Published: September 19, 2007 10:35 am         

Haitian metal sculptor to visit Goshen

Jhonson Augustin, an award-winning metal sculptor and workshop owner from Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, will visit Ten Thousand Villages in Goshen, at 1 p.m. Sept. 22 to celebrate the store’s 30th anniversary. Augustin cuts metal from recycled oil drums to create unique works of art. He is touring the United States to demonstrate his craft for customers and learn about the U.S. marketplace for fair trade products.

Augustin has been sculpting metal figures since his apprenticeship at 18 under one of Haiti’s most renowned cut metal artists, Serge Jolimeau. Augustin makes the handcrafted sculptures from recycled 55-gallon steel oil drums that he burns, cuts open and pounds into a thin sheet. He sketches designs onto the sheets and cuts them out with a hammer and chisel.

Augustin has earned international acclaim for his craftsmanship. Last year, he received second prize for the UNESCO “Seal of Excellence,” which guarantees that a handicraft product meets the highest quality standards and is culturally authentic and environmentally friendly.

Recycled oil drum art is a unique Haitian art form. Sales from cut metal products generate income for craftspeople and encourage eco-friendly habits, including recycling. Customers are invited to meet Augustin and learn about his craft at Ten Thousand Villages. Admission to the event is free.

Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade organization based in Akron, Pa., offers handmade products to U.S. consumers while supporting the efforts of artisans in 35 countries around the world.

Ten Thousand Villages in Goshen, a fair trade store for 30 years, is one of nearly 80 retail locations across the United States.

For more information about Augustin’s visit to Goshen, contact Elizabeth Dragoo, store manager, at 533-8491 or visit goshen.tenthousandvillages.com.

Ten Thousand Villages is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.