Haitian Metal Drum Art – Old Metal Drums Become Beautiful Works of Art

What do you think of when you hear “Haitian art”?

Depending on your level of familiarity with Haitian art, you may think of folk art paintings on canvas. Or you may not think about anything at all.

If you haven’t heard of the art of Haitian metal drumming, you’ll love it. The metal drums, the 55-gallon ones used to transport oil or other products, are transformed into fanciful designs ranging from trees and flowers, birds and animals, to people, angels and biblical scenes.

Although some parts are made from new oil drums, they are usually recycled purchased near the port of the capital city of Port-au-Prince and brought to the neighboring city of Croix-des-Bouquets by handcart or on top of a “faucet”. -tap” (taxi). Croix-des-Bouquets is the center of the Haitian metalworking movement, and many metal drum artists have their workshops there.

The art of metal drumming in Haiti began in the early 1950s with blacksmith Georges Liautaud. In his humble workshop, Liautaud had been making and repairing tools and creating simple metal crosses for the graves in the Croix-des-Bouquets cemetery.

The American master DeWitt Peters, who opened Le Center d’Art in Port-au-Prince in 1944, encouraged Liautaud to expand into the creation of decorative metal sculpture. A few talented men apprenticed with him, and the tradition has continued; A metal drum artist will be apprenticed to others, who will branch out and go into the business themselves. Peters provided display and instructional space.

To create these works of art, the artist first removes the top and bottom of the drum and places them inside the cylinder along with dried banana or sugarcane leaves. He sets the blades on fire to burn paint or other residue from the drum. Once the metal has cooled, the artist cuts the cylindrical drum from top to bottom, then taps it into a flattened rectangle about three feet by six feet.

The artist draws the design on the metal sheet with chalk, then cuts it out with a mallet and chisel. Using these and other simple tools, he strikes the various decorative patterns on the metal, including concave and convex areas; he creates intricate patterns by hammering out bumps of different heights. Some pieces have three-dimensional designs. Some are very colorful, while others maintain their metallic appearance.

The detail of these works of art must be seen and touched to be appreciated.

The artist signs the finished design and covers it with a protective varnish. Many art lovers prefer that the art be aged with rust and then sealed. In either case, the pieces can be displayed indoors or outdoors.

Used oil drums turned into beautiful works of art. Who would have thought?