Haitian Art from the Hughes Collection

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Haitian Art from the Hughes Collection
Sean Barker, curator
Amanda Martin-Hamon, curator
July 7, 2007–September 16, 2007
North Balcony, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

While in Haiti working for the United States International Communications Agency between 1972 and 1976, Mary Lou and Harry Hughes developed a deep admiration for the arts and artists of Haiti, building a collection of well over 90 works. Prior to their assignment in Haiti, the Hughes were assigned to Dahomey (now the Republic of Benin), where Mary Lou acquired a knowledge of and sensitivity to the African aesthetic that permeates Haitian art. Haitian Art from the Hughes Collection covers the range of Haiti’s leading painters and sculptors, including Rigaud Benoît, Murat Brierre, Célestin Faustin, Jasmin Joseph, Philomé Obin, André Pierre, and Robert St. Brice. The Hughes Collection includes a variety of styles, depicting historical and religious subjects and scenes of nature and everyday life.

Works from the collection have been included in exhibitions at the Musée d'Art du Collège Saint Pierre, Port-au-Prince Haiti; The Brooklyn Museum, The Milwaukee Art Center; Ramapo College of New Jersey; Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria; Davenport Museum of Art; New Orleans Museum of Art; Staatliche Kunsthalle, Berlin; City Hall, Washington D.C. and in many publications, for example Ute Stebich’s Haitian Art and Seldon Rodman’s Where Art is Joy, Haitian Art: the First Forty Years.

Organized by Amanda Martin-Hamon, the Spencer’s Public Outreach and Special Events Coordinator and Sean Barker, Education Intern.

Exhibition images

Works of art

but...I dreamt, Ernst Prophète (born 1950, active 1960s–present)
Ernst Prophète (born 1950, active 1960s–present)
but...I dreamt, circa 1975
Doves, Gesner Armand (1936–2008, active 1950–2008)
Gesner Armand (1936–2008, active 1950–2008)
Doves, circa 1970
Gathering Pomegranates, Rigaud S. Benoît (1911–1986)
Rigaud S. Benoît (1911–1986)
Café, Wilson Bigaud (1931–2010, active circa 1949–2010)
Wilson Bigaud (1931–2010, active circa 1949–2010)
Café, circa 1970
Roses, Wilson Bigaud (1931–2010, active circa 1949–2010)
Wilson Bigaud (1931–2010, active circa 1949–2010)
Roses, circa 1970
Underwater World, Wilson Bigaud (1931–2010, active circa 1949–2010)
Wilson Bigaud (1931–2010, active circa 1949–2010)
Underwater World, date unknown
Erzuli as Piper, Frantz Beauvoir
Frantz Beauvoir
Crucifix, Murat Brierre (1938–1988)
Murat Brierre (1938–1988)
Crucifix, 1966–1976
Christ Carrying the Cross, Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
Evil Spirits, Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
Evil Spirits, 1973–1976
King of Kings, Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
King of Kings, 1973–1976
Tulips, Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
Charles Ermistral (Thialy) (born 1937, active 1973–present)
Tulips, 1973–1976
Parade, Gervais Emmanuel Ducasse (1903–1988)
Gervais Emmanuel Ducasse (1903–1988)
Parade, circa 1940–1976
Snake and Spider, Célestin Faustin (1948–1981, active circa 1967–1981)
Célestin Faustin (1948–1981, active circa 1967–1981)
Sword of Damocles, Célestin Faustin (1948–1981, active circa 1967–1981)
Célestin Faustin (1948–1981, active circa 1967–1981)
Bourgeois Dining, Max H. Gerbier (born 1951)
Max H. Gerbier (born 1951)
Bourgeois Dining, circa 1970
End of Day, Max H. Gerbier (born 1951)
Max H. Gerbier (born 1951)
End of Day, circa 1970
Peasant Abode, Max H. Gerbier (born 1951)
Max H. Gerbier (born 1951)
Peasant Abode, circa 1970
Rainforest Glade, Jacques-Enguérrand Gourgue (1930–1996, active 1940s–1996)
Jacques-Enguérrand Gourgue (1930–1996, active 1940s–1996)
Rainforest Glade, circa 1970
Dessalines Receives Pétion and Wife Algaïde, Edouard Jean (born 1953, active 1972–present)
Edouard Jean (born 1953, active 1972–present)
Sea Goddesses, Serge Jolimeau (born 1952)
Serge Jolimeau (born 1952)
Sea Goddesses, 1972–1976
Winged Stag, Serge Jolimeau (born 1952)
Serge Jolimeau (born 1952)
Winged Stag, 1972–1976
untitled, Rigaud S. Benoît (1911–1986); Antonio Joseph (1921–2016, active 1944–2016)
Rigaud S. Benoît (1911–1986); Antonio Joseph (1921–2016, active 1944–2016)
untitled, circa 1980
Blue Guitar, Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Blue Guitar, 1970
Dancing Bears in Mardi Gras Celebration, Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Newlyweds Under Tree of Life, Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Paradise, Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Jasmin Joseph (1923–2005, active 1940s–2005)
Paradise, 1969
Barnyard Friends, Peterson Laurent (1888–1958)
Peterson Laurent (1888–1958)
Leaves, Adam Leontus (1923–1986, active 1940s–1986)
Adam Leontus (1923–1986, active 1940s–1986)
Leaves, circa 1950–1976
Tropical Bird, Adam Leontus (1923–1986, active 1940s–1986)
Adam Leontus (1923–1986, active 1940s–1986)
Tropical Bird, circa 1950–1976
Woman Leading a Blind Man, Penius Leriche (born 1940)
Penius Leriche (born 1940)
still life, Michèle Manuel (born 1935, active 1944–present)
Michèle Manuel (born 1935, active 1944–present)
still life, circa 1970
Island, Madsen Mompremier (born 1952, active 1973–present)
Madsen Mompremier (born 1952, active 1973–present)
Island, 1973–1976
Vodou Ceremony, Jean Edy Morisset
Jean Edy Morisset
Vodou Ceremony, circa 1970
Erzule's Table, Philomé Obin (1892–1986, active 1908–1986)
Philomé Obin (1892–1986, active 1908–1986)
Erzule's Table, mid 1900s
Colère (Anger), Salnave Philippe-Auguste (1908–1989, active 1958–1989)
Salnave Philippe-Auguste (1908–1989, active 1958–1989)
Tropical Fruits, Salnave Philippe-Auguste (1908–1989, active 1958–1989)
Salnave Philippe-Auguste (1908–1989, active 1958–1989)
The Horseman, André Pierre (1914–2005, active 1940s–2004)
André Pierre (1914–2005, active 1940s–2004)
The Horseman, circa 1970
Les Trois Esprits d'Nago (The Three Spirits of Nago), André Pierre (1914–2005, active 1940s–2004)
André Pierre (1914–2005, active 1940s–2004)
Market Day, Vierge Pierre (born 1945)
Vierge Pierre (born 1945)
Market Day, 1968–1976
Erzuli and Evil Spirits, Robert St. Brice (1893–1973, active 1949–1973)
Robert St. Brice (1893–1973, active 1949–1973)
Asefi (enough daughters), Bernard Séjourné (1947–1994)
Bernard Séjourné (1947–1994)
At the Well, Jean-Claude Severe (born 1950s)
Jean-Claude Severe (born 1950s)
At the Well, circa 1970
Bosou La Croix, Michel Sinvil (born 1949)
Michel Sinvil (born 1949)
mother and children, Edith Stephane
Edith Stephane
mother and children, circa 1970
Jou Jou, St. Pierre Toussaint (1923–1985, active 1972–1985)
St. Pierre Toussaint (1923–1985, active 1972–1985)
Jou Jou, 1972–1985
Konbit, Gerard Valcin (1925–1988)
Gerard Valcin (1925–1988)
Konbit, circa 1970
Birds of a Feather, Pierre Joseph-Valcin (1925–2000, active 1960s–2000)
Pierre Joseph-Valcin (1925–2000, active 1960s–2000)
Hunchback (Bossu), Pierre Joseph-Valcin (1925–2000, active 1960s–2000)
Pierre Joseph-Valcin (1925–2000, active 1960s–2000)
Hunchback (Bossu), circa 1975
Rooster, Paul Nemours (born 1946)
Paul Nemours (born 1946)
Rooster, 1974
Ladies Under a Tree Picking and Packing Fruit, Pierre Joseph-Valcin (1925–2000, active 1960s–2000)
Pierre Joseph-Valcin (1925–2000, active 1960s–2000)

