Vassar Haiti Project

This past September, the Vassar Haiti Project had our first art sale of the school year! This annual sale, which takes place over Vassar College’s Parents Weekend, normally occurs in April; however, for the 2015-16 school year, Vassar held Parents Weekend in September. For the first time ever, VHP’s “April Sale” took place in September. Read about the sale from the perspective of Udbhav Agarwal ’18, VHP’s Director of Education.

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Everything that could have gone differently did go differently. As we swung open the doors for the 15^th Annual Haitian Art Sale of the Vassar Haiti Project, one could sense the mere nervousness that had encompassed each of us. The sale that had happened ritualistically once every year, for the past 14 years, was now happening twice in six months. Almost every other day, someone would call it the “April Sale” only to be quickly reminded, that no- this wasn’t the “April Sale” but the “September Sale”. The Annual Art Auction that had highlighted each of the past “April Sales” was nowhere on our calendar. Invitations and postcards had been timely delivered, but responses and RSVPs were ambiguous. Indeed, as we swung open the doors for our 15^th Annual Art Sale we were prepared to expect a no-show and shut them right back.

Our Annual Art Sales are arguably the most important dates in our calendar- a grand albeit painstaking culmination of art, efforts and stories. It takes three days just to set the display right- to dare to recreate the vivacity of Haitian Art in our tiny little base in Vassar College, Poughkeepsie. As the artists and their paintings go up- from the scenic “Twin Animals” series of Joel Gauthier to the downright absurd “Fish Man” collection of Andre Blaise- ornamenting the otherwise unvaried walls of the CCMPR, every column boasts a vision and mystery of its own. A successful sale would give the necessary boost to having a fulfilling year for our partners in Chermaître, Haiti. Indeed, a successful sale is imperative to the success of the Vassar Haiti Project.

“Every column boasts a vision and mystery of its own”.

Burgeoned by these concerns and many others, the first day of the Sale began with a slow but eventually assuring start. As faces we had just recently bid adieu returned back to the College Center Multi-Purpose Room- confused but nonetheless enthusiastic that the sale was happening twice this year- our team began work with a renewed faith in our mission. By half day, almost everyone was tired- the whole room was occupied and the art had cast its spell. It took us barely a day to realize that the generosity and admiration that our Haitian artworks were able to invoke transcended minor details such as the fact that we had just had a sale a few months ago. Our worries were not worries at all.

Day 2 began with the reappearance of two of our Executive Board members from last year. As Sarah Oliver ‘15 and Ayodele Parker ’15 returned to help with the sale, the gravity and the mere celebration in the room remained unquestioned. Day 2 of sales was going to be the longest most exhausting day of the lot- not only did we open the sale early in the morning but we were also hosting a gala/student presentation on what VHP meant to us and the community. Once again, as each member (old and new) set into motion, and the visitors opened up about the stories and biographies they had carried with themselves through the years- the true essence of VHP became clearer than ever. Here, in our Little Haiti, in the course of three days, people representing five continents, eighteen countries and thirty-five languages would walk through. They would share their stories and we would share ours. And just like that, a world of difference would be celebrated in our tiny little base at Vassar, Poughkeepsie.

By the time the tear down happened on Day 3- the unvaried walls of the CCMPR were restored back to their original blankness and the artists and their artworks were curated and sealed for next year- it had been a much awaited end to a much awaited weekend. Indeed, as we had swung the doors open we were prepared for a no show, but by the end we were astounded by the generosity and passion of our visitors. Our first “April”, sorry, “September Sale” had been successful and we were prepared for an even more successful year.