For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (c)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
DES MOINES, IOWA (April 2025) – 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.
“Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” is on view April 18 through September 7, 2025, in the Des Moines Art Center’s recently renovated A.H. Blank Gallery. The exhibition is co-curated by Beth Gollnick, associate curator at the Des Moines Art Center, and Chawne Paige, executive director of the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Support for the exhibition is provided by EMC Insurance.
The exhibition is accompanied by a complimentary 16-page gallery guide, featuring colorful artworks, a history of the WCA’s Haitian art collection, and a description of the themes and symbols often depicted in Haitian artwork such as loa (Haitian spirits), snakes, mermaids, crosses, and drapo (or flags), and more. The gallery guide has been translated into Haitian Kreyòl, the first language of nearly 11 million people worldwide.
For more information or to request images from the exhibition, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Image caption: Myrlande Constant (Haitian, born 1968). Dambalah Wedo Et Ayda Voir Preeace (detail), 2000-2010. Sequined flag. On loan from the Waterloo Center for the Arts Haitian Collection, 2015.0109, Gift of Ted Frankel and Bill Gilmore.
RELATED PROGRAMMING
Symposium: Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art and Culture
Saturday, April 26 l 1 – 4 pm
Levitt Auditorium
Free; reservations required.
Guided Tours
Saturday, May 3, June 7, July 5, and September 6 l 1 – 2 pm
Meet in the Harriet S. and J. Locke Macomber Lobby
Free; no reservations required.
Bilingual Cooking Class: Haitian Flavors / Gou Ayisyen
Friday, May 30 | 6 pm
Culinary Annex
$70; reservations required.
Gallery Talk with Associate Curator Elizabeth Gollnick
Friday, June 20 | 5:30 pm
A.H. Blank Gallery
Free; reservations required.
About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited (American Association of Museums) institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier—incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th and 21st century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental art for which the Art Center cares is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity.
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