Light Within Ourselves

Thousands of miles from the island of Haiti, Iowa has become a beacon for the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.

Organized in partnership with the Waterloo Center for the Arts (WCA), “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” showcases a selection of the rich holdings of Haitian Art in the WCA’s collection—the largest public collection of Haitian Art in both Iowa and the United States. Founded in 1977 with a donation of work acquired by Dr. and Mrs. F. Harold Reuling during their travels in Haiti, the collection has since grown to include more than 2,000 pieces.

This exhibition explores the vibrant diversity of Haitian artwork, featuring paintings, metalwork, sculpture, and drapos (beaded and sequined banners). Rooted in historical themes, it considers the influence of the African diaspora and the enduring impact of colonialism on the Haitian people. The exhibition maps spheres of influence between artists of different generations and explores imagery in which spiritual traditions intersect with everyday life. Thousands of miles from the island of Haiti, Iowa has become a beacon for the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.

Myrlande Constant (Haitian, born 1968)
Dambalah Wedo Et Ayda Voir Preeace, 2000-2010
Sequined flag
On loan from the Waterloo Center for the Arts Haitian Collection, 2015.0109, Gift of Ted Frankel and Bill Gilmore