| I first met Rene Dimanche Jr. through his visual art at | | | | culture. What I was really drawn to in your story and |
| the Urban League Black Fine Art Exhibit. Later I | | | | the story of your art was how these things came |
| learned he is a fine actor as well. I saw him perform | | | | together. Anytime an artist is looking for his voice, I |
| the role of George Wilcox in the First Run Theatre | | | | tend to think its about identity and a search for place, |
| production "The Seamstress of St. Francis Street" | | | | somehow. |
| written by Mario Farwell and directed by Jim Meady. | | | | Rene: Precisely correct. My work is a spiritual and |
| Janet: Rene, I had a sense that you carry a longing for | | | | earthly search for a voice, place, identity-by first |
| home within you and you are searching for that | | | | claiming Christ's victory over sin/death and then our |
| through your art. Am I on track at all? | | | | relation to the land we long for (its culture and people). |
| Rene: Yes, this longing of mine started after college. I | | | | Janet: Rene, so, this search for identity and perhaps |
| did not know it would begin as a strong pull through the | | | | even a search for place...how has that been for you? |
| arts. | | | | Rene: Identity, place in Jesus our Savior and where we |
| Janet: You work masterfully in a variety of painting | | | | are from, my search of who I really am and where I |
| styles as you search for a voice that that will express | | | | am from...these themes came into focus when a |
| best what your soul wants to say. It seems as if | | | | girlfriend of mine challenged me and said that I was not |
| portraits and still lifes...and maybe even portraits and still | | | | a Black person to her-because I was from Haiti. While I |
| lifes tied to your homeplace of Haiti might be a place | | | | disagreed with her in many levels, she was right about |
| you are going. Could you tell us more about this? | | | | the fact that I am Haitain-American not |
| Rene: "Finding my voice." How can I describe what this | | | | Black-American. Then I realized I knew little of my |
| is all about for me? All I can say is that it is that thing | | | | country. |
| that people talk about when they say "you'll know it | | | | Janet: All of your work is good, but so separate in tone |
| when you see it" or "I just know that's the one and | | | | and style...and I saw you really hitting stride with the |
| don't ask me why" I am getting closer to what I believe | | | | portraits and still lifes as you go back to your roots in |
| to be the path to take. | | | | Haiti as well...Do you feel this is the direction you are |
| A big part of me misses my country, Haiti, dearly. Haiti | | | | going? |
| is a place that I did not have the privilege of knowing | | | | Rene: My works are a search and not settled yet. I |
| really well. To a certain extent a big part of who I am | | | | am gravitating towards portraits/still lifes for the most |
| is pretty well hidden from me. | | | | part. I hope to work bigger in addition to doing small |
| Somewhere along the way I have almost lost contact | | | | works. |
| with my Haitian roots: the people, the culture, the music, | | | | I'm starting to read more in depth about regional art. |
| the country. With that in mind-I have a strong feeling | | | | Haiti is unique in the sense that much of it is still in a |
| that will be my inner journey in art-to activate a | | | | non-modern state. A lot of people in Haiti are pushing |
| dialogue between me and my country Haiti. Until then I | | | | big time for a modern layout in all things. Yet a lot of its |
| will continue to explore surface attributes-like color, | | | | beauty is in its sense of old time culture and lifestyle |
| shapes, texture-until the voice gets so loud that it must | | | | such as young boy riding mule, a man by a mountain |
| be responded to. | | | | side tending his small vegetable farm by a stream, and |
| Janet: Yes, that's what I feel. That through your art you | | | | women carrying big baskets of fruits on their heads. |
| reconnect to home-both the home you came from | | | | My work is following a definite progression towards a |
| and a home within yourself. | | | | realm not known to me yet. I just need to continue to |
| I'm interested in connection, home, family, arts, and | | | | dig. |