New Jersey painter captures common scenes in Haiti that Americans rarely see

New Jersey artists Frandy Jean hopes his paintings show the other-side of Haiti. “Usually thoughts about my country are negative and it’s easy for people to criticize negative things, but the not the good things. There is no perfect country and every country has their problems,” said the 24-year-old Haitian-native now living in Barrington, N.J. 

Jean’s paintings entitled “Suffering Under the Sun for a Better Life.” earned him an honorable mention in this year’s Camden County Juried Art Exhibition at the Camden County College.

One of his paintings depicts a Haitian woman sitting in the sun selling plantains, which Jean said is a common image to see in his country because of their economic difficulties. He said the women wake up early in the morning and sit in the sun all day just so their kids can have a better life. He wanted to shed light on their life and promote a positive image of Haiti.

Jean also submitted a painting depicting the earthquake that devastated his country’s capitol of Port-au-Prince entitled “January 2010 Earthquake in Haiti.” 

The painting transitions between a woman crying and the Presidential Palace, which Jean said signifies the pain and loss of what happened.

The exhibition is hosted by the Camden County Cultural Heritage Commission. Executive director Sandra Turner Barnes said the exhibit is unlike anything they have done before featuring 101 pieces of art by 51 artists throughout the tri-state area saying attendees should “expect to be amazed.”

The exhibit will be held through March 2 at Camden Community College’s Regional Emergency Training Center located at 420 N. Woodbury-Turnersville Road in Blackwood, Gloucester Township. It is free and open to the public.