Vassar Haiti Project

On November 20, 21 and 22,  the Vassar Haiti Project had our second Haitian Art Sale in Setauket, New York.  In the following post, Alexandra Ng ’19 shares her perspective from the art sale.

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As a freshman member of VHP, seeing the sale in action was a transformative experience that introduced me to the strength of the VHP family and meaning behind our various projects.  Each student had a specific role during the day, from host, introducing our various initiatives to customers, to cashier, art wrapper, and usher.  Seeing every member embrace their role and embody the VHP mission as their own was not only impressive, but also beautiful.  I was proud to show off our beautiful paintings and handcrafts to customers and even more excited to learn how many customers attended our art sales annually. With each art sale, the bond among us deepens, and we understand that teamwork and trust are essential for producing a successful event.

After three long days of selling art, little sleep, and interacting with hundreds of customers, we were all physically exhausted, but energized and satisfied by the results of our art sale. The final push came with the “tear down” of the art sale.  I was amazed to see how quickly and efficiently 13 VHP members were able to rapidly transform the room from a vibrant Haitian paradise back to a church multipurpose room.  The spirit and heart of the VHP family was apparent as we loaded our U-Haul van with considerably fewer pieces of art and handcrafts than when we began the trip.   I will never forget the collective sigh of relief we all shared when the room was restored, satisfied with the effort we put into the entire weekend and excited with the new resources we could offer our partners in Chermaitre.

The success of this art sale was much due to the efforts of Jeanine and Peter Morelli, members of the St. James Church (and a Vassar alumnus, Jeanine!) who graciously hosted us in their home and ensured we had a never ending buffet of various baked goods.  Their overwhelming hospitality and commitment to making the art sale a success was commendable.  Thank you, Jeanine and Peter, for opening your home, your church, and your hearts to the VHP family!

The sunset on the ride home was simply the perfect ending to a transformative weekend. The sky was illuminated with vibrant pinks, purples, and oranges that rivaled the bright and vivid colors of our Haitian paintings and handcrafts. As Lila and I admired the sunset (everyone else in the car was in a deep sleep), I was overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment and pride in the success of VHP. I am so grateful to VHP’s members for enthusiastically welcoming me into the the family, and I look forward to many more art sales!