life

These paintings are part of a collection of paintings that the Pasternak family gathered while working in Haiti. Since there are very few tourists in Haiti, many artists asked them to take the paintings to the USA to reach a larger market. The Pasternaks hope to use some of the profits to help support economic enhancement projects in Haiti. Currently, Myriam is working on sustainable agricultural development projects, involving rabbits, and composting, sending sewing supplies, village infrastructure development, such as water systems, schools and libraries.

All these paintings are in excellent shape and have been gessoed prior to painting. The canvas materials vary in color, texture and quality, but all appear to be durable. Care has been taken to allow them to acclimate slowly to the temperature and humidity difference. They were all removed from their stretch frames to facilitate transportation and to better protect the paintings.Please contact Myriam at myriamsemail@gmail.com for more details and questions.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Haitian Fruit Vendors in Black & White

This acrylic on canvas Haitian painting measures 23 ¾” x 20 ¼” and depicts a stylized market scene in black and white. The people are fruit vendors passing the time while awaiting customers. The artist, Jean Maxen, is in his thirties and resides in Cap Haitian, a large resort town in northern Haiti. Painting is his passion and he hopes to make a living at painting and selling paintings for other artists. When I met Maxen, all his paintings had been pawned to pay the tuition for his two children to attend school last Fall (2007). We paid the pawn fees and received several paintings in exchange. Now he is anxiously trying to sell the rest of his paintings in preparation for next year.

Haitian Village Life at Sunset

This colorful acrylic on canvas painting measures 24”x 19.5” and depicts a very typical day in a villager’s life. The sun is setting while the villagers return home carrying firewood to prepare the evening meal. One man is carrying a hoe suggesting a long day in his fields while a pregnant woman returns riding a mule. In the background, two children are fishing from a small boat on a river. The houses in the village all have thatched roofs, suggesting that this is a historical scene. The trees are all laden with delicious Haitian fruits. This painting is unsigned, but is believed to have been painted by Myrvil Pierre of Cap Haitian.

Indigenous Art

These paintings are all done by Peckham. They are done in the style that evolved from the indigenous people of Hispanola. Each of the symbols represents something important to the life of these nearly extinct people. The symbols are of the anole lizard, the sun, fish, swords, men, women, the Christian cross, games, flowers and a few that I am not sure of yet. These paintings measure 12”X 29.5” and make a nice set.

The Breadfruit

This acrylic on canvas measures 29.5” X 39.5”. The bread fruit is a tropical fruit that is cooked as a starch. In Creole it is called Lam Veritable. In the upper border there is a finely drawn spider web. The artist is TH. Dominiguz

Feminine Spirituality

This acrylic on canvas measures 29.5” X 39.5”. It represents the Haitian feminine psyche. Behind this beautiful Haitian woman is a traditional voodoo drum and lamp. The water jug on the left is spilled slightly at night in offering, inviting the feminine spirit to enter her dreams. This painting has a powerful presence and is of excellent quality. The artist is St. Louis

By the Banks of the River

This oil on canvas measures 20” X 29.5” It is done in an impressionist style and is heavily textured and is very unusual for Haiti. It is my personal favorite as is speaks very realistically of Haitian life in many ways. The scene is very typical of rural life. The people farm land that is rocky with little soil and as near water as possible. The few remaining trees are scrubby yet colorful. The canvas too speaks of the realities faced by the Haitian artists who have very limited resources. This canvas has a10 inch tear that was well stitched together prior to painting. It is well camouflaged under the central branch of the tree and probably inspired the artist to use more texture. The artist is D.Blaise

November 2010