This is a question that I've been living with for some time now. As a matter of fact, I have devoted my life to making it happen since 1994. Unfortunately, that dream has not yet been realized. Why?
Before answering with reasons why, let us first go back to the early years of the 1940s when Dewitt Peters and a number of artists founded the Centre d'Art (Art Center). Artists like Gérald Bloncourt who is one of the few remaining founders still alive today. (You'll read more about him soon.) Haiti before the opening of the art center in 1944 was practically unknown to the world. It had not made much advancement in the arts and there was no such thing as a tourism industry in the country. The Centre d'Art changed all that, almost overnight.
The curiosity of the art world grew with huge interests, so much so that well-known artists like Wifredo Lam and figures like André Breton visited the island. Celebrities from Hollywood began to travel to Haiti, and discovered an incredibly beautiful country rich in culture, in the arts, and very much alive. Haiti was now on the world map and truly open for business. In the years that followed, things started changing. As the political climate worsened, so did the prosperity of the country. The will of the Haitian people has remained strong, but Haiti's leadership has failed to overcome its ills.
The earthquake of January 12, with the loss of so many lives--well over 230,000, has created an atmosphere of peace, humility, giving, hope, care, love, and compassion amongst Haitians and people around the world. This terrible tragedy is forcing the people of Haiti and her Diaspora to take a good look at themselves, and to re-evaluate the way they've been operating with one another. It is pressuring the Haitian government to seize this opportunity to lead the country to growth and prosperity once again. It will take courage to acknowledge our weaknesses, and even more courage to delegate to others who are more competent, knowledgeable, and more experienced. Our strengths are in our numbers, our will, and our love for our country. L'Union Fait La Force! It will take a Haitian-led initiative to rebuild, with the cooperation of the international community. We can't get it wrong because the world is watching. We, Haitians, cannot let the world or ourselves down.
The opportunity in looking at redevelopment, rebuilding, remaking--there are so many terms floating around--and the path to real and lasting economic development rest with Haiti's culture and the arts. The country can become an art and design Mecca in the Caribbean, and even inspire other developing countries around the world if only... And that's where the work begins. The planners must consider infusing culture and the arts in every aspect of the development process. The human resources are there, and the capital investment is miniscule compared to the potential gains the country can expect to reap from this strategy.
Now back to "why?" Why have I not succeeded in helping Haiti realized its potential in the arts? Well, it's easy to put blame on the government, the economy, lack of infrastructure, capital investment in the arts, and so on. All of those are valid reasons, but there is something much worse. What I have found to my surprise is that even within the art circle (Haiti and Caribbean), that those of us (creative souls) who are empowered and gifted with the responsibility to effect change are very divided. Jealousy, mistrust, and negativity are tearing away at our capacity to reach our full potential. We must stop this now and quick. Otherwise, we will not see any real change in our lifetime and we would have misused the gift that being an artist represents--agents of responsibility and change for the world.
Sincerely,
Marcel Wah
Publisher
Past Letters
Caribbean Art in Conversation with the World
J.E. Gourgue
Courtesy: K. Halsted
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