February 28, 2009 - The State of Things
Every week I get requests from strangers to buy or evaluate their Haitian art. With a contraction of the world economy, people are eager to liquidate their assets, including paintings and other art objects from this wonderful island country. Since I am in a position of selling rather than buying right now, I am not in a position to purchase some pieces that would I might have snapped up immediately two years ago.
A Haitian man from Miami, Florida drove one county to the north to my home, without an appointment, to sell me six paintings in the back of his car. I was only interested in one, a typical landscape scene of a waterfall with white wading birds by J.R. Bresil. The painting looked authentic and the price was reasonable, but I had to pass.
Someone else found me through my website and approached me about some lovely sculptures by the famous Georges Laratte for ridiculously low prices. Again, I had to turn away.
What I do have in stock within my own personal collection is sufficient for my needs right now. As for the Haitian art I am trying to sell on my website, eighteen small paintings and twenty-eight ceramic tiles including some by renowned Haitian-born ceramic artist Klawdia Proia were added to www.haitianna.com since January 1st of this year. Within a few days, thirty-two new Vodou flags of all sizes and prices will also be available for sale at fair prices. They include a fabulous "Erzulie Danthor" by Wagler Vital priced at $700. The image is of a half-woman, half-symbol heart design wielding a sword. Done in his inimitable folky style, this flag has tremendous spirit and whimsy.
Also among the new Vodou flags is "Erzulie Freda with Double Blue Cloth Border" by the famous Clotaire Bazile, measuring forty inches by almost thirty-six inches. Decently priced at $800, though his works go for much more, this exceptionally beautiful flag portrays the loa of love in strong colors. A sampling of small treasures by Jean Baptiste Jean-Joseph, known for his use of luxurious materials, is also on the website very soon. "Mermaid in Yellow with Trumpet" by Maxon Scylla at $600 is reminiscent of the flags by the late Antoine Oleyant.
I hope you'll take a look and find an irresistibly desirable Haitian artwork to add to your home or office.
--Candice Russell
