Ramapo College to Open Jonathan Demme's Exhibition of Haitian Paintings Sept. 17

Ramapo College will open A Sense of Place: Cap-Haitien Paintings from the Collection of Jonathan Demme on Wednesday, Sept. 17 in the Kresge Gallery and will continue through Nov. 21.

An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a curators’ talk at 6 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

The exhibition will feature more than 60 pieces from the collection of Jonathan Demme, a noted film director and one of the world’s leading collectors of Haitian art. The exhibition breaks new ground by exploring particular styles of art which developed in and around the city of Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti.

Mahwah-based Ramapo College is home to the largest concentration of Haitian art collections in any academic institution in the U.S. with more than 500 works. The late poet and critic Selden Rodman donated the core collection in the early 1980s.

A Sense of Place showcases art from “the Cap-Haitien School” and differs from stereotypical expectations about the look and subject matter of Haitian painting, which often centers on Vodou subjects and symbols.

The exhibition includes 20 items on display that Demme will donate to Ramapo’s permanent collection. A Sense of Place is curated by Jose Zelaya, with Jonathan Demme, Sydney Jenkins, director of art galleries at Ramapo and Wael Qattan.

“Many of the rare works on view have never been presented in a public venue,” said Jenkins. “Due to significant donations to the Rodman Collection in recent years, we have fewer Cap-Haitien works than one would expect to find in a comprehensive collection. The wonderful pieces donated by Jonathan Demme balance collection gaps and strengthen our ability to serve the public.”

The Kresge Gallery is located in the Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts and is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 1 to 7 p.m.