Art and Handicraft Committee
Project Manager: Lauren Maclean '12
The merchandising committee is responsible for the managing all the paintings and handcrafts sold by the Vassar Haiti Project. We organize 'Stretching Parties' where we teach students how to stretch paintings and then name the paintings in an effort to keep track of the 300 paintings in our inventory! We also manage over 100 items of beautiful handcrafts from Haiti that come in over the course of several months. It is always exciting to open up the cartons and see the unique items from the local artisans! For our most important event, the Parent's Weekend Art Sale and Auction, we put up the art sale in two days in the College Center. What a sight! Last year, we sold over $70,000! This is an effort that nearly 100 student and community volunteers help to put together.
We also partner with other organizations who help to support the Vassar Haiti Project with selling art and crafts to help the village of Chermaitre in education and nutrition. My favorite part of organizing this committee is being able to collaborate with all the other groups with their initiatives, as well as coming up with imaginative names for all the paintings!