This is an ever-changing collection of amazing wall art from Haiti.
Each piece is hand-hammered onto recycled metal. With many goods shipped to Haiti in 55 gallon steel drums, there is a ready supply of discarded drums for the artisans to use.
The center for Haitian metal arts is the village of Croix-des-Bouquets, where the clang-clang of metal on metal, the chisels and hammers banging out the sculptures, provides a constant music.
The artisans start with designs inspired by nature and culture. From original cardboard patterns, they trace their designs with chalk on the flattened metal from torn down steel drums. With chisels and hammers, they carefully cut and decorate the metal by hand. Every detail, every leaf vein, every bead is created with the stroke of the artist’s hand. No repetitive stamping or machinery is used in the production process. Each shape is then fashioned and smoothed to finish. Finally, the artist boldly and proudly chisels their name, if room, on the metal sculpture they have just created.
Casey RiddelI, the founder of this collective, began working in Haiti over 19 years ago with the goal of fighting poverty through art. During that time, she has worked with as many as 120 artists, cultivating business relationships, and building friendships. She says, "Because of our firm belief in Fair Trade and its practice, every sale we make of metal art makes a positive impact on the artist who produces it. Those benefits flow through the whole workshop and create prosperity for their own family, workers and apprentices, and ultimately, the entire village."
Each piece is an intricately detailed piece of art!
Made in Haiti.
