Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme (1944-2017), known for directing the films The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Philadelphia (1993) and The Manchurian Candidate (2004), was also a Haitian art curator and collector. He developed a particular appreciation for Haitian art and culture after acquiring a Haitian painting from a gallery in New York in the 1980s. It prompted him to visit the country, where he learned Creole and met local artists and musicians. Two documentaries, Haiti Dreams of Democracy (1988) and L'agronome (2002), about the life of prominent Haitian journalist and activist Jean Dominique, are the fruit of his past time. His art collection represents a culmination of these experiences, featuring rare works by Haiti’s most famous painters. Demme has organized many exhibitions. For example, in his 1997 exhibition "Island on Fire", which presented more than 100 Haitian paintings in the Equitable Life building in Manhattan, Demme presented lesser-known Haitian artists alongside renowned masters. Demme's other shows include "Haiti: News and Beliefs" (1990) at Florida State University, "By Hand: Dan Art: The Art of Daniel Pressley" (1999) in New York City, "Alégory of Haitian Life from the collection of Jonathan Demme (2006) at the Bass Museum in Miami Beach, Florida, "Jonathan Demme Collection: Inspiration of Haitian Art" (2009) in New York. He was part of the curatorial team for many shows at Ramapo College in New Jersey, such as "Haiti: Three Visions: Etienne Chavannes, Edger Jean Baptiste and Ernst Prophète" (1994), "A Seemingly Unimportant Event: Self-Taught Art Center in the 1940s and 50s" (1997)" Odilon Pierre: Artists of Haiti "(2005) and "Still Lives to Surreal: Selections in Haitian art from 1945 to 1995 "(2012).
Note:
With the high cost of shipping many of our customers choose to ship by USPS. For small and light shipments this is usually less expensive, but please be aware that their estimates are often wrong and their service can be very slow (sixteen days for Priority Mail from Philadelphia to New York City recently). The service is not always as economical as it may appear, particularly on larger or more valuable shipments. USPS estimates only include insurance up to $100 for its domestic shipments. If you ask for full insurance we will recalculate the shipping cost and send you an invoice for any difference in cost. For overseas shipments USPS will not insure for over $650. On request we can get estimates for overseas shipping from DHL.
