This Exhibition features art from the William L. Bryant Collection, the Richard H. Shoemaker Collection, the Latin American Collection and the General Library Collection all on loan from UCF Special Collections as well as works from the private collection of renowned artist, Edouard Duval Carrié. A majority of the works in the exhibition are from the William L. Bryant Collection. His foundation began exploring the sites in Florida and the West Indies; by the late 50's he began collecting Caribbean art during his visits to Haiti and Jamaica. It was in Haiti that he purchased his first painting, The Hat Seller, which is included in this exhibition. Bryant donated his collection to the Florida Technological University (what is now UCF) in the 1970's. It is thanks to his collecting practices that these works are now on view.
The pieces included in the show have been selected for their cultural context and grouped thematically; interpretative labels have been provided for life, landscapes, religious practice and ritual. Although the islands of Jamaica and Wilfredo Lam respectively, a great majority of works are of Haitian provenance. After the earthquake of 2010, many works by Haitian artists were lost and this exhibition is a rare opportunity to see the works of Wilson Bigaud, Préfète Duffaut, and Prospere Pierre-Louis. The show has been curated to showcase the transnational and multicultural elements of Caribbean culture. These artworks reflect the culture that produced them, their intended use and audience. The recent exhibitions Global Caribbean and Caribbean: Art at the Crossroads of the World have opened discussions regarding the place of Caribbean art in the art historical canon and the contemporary art world. Caribbean Expressions: Art, Life & Life and Culture seeks to add to that discussion. The accompanying lecture series and study area compliment the goal of producing an audience-centered exhibition that engages the visitor while being inclusive and diverse.
Exhibition was held in University of Central Florida Art Gallery between September 5th - September 27th 2013. Curator: Ilenia Colón Mendoza, Ph.D.
