Handmade using a hammer and chisel, artists in Haiti follow four generations of tradition in metal sculpture. They expertly shape sheets of steel coming from used 55-gallon oil drums into beautifully crafted, unique works of art. These pieces are great indoors or outside.
The “Tree of Life” is a particularly poignant symbol in Haiti. Trees are a precious, though rapidly disappearing resource, where less than 1.5% of natural growth remains, due to deforestation. The culprits: poor land management practices and grinding poverty. Between land being cleared for subsistence farming - which constitutes two-thirds of Haitian labor activity - and wood being harvested to provide 70% of the nation’s fuel, the tropical forests of Haiti are virtually gone. The upshot is topsoil erosion amounting to 36 million tons annually, accelerated land degradation, silting lakes and waterways, increased greenhouse gases, and deaths numbering in the thousands due to mudslides when heavy weather strikes.
For outdoor use: The varnish will wear away over time and the sculpture will begin to rust naturally or you can maintain the original look by spraying it with a clear enamel every couple of years.
