Round Fish with Marble Eyes, Starfish, Seahorse, Sea Life Nautical Theme House Decorations, Indoor Outdoor, 22.5 Inches, Handmade in Haiti

Round Fish with Marble Eyes, Starfish, Sea Horses, Sea Life Nautical Theme House Decorations, Indoor and Outdoor, Wall Hanging Sculpture, 22.5 Inches, Handmade in Haiti

I received the money you sent me and on behalf of all the artists who have received, we are very grateful. We are glad to work for you. We do everything in our power to give you more brilliant work.” So writes Evenson Thenor in response to receiving earthquake relief funds from Beyond Borders.

Evenson performed a long series of apprenticeships with such prominent Croix-des-Bouquets sculptors as Claude Soulouque, Jonas Balan, and Herbert Bernard before opening his own shop called, “Corbel” at the age of twenty. The earthquake destroyed his shop, his home, and the home of his parents, and though none of his loved ones were lost, the setback has been tremendous. “Now I am supporting my parents and we are all are forced to regroup, surviving on the money that I can make.”

Still, his spirit is indomitable. He smiles as he says, “Inspiration runs in my veins, giving much pleasure to me.” Though the themes of his sculptures run a wide gamut, from schools of fish to giraffes dancing in the forest to the vibe of a rara band, he claims that his favorite images are of, “angels, mermaids, and trees.” In rebuilding his home and re-establishing security for his family, Thenor affirms, “We will never be discouraged. We will never give up.”

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.

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.