This summer, the Buchanan Partners Art Gallery presents La vie quotidienne: Haitian paintings from the David A. Kravitz Collection, 1970-2000. The exhibition, donated by David A. Kravitz, retired Professor at the George Mason University School of Business, includes a range of internationally renowned, nationally respected, and virtually unknown artists from Haiti. These works are painted in vibrant colors, presenting an idyllic vision of Haiti, and spotlight lush tropical landscapes, picturesque maritime imagery, quaint scenes of everyday peasant life, and Vodou rituals.
Collectively, the exhibition emphasizes natural beauty and culture. To give a fuller picture of Haitian life, including challenging aspects like political turmoil and poverty, Mason Art History students in Dr. Michele Greet’s Curating an Exhibition course have created accompanying texts about the country. These articles discuss Haitian history and religion, the history of art making and scholarship in Haiti, and the impact of the tourist market on artistic production in the region.
The exhibition opened May 31, and is on display in the Buchanan Partners Art Gallery on the second level of the Hylton Center through September 4. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.