Monkdogz Artblog

As our Haiti Art Fund auction moves into its final week (it closes at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time on March 31^st), it is gratifying to see that the media are still writing about Haiti on the front pages.  Haiti has not been forgotten.

The Times has an article written by Martin Fletcher about how the artists are living and coping since the earthquake:

Toni Monnin, an American who is married to a Haitian and runs one of that country’s leading art galleries, agrees: “Haitians don’t like to depict the sadder or tougher side of life because their lives are already so difficult.”

Could that innate optimism and resilience survive the earthquake that destroyed the capital, Port-au-Prince, killed 230,000 people and left 1.2 million homeless? Ninety per cent of Galerie Monnin’s 60 artists lost homes, relatives, materials — everything. Priceless collections of art were lost.

Two months later the first “earthquake paintings” are emerging. They are as powerful in their way as the most harrowing photographs of the catastrophe, and say much about the Haitian character. They do not ignore the horrors, but neither do they dwell on them. Their predominant message is one of faith, hope and salvation.

“It’s a kind of catharsis,” Monnin says. “It always comes back to resilience. It’s the Haitian thing. You just get on with life and keep going.”

These are very powerful words.  These sentiments are obviously well road tested and will easily translate into life skills that would benefit any of us struggling with our own concerns and issues.

It’s only 2 weeks since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti, leaving hundreds of thousand dead and millions homeless.  Already, other headlines are starting to hit the news above the situation in Haiti, but the situation remains dire, and in many ways worse.

In order to help the people of Haiti, Monkdogz has set up a silent online auction of artwork. 

We are asking artists from around the world to donate a small flat piece of art work measuring 5” x 7” (13cms x 8cms), signed on the back by the artist.

New artwork will be accepted until February 22^nd.

The work will be displayed anonymously, but all artists, sponsors and winning bidders will be credited on the website.

100% of all proceeds will go directly to UNICEF, Partners in Health, Oxfam and Habitat for Humanity. 

Winning bidders will be asked to send a stamped addressed envelope for the work, to ensure that all the money will go to the charities.  Administrative costs for running this project are being covered by Monkdogz. 

We hope that you will participate by donating a work of art, bidding on the artwork or spreading the word about the project. 

For more information please go to www.haitiartfund.com

Thanks for participating!