Through his films, his public stands, and his philanthropy, director Jonathan Demme has long been one of the foremost American proponents for the people and culture of Haiti. He is also one of the leading collectors of Haitian art in recent years. This is a rare opportunity to see selections from this fine collection. Jonathan Demme Collection: Inspiration of Haitian Art is presented from May 7th to June 13th, 2009, at the French Institute/Alliance Francaise , 22 E. 60th St., in New York as part of the month-long World Nomads: Haiti festival:

"The FIAF Gallery presents a special exhibition of Haitian paintings from the personal collection of the parrain of this year’s World Nomads Haiti festival: Academy Award-winning American film director Jonathan Demme. Known for his films Silence of the Lambs and the recent Rachel Getting Married , Demme curates the exhibition featuring the works of ten Haitian artists. A long-time Haitian art enthusiast and avid collector, Demme has been a fervent advocate for Haiti through the years. He’s embraced Haiti both through his films and his collaborations with Haitian writers such as Edwidge Danticat and musicians such as RAM and Wyclef Jean."
"Though each of the self-taught artists showcased in the exhibition has a unique style of painting, their topic—the rich cultural landscape of daily life in Haiti—unites them, presenting a detailed and poignant portrait of their country."

You may read an article about this show, A Show of Demme's Treasured Art in the Philadelphia Inquirer (May 7, 2009).

http://www.fiaf.org/events/spring2009/2009-05-07-demme.shtml