Humanity: Haiti and Haitian Metal Art Essay

Humanity

Assignment 3

I was very excited when I read the rubric on what the third assignment was about because I do enjoy talking and sharing about places that I have been and the things that I experienced. I didn’t make it to a museum due to health issues but I was able to visit a museum in Haiti while I was on vacation with my husband for Labor Weekend and had the privilege to visit an historical museum located in Fermathe, Haiti. I grew up in Haiti and had no idea that we had Museums. Now, imagine the excitement and joy that I felt sharing this moment with my husband. I had goose bump because visitors like my husband can understand my culture and history better, instead of watching all the negative images that the media shows about Haiti on a daily basis. The name of the Museum is Musee Du Peuple De Fermathe (Museum of The People of Fermathe). The Museum displayed cultural images, Sculptures, paintings and artifacts. Haiti has always been known for its artistic work. Haitian art is by far the stellar performer in the realm of Caribbean artwork and Haitian painting. Haitian Voodoo flags, Haitian metal art and mixed media sculpture currently so renowned, all reflect the perpetually astonishing, ingenuity, talent and mystical inspiration of the Haitian artist. The exuberance and misery, the joy and sorrow, the laughter and song, the sounds and colors, the smells of Haiti and its voodoo heritage Every Haitian painting is inspired with the dynamism and electricity of life in all its manifestation. The style of all varieties of Haitian artwork is spectacular. There was one particular piece of artwork that captured both of our attention and we were still talking about it because it looks so real. It was one of the most amazing and creative artwork that we have ever seen. As we were walking around the room we noticed a fisher man standing by the back door of the Museum, at first we thought it was a real person standing there holding a fishnet and a machete. The statue was about five foot tall. The artist spent a little over six months creating the master piece. The statue was dark skin man with no shirt, his pants legs rolled all the way to his knees using a rope for a belt; he was barefoot and was wearing a hat. He was carrying the fishnet with is left hand and the machete over his right shoulder. It was one the most surreal piece of art. The artist was unknown but was described as an older man probably in is late 60’s. He donated the sculpture to the museum after receiving tons of offers to sell. There was a quote from the artist stated: “no amount of money can satisfy the hard work that I put in creating this statue and I wanted people of country to enjoy my work” (Unknown artist). We were so amzed that we made a comment that if this museum was on fire we will do whatever it takes to save that one piece even if it means risking our life because we don’t think we will ever see anything like this in our entire life too bad we weren’t allowed to take pictures. The other interesting piece was a picture of a Carnival mask. It was kind of scary and intriguing at the same time. I was never a big fan of the mask during Carnival or Madigra (Mardi gras) which means fat Tuesday in the U.S but to us the word Mardi gras or Madigra in Haitian Creole refers to someone who is ugly or wearing one of the traditional, grotesque Carnival masks. This mask is one of the best known masks worn at the Carnival; it is the devil figure, with his oversize horns and garish face. This character is not meant to represent the actual devil, as no such figure exists in Voodoo culture, but merely evil and mischievous spirits. The masks are also worn to represent the zombies. Despite the hardships and political trauma suffered by this country, Haiti remains a wellspring of creativity and imagination. Haitian art is a reflection of the beauty of the country. Within that reflection emerged the identity of our people, and the

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