May 3, 2008 — Through the generosity of St. Croix artists and residents, more than $10,000 was raised Friday at the "Visions for Humanity" art show at Maufe Gallery in Christiansted for impoverished rural Haitians.
The donation will go to Haiti Community Support, St. Croix's homegrown response to the ongoing humanitarian crises in Haiti.
"With this we will be able to finish a classroom in the school being built for the village children," said Mathilde Wilson from Haiti Community Support. The school is the Renaissance Elementary School in Au Centre, Haiti,
Country Day School National Art Honor Society students organized the art show to benefit the Haiti Community Support.
The upstairs gallery off Company Street bustled with visitors Friday evening, and more people milled around in the courtyard where a big screen showed a video about life on Haiti. Attendance may have been buoyed by residents and international visitors in town for the Ironman Triathlon Jump Up buoyed the attendance.
Wilson's husband, Bruce Wilson, was on the street handing out brochures and talking up the event.
Artwork from Country Day School’s and Good Hope School’s talented art students were on display on the gallery walls as well as some of the very best local artists from St. Croix and Haiti who contributed pieces to be exhibited and auctioned. Among them were two prominent Haitian-born artists, Maude Pierre-Charles and Tibo.
Other local artists contributing works to this humanitarian effort included Elisa Mackay, Susan Snow, Nathan Bishop, Diego Conde, Mandy Thody and others.
Wilson, who with his wife runs Mt. Victory Camp in the rain forest, said they were very happy with the amount raised.
"Crucians are the most giving and benevolent people," said local artist Bonnie Luria.
Last year, the “Visions for Humanity” art show raised more than $10,000 for a non-profit called Aidchild, which helps children in Uganda living with AIDS.
This year efforts were directed toward a Caribbean community in dire need, said Monica Marin, Country Day art teacher.
She added that 100 percent of the proceeds raised would go to Haiti Community Support to help build the school as well as supplying the village with much-needed resources such as clean drinking water, hot meals and medical care.
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