Handmade Haitian Folk Art, Enclosed Metal Light Cover Birds & Fruit, 10"x7.5"x7"

Artist- Gerald Bernard

The curious matter of the shop sign was settled by getting the answers to a few simple questions from Gerald himself. Gerald, in this picture taken a few years ago, was holding a very old sign from the original shop he opened with Claude Baptiste, another metal sculptor. Assuming the sign featured the two partners in action, we asked Gerald which one was him. "The one on the left," was the reply. "The white guy?" "Yes," he responded with a twinkle in his eye. Evidently a good joke is in there somewhere.

When Claude died, Gerald kept the workshop open and brought in his nephew, Jimmy Prophet to work with him. Eventually, Gerald replaced the sign and renamed his shop, "Tipa Tipa" which means "bit by bit in Haitian Kreyol. Together, Jimmy and Gerald create wonderful tree-of-life images, full of joy and humor, just as they are themselves.

Fair trade isn't just a good idea - its the way we do business.

We offer a hand up, not a hand out to our artist partners in Haiti. Each sale of their metal sculptures represents a positive step toward a better life.

The center of Haitian metal sculpture is the village of Croix-des-Bouquets, where the clanging sound of hammers striking chisels is a constant music. To begin, the artist chalks his design onto the metal. Chisels, dies and a large hammer are used to cut and shape the piece, giving it form and texture. When the highly intricate and physically demanding work is complete and the artist is satisfied with his work, he signs his name boldly with a small chisel and applies a clear, weather-proof coating. The result is a wonderful, fair trade piece of handcrafted art.

It's Cactus takes the artists through the next steps. By collaborating with them on design creation, placing orders, paying fair wages, and taking Haitian metal sculptures to the global market, great strides are made in helping the craftsmen of Croix-des-Bouquets help themselves. Guided by cultural respect and conscientious business practice, Beyond Borders and its Haitian artists work toward their mutual goals of uplifting lives.

This metal sculpture is meant for display indoors or out, but if you choose to display yours outside, be aware that the protective, weather-proof coating will wear off over time. To keep your sculpture looking just like it did the day you bought it, take five minutes once a year to apply a spray-on clear enamel coating.

A few nails and a hammer are all you'll need to hang your sculpture. Look for a place where the design is joined or notched and put the first nail there. Use a second and possibly a third nail, if the piece is large, in other joined or notched design elements within the sculpture to straighten and secure it to the wall. The nails will "disappear" with the piece. Simple as that.