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When Folk Art is (re)Fine(d)

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By Move4ART
by Marjorie Saintil-Belizaire

     A lifetime of working with steel drums creates a unique palette for Jeffrey Bernard’s artistic talents and designs.  Whether it’s abstract, realistic or fantasy imagery, Jeffrey creates works of art utilizing the colors and characteristics of steel that evoke awe and wonder.  His unique style blends Folk Art with cultural Haitian traditions.  He sculpts his pieces out of metals using an artistic touch of chiseling, hammering and shaping.

     Jeffrey Bernard was born and raised in Croix-des-Bouquets, (northeast of Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince) to a family of metal sculptors. His older brother taught and encouraged Jeffrey to learn metal working at the young age of 8.  He apprenticed with his older brother until he was proficient enough in metalwork and craftsmanship to market and sell his own metal artwork. 
  
     Jeffrey creates his artwork using large discarded  oil drums.  He prepares the drum by cutting out the two ends of the drums, then fills the drums with banana and sugarcane leaves.  Jeffrey burns the leaves in the drum to dissolve and remove any paint color or residue left in and outside of the drum.  After the drum is cooled off, Jeffrey cuts the drum open, pulls and pries the drum apart and pushes it down and with his hands and feet. Then he flattens it down more with his body weight until the drum is flat and completely opened. ​ He then hammers the drum to create a smooth surface. Visualizing his design, Jeffrey sketches onto the prepared metal surface. Then, with a hammer and chisel, he cuts along the sketched lines and the recycled metal sculpture starts to take its shape. With dies and more hammering, the full character of the sculpture come forth in details, ​ creating a unique piece of art. Jeffrey sometimes paints the metal art with acrylic paints or just adds a protective finish to highlight its metal characters.
  
     Jeffrey gets his inspiration almost everywhere; from his Haitian culture, nature, music, people, birds, animals or Christian symbols. He creates his metal wall art sculptures in all sizes from small to extra large wall size art. His art process can take as little as a couple of weeks to as long as a couple of months to create. 
  
     Jeffrey showcases his artwork at his family owned art gallery/store called “Welcome to Peter’s Shop” in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti.  The gallery has been frequented by tourists, art collectors and ​ enthusiastic decorators ​from France, Belgium, Germany, China and the United States. ​ ​ Jeffrey currently resides in Everett, MA and participates in various art shows in Massachusetts and Florida. Jeffrey frequently returns home to Haiti to create his metal works of art.

____________________________________________________ O n   E x h i b i t   N o w
Photo credit: G. Sierra Khan
Jeffrey Bernard's 
Steel Drum Art 

@ U.S. Post Office 1602 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, MA


thru 15 August 2016


The Mattapan Arts Council
Windows Art Project
May, 2016.

2016.  ArtsMattapan.  All Rights Reserved.

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