Dimensions: 23 x 23 inches
THE LEGACY OF HAITIAN METAL ART
In the 1950s, DeWitt Peters, a patron of Haitian arts, was intrigued by the iron crosses marking many of the above-ground tombs. Peters discovered the blacksmith who had fashioned the crosses, soon to be renowned Haitian artist Georges Liautaud…and so began Haitian metal art. The original raw material was iron, but with many goods shipped to Haiti in 55-gallon steel oil drums, there was a ready supply of discarded drums for the artisans.
Over the years the number of Haitian metal artists has multiplied via families and mentor / students embracing the craft. The center of Haitian metal arts is the village of Croix-des-Bouquets, where the clang-clang of metal on metal, the hammers banging out the sculptures, provides constant music. The artisans start with designs inspired by nature and culture. From cardboard patterns, they trace their design with chalk on the flattened metal from torn-down oil drums. With chisels and hammers, they carefully cut and decorate the metal by hand. Each piece is shaped and smoothed, then the artists boldly and proudly chisel their name on to the metal sculpture.
"Mwaka wa 1950s, DeWitt Peters, mlinzi wa sanaa ya Haiti, alivutiwa na misalaba ya chuma iliyowekwa kwenye makaburi mengi ya juu ya ardhi.""" Peters alimwona fundi wa chuma ambaye alikuwa amefanya misalaba hiyo, ambaye baadaye akawa msanii mashuhuri wa Haiti Georges Liautaud... na hivyo akaanza sanaa ya chuma ya Haiti. Kwa kuwa bidhaa nyingi zilikuwa zikiingizwa Haiti katika mapipa ya mafuta ya chuma yenye ukubwa wa galoni 55, kulikuwa na vifaa vya kutosha kwa ajili ya mafundi. Kwa miaka mingi idadi ya wasanii wa chuma wa Haiti imeongezeka kupitia familia na wanafunzi wa washauri wanaokumbatia ufundi. Kituo cha sanaa ya chuma cha Haiti ni kijiji cha Croix-des-Bouquets, ambapo mlio wa chuma juu ya chuma, nyundo zinazopiga sanamu, hutoa muziki wa daima. Wasanii hao huanza kwa kubuni vitu vilivyochochewa na asili na utamaduni. Kutokana na michoro ya makaratasi, wao huchora muundo wao kwa chokaa juu ya chuma kilichopigwa kutoka kwa mapipa ya mafuta yaliyovunjwa. Kwa kutumia nyundo na nyundo, wao hukata na kupamba chuma hicho kwa uangalifu kwa mkono. Kila kipande hufanyizwa na kusafishwa, kisha wasanii huchora jina lao kwa ujasiri na fahari kwenye sanamu ya chuma.