Montclair Photography Professor Supports Haitian Humanitarian Efforts

Klaus A. Schnitzer, Professor of Photography in the Department of Art and Design spent a week in Haiti to benefit the non-profit Lamp for Haiti, founded by Dr. James Morgan in 2005. Lamp for Haiti provides health care and humanitarian aid to the community of Cité de Soleil, a slum on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. During his time there, Schnitzer focused on documenting the patients and the daily activities of the clinic, which acts as an oasis in an otherwise dangerous and incredibly poor area of the city.

The Lamp for Haiti clinic treats about 13,000 patients per year, free of charge. It provides pre- and postnatal care, malnutrition treatments, diagnostic testing, such as x-rays and EKG, and also has a fully stocked pharmacy. Schnitzer says, “I was very impressed by the grace and dignity of the patients who live in conditions of extreme poverty, in tin huts with open sewers.”

Schnitzer’s images comprise the featured show for the foundation’s annual fundraiser, “Cocktails for a Cause” at the Montclair Art Museum on Saturday, October 21^st from 7:30-10:30pm. Schnitzer’s artwork will be shown in the form of large still photographs on the walls of the reception area, in a documentary movie narrated by Dr. Morgan, and in a slide show loop. The images will also be utilized by the foundation for newsletters and on their website, lampforhaiti.org.