Handcrafted Haitian Metal Art, Sunflower in a Cupcake, Eco-Friendly Garden Decor

Handcrafted Haitian Metal Art, Sunflower in a Cupcake, Eco-Friendly Garden Decor 9.75"x10.25"

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. Make sure that you avoid placing a nail into an eye or mouth, as that will draw attention to the nail. You want the nails to "disappear" into the piece.

We are proud that our artists prosper through their own hard work, your purchases, and our fair trade practices.
Following four generations of tradition, each piece of Haitian metal art is made entirely by hand with simple tools. Starting with a cast-off steel drum, the metal is cleaned, sanded, and pounded flat. From there, the artist chalks his design onto the metal and then begins the heavy, tedious work of cutting out the pattern with a hammer and chisel and giving the piece detail and dimension. Finally, he applies a clear-coat to the piece, which protects it and makes it perfectly suited for indoor or outdoor display.

Artist- Louis Juste Omiscar

With a shy smile, Louis Juste Omiscar brings his latest designs out from the workshop he shares with his brother and several other artists. His specialty is bowls, in intricate floral patterns, though he says when he makes garden stakes, "It let me smile." Design work comes easily for him, but he prefers making smaller pieces. The bigger ones, half a barrel and larger, "are much harder." Louis Juste got an early start in the art of metal sculpture, working to flatten and sand barrels at the age of 8. He eventually began his apprenticeship in Serge Jolimeau's workshop, where he learned to create designs, do fine cut-work, and detailing. His work eventually caught the eye of Casey Riddell, founder of It's Cactus, who began buying from him and increasing his orders as demand steadily grew for his fine bowls and wall sculptures. Of course, there is life beyond the workshop. Louis Juste has a wife and two young children, both of whom attend school. Every day after classes, he picks them up and brings home on the back of his motorcycle. He enjoys reading and talking to friends and studies English when he can. He says, "Mostly, I want to sell my art. Casey helps me with this. When my art goes out, it lives in the world for me."