Shopping – Port-au-Prince

Art & Craft

Some galleries have a near monopoly on certain artists, so don’t expect to see a cross-section of all the major artists in any one, good gallery. The paintings hung at the Oloffson are for sale. Galerie Carlos Jara (T2457164) has a fine collection at 28 Rue Armand Holly, Pacot, 10 mins’ drive uphill from the Oloffson.

Advertisement

Le Centre d’Art, 58 Rue Roy, Pacot, T2222018. In a beautiful but crumbling old house, 2 floors of artwork with stacks of paintings, upstairs, founded 1944, open Mon-Fri 0930-1300, 1430-1600, Sat 0930-1230. The Nader family has two galleries: one in Pétion-Ville (see page 370); the other at 18 Rue Bouvreuil (T2450565/4524) in the leafy Croix Desprez neighbourhood is now principally a museum; Galerie Issa (T2223287), 17 Ave du Chili (300m from Oloffson) is more like a wholesale warehouse, but cheap if you know what you are looking for. Damballa Art Gallery, 243 Rue Magasin de l’Etat. A hole-in-the-wall gallery, wonderful. Mass produced copies of the Haitian naive masters are sold very cheaply around the Post Office, near the port. If you want to buy paintings, you are advised to take your time, look around, and be prepared for some serious bargaining. You will quickly learn which patterns are imitations or mass-produced just by seeing them repeatedly. Vendors sell 1st-class Voodoo flags outside the Musée d’Art Haïtien. Souvenir sellers also close to the Holiday Inn.

Comité Artisanal Haïtien, 29 Rue 3, Pacot (near Oloffson), T2228440. A co-operative selling handicraft from all over Haiti at good prices 0900-1600 Mon-Fri, 1000-1200 Sat. Ambiance, 17 Ave M, Pacot, T2452494. Haitian jewellery and pottery. The Rainbow, 9 Rue Pierre Wiener, Bourdon, T2456655/6039. Sells handicraft and paintings. Fanal, 124 Ave Christophe, corner of Rue Waag, T2451948. Antiques, handicrafts, toys, open Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat 1000-1400.

Ads