One World Projects
Upcycled Painted Metal Luminary
Upcycled Painted Metal Luminary
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The unique metal drum art began about 50 years back in Haiti when a blacksmith used discarded metal drums to make crosses for the cemetery. Today the artisans in the village of Croix de Bouquets in Haiti are engaged in transforming used metal drums into beautiful pieces of art.
This bowl shaped luminary with painted flowers is handmade by artisans supported by Comite Artisanal Haitien. The organization supports over 200 artisans and their rich vibrant culture. The organization has helped these skilled artisans to promote their generation old heirloom crafts. The various crafts practiced by Haitien artisans include unique metal artworks, river stone carvings, papier maché masks and hand-painted wooden products.
- Measures 5” high x 6-1/2” diameter
Handmade in Haiti and Fair Trade imported
Rich traditions and skills passed down many generations, make Haitian crafts a reflection of a vibrant and creative community. Most of the crafts include unique metal artworks made from recycled oil drums, river stone carvings from naturally occurring, soft river bed stones, papier maché masks and hand painted wooden products.
Today, CAH is a non-profit organization that represents about 200 artisans from various parts of Haiti. In addition to creating new job opportunities, CAH offers skill training, literacy camps, health facilities and financial assistance to its artisan members. Artisans producing for CAH are paid a fair wage and organize themselves in various ways such as cooperatives, family workshops or independent artisans.
Comite Artisanal Haitien has made endless efforts to connect to international retailers and developmental agencies to promote these beautiful crafts. CAH has had some success by participating at a folk art fair in the United States and receiving a grant from the Inter-American Foundation to expand in their efforts. Every member and employee at CAH is committed to a better future for the artisans and the rich Haitian crafts.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Chichicastenango, Guatemala, has become one of the most important heritage centers in Guatemala during the past 10 years, due to its predominant indigenous Maya Quiche population and their traditional textile products. Yet, despite increased tourism and a renewed interest in traditional Mayan crafts, work opportunities remain few for the indigenous population, many of whom are uneducated and otherwise unemployable.
Enter De Colores Art, a local business that levels the playing field for villagers by offering free training to anyone who demonstrates the initiative to learn a trade. The company employs 30 women and 18 men to knit and embroider textile products, with the option of working at home using materials provided by the company. De Colores recognizes the culture of its Mayan employees, and as such allows flexible hours and gives time off for sowing and harvest days.
De Colores also invests in community education projects by funding two local schools in the neighboring towns of Chujupen y Pachoj, and by providing scholarships to qualifying students.
In addition to stimulating the local economy by creating new jobs, De Colores makes a conscious effort to use recycled materials whenever possible. The reason for this is twofold: to preserve Mayan culture, as recycled textiles showcase traditional knitting patterns that aren’t often seen in newer textiles, and to reduce scraps and waste.
Communities collaborate in the production process, as men work on the biggest textiles and women do the embroidery, crochet and macramé seen in smaller pieces. In some cases, in order to be competitive, sewing machines are used to assemble the finished product, although all the components are handmade and hand embroidered from cotton, wool and/or silk.
