During the grim aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, saving endangered
lives is the most urgent priority. But preserving heritage is important
too. Above is a vivid video accompanying Pooja Bhatia‘s article, Art Trove Among Nation’s Losses, in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal. In this clip, she surveys the severe damage to the privately established Galerie and Musée Nader in Port-au-Prince.
Bhatia writes:
It took 30 seconds to wipe out his [Georges Nader Sr.‘s] collection, which Mr. Nader’s son,
Georges Nader Jr., estimates was worth $30 million to $100 million.
Only about 50 pieces from his mansion survived, according to the
family.
On the museum’s website, the Naders state (scroll down):
Although
the physical building of Museum Nader may not exist anymore, our love
for Haitian art will never die. Haitian Art is a significant piece of
our culture, and we will do whatever we can to save an important part
of our history.
Other recent reports have documented the earthquake’s cultural toll:
—Tracy Wilkinson of the LA Times describes damage to museums and galleries, focusing on the Centre d’Art, Port-au-Prince’s museum, which “looked as if a cruel giant had
taken bites out of the walls and ceiling of the cavernous exhibition
hall.”
Wilkinson reports:
“It is difficult to talk about saving art when we must save lives,”
said painter Maritou Chenet , whose oldest friends were killed in the
disaster. But art is such an integral part of Haitian life that the
works must be protected, she said, even as the buildings housing them
are demolished.
—Lesley Clark of the Miami Herald spoke to Cammie Scully, executive director of the Waterloo Center for the Arts, Iowa, which has a large
collection of Haitian art. It is establishing a relief fund and serving as a clearinghouse for information about the lost art
and affected artists.
Scully told Clark:
With unemployment at 85 percent, art has been one of the ways people
have been able to make money. A lot of people are
taking care of extended families through the arts. It’s an unbelievably
creative culture.
As I wrote previously, another Iowa museum with a large Haitian collection, the Figge Art Museum, Davenport, has been active in relief efforts.
The Milwaukee Art Museum, which has a strong Haitian collection, “is collecting money for Haitian relief efforts,” spokesperson Vicki Scharfberg told me. “Our front-of-house staff is also encouraging guests to visit our [Haitian] collection.
Here, again, is CNN’s list of agencies collecting donations for Haitian relief.