Haiti is famous for recycling empty 55 gallon steel drums into exotic & vibrant forms of folk art. The drum is cleaned by filling it with dried banana or sugar cane leaves & set on fire to rid it of impurities. The steel drum is then cut open and flattened. The design is drawn on to the metal and then the true artwork begins. With primitive chisel & mallet, the metal artist skillfully & painstakingly cuts out the image. Amazing details are put into the design with the use of primative hand tools. The final piece is then buffed and coated with a protective finsh, letting the natural metal colors show.
