Located 8 miles northeast of Port-au-Prince, Croix-des-Bouquets is set to house refugees of the 2010 Haiti earthquake in tent villages of 10,000 refugees each.

Caribbean Splash has been supporting Croix-des-Bouquets steel oil drum metal artists through the sale of their sculptures for the past five years. For a look at this astonishingly resourceful and intricate form of art, visit our shopping cart. We have just added new pieces to our inventory.

Tulip Room Divider Screen from Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti

Croix-des-Bouquets has the largest concentration of oil drum metal artists who make use of every part of used 55 gallon oil drums. The labor intensive process involves burning off the oil residues, flattening the drum into sheets and cutting out designs which are hammered for different textures and painted or left “raw.”

We have also added several new items from Haiti’s neighbor, the Dominican Republic. Taino tapestries ranging in size from 12” x 18” to 2’ x 6’, feature hand-painted or Batik designs depicting Caribbean scenery and images of Taino Petroglyphs. Some are also adorned with coconut shells. Pair the tapestry with some of our new rag rugs. Woven from cotton or felt, these soft rugs are available in bright solid or multi-color designs. We have also added new pieces of the Dominican Republic’s unique Larimar jewelry. Choose from beaded necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and stud and drop earrings.

Larimar jewelry set from the Dominican Republic

Be sure to also check out new hand-carved calabash (higuera) masks from Tobago, West Indies. In deep tones of brown, charcoal and green, these Tobago masks make an interesting contrast to Puerto Rican carnival masks (also new items added) which are painted in an assortment of brilliant colors.

Casuelitas Owner,Richard Dwyer interview with KIRO Radio

On January 21st, Casuelitas Caribbean Cafe in Belltown hosted a fundraiser for Haiti Earthquake Relief. The event was organized by  Casuelitas Caribbean Cafe Owners, Richard and Frankie Dwyer, Alyssa Johnson, owner of A Splash of the Caribbean and Aaron Rose of Rose Consulting.  Splash of the Caribbean donated and raffled off two Haitian recycled oil drum art pieces made in Croix de Boquets, Haiti.  Restuarant owners donated all their profits for the evening to Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

Alyssa Johnson,Owner of Splash of the Caribbean,raffles off Haitian metal art piece,captured by Fox News Channel 13

Proceeds from the event went to FAVACA, the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas, Inc, a private not for profit organization formed in 1982 by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham. FAVACA sends volunteer groups to provide disaster relief and preparedness, medical assistance, entrepreneurial and teacher training, among other areas. FAVACA is currently helping the relief efforts by providing food and other needed survival items to Haitians in Port au Prince.

Over 100 people came to dine on flavorful Caribbean treats and support the cause. We are thankful for the great turnout of Friends of Jamaica, Casuelitas fans, friends of Splash of the Caribbean and  Rose Consulting among others.  Our event coverage on KIRO Radio can be seen and listened to here. KUOW Radio and Fox News also announced the event.

Aaron Rose of Rose Consulting, Co-organizer, interview with KIRO Radio

Our continued fundraising efforts of art sales at Casuelitas, La Isla in Ballard and Penelope’s on Bainbridge Island are directly helping a group of 60 earthquake survivors with food, water, tents and mattresses.  To help this group directly, feel free to contact Bazil Justin in Haiti at zigzagatelierart@yahoo.fr

Event organizers,Casuelitas Caribbean cafe Owners,Richard and Frankie Dwyer,Alyssa Johnson and Aaron Rose

Roadside stand of painted recycled steel oil drum sculptures in Petionville outside of Port au Prince. Photo by Alyssa Johnson

Haiti is full of talented internationally renowned artists and some of the most beautiful artwork found in the Caribbean from paintings and beadwork to steel oil drum sculptures and hand sewn accessories.  The innovative recycled steel oil drum sculptures are some of most popular and unique pieces found in Haiti.  Used 55 gallon oil drums are purchased from the port and transported to Croix-des-Bouquets, a small town with the largest concentration of steel oil drum metal artists resides, just 45 minutes outside of the capitol, Port au Prince.  The art form started in the mid 20^th century by blacksmith, Georges Liautaud, from Croix-des-Bouquets.

Remnants of the oil drums are used for fencing in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. Photo by Alyssa Johnson

Artists start with old oil drums and remarkably, they use every piece of the oil drum used in different art pieces including the cap and edges. One can even find homes and workshops in Croix-des-Bouquets lined with fences made from unused edges of the oil drums.

Musical Mermaid Screen by Atelier D’Art in Croix-des-Boquets. In Haitian culture, the mermaid depicts La Siren, the Vodou spirit or lwa with power under the sea who enchants sailors with the melodies of her trumpet. Exhibited at La Isla. Photo by Alyssa Johnson

The drums are stuffed with straw or banana leaves and lit on fire to burn off the residues. Once cooled off, the flattened drum becomes a rectangular sheet approximately four by six foot wide. They are flattened and designs are chalked out on and then cut out with a mallet and chisel.   Different textures sculptures are created by hammering in “bumps” of different heights.  Some are finalized with brightly painted designs, others are left in raw form.

This small art industry has allowed families to build their own businesses, export internationally and earn higher wages than two dollars a day that ¾ of the population lives on. Unemployment in Haiti, the Western hemisphere’s poorest nation is variously estimated at between 60 and 80%. This labor intensive art form allows skilled craftspeople to earn fair wages in Haiti and makes a direct positive impact of poverty alleviation.

Jean Emelie and Jean Pierre Richard negotiate a metal art purchase at the Port of Cap Haitian on the North Coast of Haiti. Photo by Alyssa Johnson

A Splash of the Caribbean supports these artists buying directly and selling online and at local Seattle Caribbean restaurants such as La Isla on Market Street in Ballard and Casuelitas Caribbean Café in Belltown on Vine and Western, among others.