Events

July 14, 2007
Workshop
Haitian Art: Paintings
10:30AM–12:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
July 14, 2007
Workshop
Haitian Art: Paintings
1:30–3:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
July 16, 2007
Talk
Haitian Art: Reflections on a Unique Island Culture
2:00–4:00PM
309 Auditorium
August 23, 2007
Talk
Amanda Martin-Hamon on Haitian Art and Culture
12:15–1:15PM
Gallery 404
August 24, 2007
Talk
The Spirit of Haiti: Art, Life and Culture
Gallery 317 Central Court
August 24, 2007
Talk
The Spirit of Haiti: Art, Life, and Culture
10:00AM–12:00PM
309 Auditorium
September 6, 2007
Screening
Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti and Voodoo and the Church in Haiti
6:00–8:00PM
309 Auditorium
September 13, 2007
Talk
Meet the Collectors
10:00–11:00AM
Gallery 404

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 112 Jul-2007, Amanda Martin-Hamon I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. Lawrence residents Harry and Mary Lou Hughes lived in Haiti from 1972 to 1976, where Harry served as a Public Affairs Officer for the American Embassy. They developed a deep admiration for the nation’s art, and eventually built a collection of nearly 100 Haitian works, a selection of which is on view at the Spencer through September 16. The Hughes Collection contains works by the so-called first and second generation of artists whose continuing creative evolution is often associated with the Centre d’Art, founded in 1944 in the capital city, Port-au-Prince. And it was at the Centre d’Art-a space where artists could express themselves freely, gain instruction, and exhibit their work-that Mary Lou Hughes became acquainted with many of the painters and sculptors whose creations she would collect. The paintings and sculptures in the Spencer exhibition-most of them produced before and during the Hughes’ residence in Haiti in the 1970s-exhibit a variety of styles, as well as a range of subject matter, from the religious and historical to scenes of nature and everyday life. With thanks to Amanda Martin-Hamon for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.

Documents

Media Release