Handcrafted Haitian Metal Art, 3D Dragonfly & Bird on Sunflower Field, Eco-Friendly Home and Garden

Handcrafted Haitian Metal Art, 3D Dragonfly & Bird on Sunflower Field, Eco-Friendly Home & Garden 8.125"x8.25"

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."

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.