The recent earthquake in Haiti has made that small island nation the subject of much attention in recent weeks, as images of the suffering there are prevalent worldwide.  However, a new exhibit in Boston College’s John J. Burns Library provides a different insight into this rich culture.  “Caribbean Art: Haitian Paintings and Jamaican Anansi Stories” displays glimpses into the daily life, warmth, and vibrancy of the Caribbean people and tradition.

The Haitian paintings on display were collected by Arthur M. Morrissey, an ophthalmologist and 1929 graduate of Boston College.  Working with Catholic Charities, Dr. Morrissey gave his services as an ophthalmologist in Port-de-Paix, Haiti, during the 1960s.  The paintings were given to him as gifts by the Haitian people as expressions of their gratitude for his work.  Several of the paintings were also collected by Anne Anninger, the former curator of Harvard’s Houghton Library.

Twenty-three paintings are currently on display in Burns, and these works celebrate the daily life, religion, celebrations, and history of Haiti.  The vibrancy of the paintings demonstrates the outstanding talent and creativity of Haitian artists.  There is a depiction of a market scene by Fritz Merise, and another painting by Sénéque Obin documents the significant moment in Haitian history circa 1803 in which General Jean-Jacques Dessalines created the Haitian flag.  Historically, it is said that Dessalines tore the white segment from a French flag to create the new symbol of an independent nation.

Even though Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere and has endured centuries of violent political upheaval and other setbacks, its people have endured and their culture has thrived despite such hardships.

“The people in Haiti are materially poor, but spiritually rich,” says Justine Sundaram, a reference librarian at Burns Library.  “It’s a vibrant culture, centered around its African roots . . . and there is so much talent and resilience there.”  The evidence of this is on display in the Burns Library Collection.

The history of Haiti is lengthy and complex.  Haiti was the first black republic in the world.  Many of its current inhabitants are descended from Spanish conquistadors and their African slaves, and the island was later taken over by the French; their history is one of oppression.  Early Haitians were pressured to abandon their own religious beliefs (predominantly Voodoo) in favor of Christianity.

As a result of this, Haitian artwork exhibits influences of both Voodoo and Christianity.  The Burns display includes pieces which portray Voodoo rituals and the prevalence of spirits, with some indication of Christian influence.  Dreamlike watercolor paintings and images of earthly daily life reappearing in the afterlife are evidence of a complex spirituality, one which honored spirits known as Loa.

The frames of the paintings were also made in Haiti, and their simple, rustic carvings complement the artwork.  Sundaram says that the paintings have an effect that “gives some parts of history a voice.”  The accomplishments of Haiti’s artists have survived despite its turbulent past.

Many paintings by Haitian artists were collected and displayed at the Centre d’Art in Haiti.  The Centre d’Art was established in 1940, when an American, Dewitt Peters, was amazed by the raw talent and creativity of Haitian artists upon visiting the island. As Sundaram said, the Centre d’Art provided “a free atmosphere in which Haitian artists could express traditions.”

Unfortunately, the Centre was destroyed in the recent earthquake.

The Caribbean Art exhibit in Burns Library also includes a collection of stories, songs, and artwork made by children in a 1930-1931 contest organized by Jesuit missionary Father Joseph John Williams.   The contest encouraged children to write stories about Anansi, a popular and mischievous character in Haitian folk legends.

The submissions reveal not only the dialect of the children, but also their intelligence and creativity, despite very limited education and artistic instruction.  Songs, illustrations, and imaginative tales are a record of the oral tradition in Haiti that dates back to the island’s African roots.  Father Williams donated these pieces to Burns, making this exhibit the largest manuscript collection of Anansi folk tales in existence.

The collection will remain on display until the end of March.  Do not miss this opportunity to gain valuable insight into the culture of the Caribbean.  Burns Library is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am to 5pm, Wednesdays from 9am to 8pm, and Saturdays 10am to 2pm.  For more information, visit www.bc.edu/libraries/collections/burns.html.

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