As some of my readers know, I have been searching for P. Jules.  As a result, I have made a professional connection with Becky Hammond.  I want you to know where she is and then share the impressive research that she has shared with me on behalf of the University of Central Florida Library.  Becky responded to my request for information in my search for P. Jules within a day, as I had noted in doing my research, that this was an excellent website.  I thought that there was some connection between the sculptural approach of Ludovic Booz (during one period) and my artist.

I am grateful to Becky Hammond, Library Technical Assistant, in the University of Central Florida Libraries Department of Special Collections & University Archives from the William L. Bryant Collections Websites, Exhibits and other subject related internet sources” for seeking out approval from both the Director of her department and the Associate Director of Public Services so that I might publish here, some fascinating information in regards to West Indies artifacts, particular to Haiti.  I still have not made confirmation that P. Jules was/is a Haitian sculptor, but the more I compare images, the more I think so.  I am grateful to Becky Hammond for her thorough and expedient response to my query.  Published here, is her response.  Now you will see why I am so impressed.

Dear Ms. Kath:

Thank you for your interest in our Bryant West Indies Collection. The collection does not have an artist by the name P. Jules, although we do have several pieces by unknown artists so it is possible that some of these were created by P. Jules.

If you have not found it already, here is the weblink to the Gallery of West Indian Art  http://www.galleryofwestindianart.com/  and the Haitian Art Company  http://www.haitian-art-co.com/ .  There is a Haitian Painting website which also has sculpture, drawings, photography, prints etc. http://www.haitianpaintings.com/hp.asp?page=HOME  They may be able to give you more information about this particular artist or know someone who can, since not all galleries, art dealers and museums carry the same artists’ work., but they do have contacts in the field who do.

You could also try looking in the telephone directory under “art appraisals/appraisers” to find local sources and contact any museums or galleries which feature West Indian, Caribbean and Haitian Art.

I suggest looking at websites which specialize in Haitian art because the name appears to be French and Haiti was once a French colony and French names are very common and the majority of the Bryant collection items do come from Haiti. However, Martinique is another possibility.

 You may be interested in our other Bryant websites- The Legacy of the Spirit at  http://library.ucf.edu/SpecialCollections/Exhibits/Bryant/ and http://library.ucf.edu/SpecialCollections/Exhibits/BryantSite/Default.html  which features archeological artifacts that Bryant also collected and some of the many West Indian books that are also part of the collection, artwork  and  maps. Another also features artwork –  http://library.ucf.edu/SpecialCollections/Exhibits/BryantCollection/  and has three sculptures by Georges  LaRatte.

One of our main  Library exhibits from 2004 which is also called Legacy of the Spirit http://library.ucf.edu/SpecialCollections/Exhibits/LegacyExhibit.asp  and another which features paintings of houses found in the West Indies called Our Island Homes http://library.ucf.edu/SpecialCollections/Exhibits/OurIslandHomesExhibit.asp

I was able to locate a Haitian book and art bibliography created by a man named Bob Corbett. I have the document attached. Unfortunately it is 6 years old and I don’t know how accurate or up to date it is it is, but your local library can probably get the books through the Interlibrary loan system if they do not have them in their book collection as it is a rather specialized topic. Or you might be able to find them at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Here are some related titles that our library general collection owns:

1.  Haitian art by Ute Stebich.
2.  Miracle of Haitian art by Selden Rodman
3. Voodoo and the art of Haiti ,by Sheldon Williams
4. Art of Haiti, by Eleanor Ingalls Christensen.

It is possible that P. Jules may be  is listed in one or more of these books and there will have more biographical information on the artist. We hope you find this information useful and good luck with your research and your sculpture. I like your Website, which I just discovered!

Ms. Hammond also attached an extensive bibliography, an ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOOKS AND ARTICLES WITH HAITIAN ART.  I will not include this here because of its size, but I want to mention it because it is such a useful tool in this search of mine.  I want to conclude by saying that sometimes when we are conducting research or accessing information via the internet, we lose touch with the people who are writing publications, doing research and publishing images.  It’s important that we continue to see this wild information highway as a place where people work.  Thank you, Becky Hammond.

Easy reading is damn hard writing. — Nathaniel Hawthorne