Raymond Joseph

 .....................The fact of the matter is Raymond Joseph like Bresil holds a very important place in the making of Cantave Studio. Thru Raymond, I met over a dozen Haitian artists. 

           In the early 2000's when the Haitian art scene was bustling with activities. I saw a gentleman walking with a large painting wrapped in newspaper walking in Canape Vert, a suburb of Port au Prince. I taught he was a demarcheur. It was easy to spot a demarcheur. A demarcheur is a middleman working for artists. They are well connected with all sorts of clients including collectors, hotel owners, and galleries, and  In times of emergency, the artist did not rely on the galleries. it was those demarcheurs who were able in the same day deliver cash for the emergencies. They also work for the collector who also sometimes have those emergencies. In those emergencies, one can find real bargains.

        I approached Raymond, greeted him and politely ask him if I could see the painting he was carrying. After he took a good look at me, he unwrapped the painting to reveal a large beautiful tropical 30"x40"landscape. And that was the start of a great relationship.

        A few days later I visited him in Martissan a town next to Carrefour Feuilles Haiti. Then he took me later to Raymond Lafaille's house on that day after he secured a deal with me. Raymond Lafaille was a much more famous and successful painter. Lafaille lived right down the street. It was a riot to witness their interaction. They were best friends. I think they purposfully tried to comfused one another by constantly calling each other Raymond. It was really enjoyable. They both were also alcoholics.

When I'm in Haiti I always keep a gallon of rum at the base. Most household in P.a.P. have at least that, no quarts. But Lafaille hit the ball out of the park. For in a corner of his small house he had a gigantic wood rum barrel. I never saw anything like that in my whole life. 

He also had a very very long scoop, special design made, they use in order to get the rum out. Which again I never saw in my whole life either. The good times I had with these two I cannot even tell you.

 Young and dashing, they were both playboys with a number of girlfriends. However one day a principal girl of Lafaille moved in with Ramond. This started a bitter rift between these two even after the girl left both. They became bitter enemies. They both were complaining to me about the other.

The next year when I return to Haiti, I invited them both to the base where the reunited again.and after they were mellow I made them hug and shake hands. I was delighted to see them again in their old ways. After that every time artists would come to the base I make them shake hands. Because many were jealous of each other's success. Now what made Raymond Joseph stand out above is what happened after he outright took my commission money and refused to deliver the goods.Please read Raymond Lafaille for the rest of the story .>