Handmade Haitian Folk Art, Virgin Mary Wall Sculpture, Recycled Oil Barrel Art

Artist- Edward Dieudonne
Angels and mermaids are figures of mystical fascination for Edward Dieudonne. He sits quietly alone, listening to music when their images come to him, and with a small piece of chalk and a sheet of flat metal, he begins to give them form. These dawnings of inspiration are, for Edward, the very best part of the creative process.

Though he imagines his sculptural pieces in reflective solitude, they are often executed with a great deal of amusement. One can almost hear him chuckling out loud as he takes up the hammer and chisel and pounds out an angel with a shopping bag or a mermaid having a deeply meaningful conversation with a seahorse. His animal sculptures too, must bring a wry smile. Who knows where the notion of putting the barnyard critters on the bus in a blowing gale came from. Maybe it’s Edward’s idea of riding the storm out!

Edward came from a large family, and now has 8 children of his own. He spends long days cutting metal in his workshop to provide for them. Additionally, he teaches friends and family members the craft so that they too, might carry on and prosper. He says, “I just want to do everything I can for my family and my children. That is my dream.”

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.