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 20th 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.
