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émporium
PERSPECTIVES:
PART 2 OF A 3 PART SERIES
Willa Shalit
The Heart of Haiti WRITTEN BY Darci Hansen
On September 21, 2010, Macy’s announced a new initiative – “The Heart of Haiti” – which will bring trade and aid to the earthquake-devastated country through a program for selling traditional Haitian artisan home décor products. The collection is inspired by the courage and culture of the Haitian people and created by Haitian artisan survivors. It all began with a helicopter ride ...
I
t was Brian Heideman who arranged for us to meet. A mutual friend and an associate of Jeremy Johnson’s, Brian was aware that I had what would be considered a simple request for Jeremy but in all reality, one that could potentially have an enormous impact on Haiti. It felt like we were sitting miles apart from each other in the formal living room of his exquisite estate. Jeremy, a young, tall and brilliantly red-headed millionaire, was trying his best to focus on my presentation but his PDA was clearly a distraction. I stood up, walked across the room, and sat on the floor next to him. “Jeremy, what you are doing in Haiti is monumental. But what if the impact you’ve made could be multiplied by the hundreds?” I had his attention. For the next few moments I shared with him the photos on my
woman
laptop from my recent travels to Rwanda. It was there that my friend Willa Shalit and her team from Fairwinds Trading had empowered and employed hundreds of basket weavers in a country recovering from the tragedy of genocide. “Jeremy, you and Willa have to meet. Together you can do great things for Haiti.” It wasn’t his money that was needed. What Jeremy Johnson had to offer was transportation; he was a pilot with a helicopter – actually, three of them. He was completely engaged in the photos, connecting with the eyes of the Rwandan people. He had seen those eyes before, only in Haiti. Willa arrived to Haiti a day after I did. She missed the forced landing Jeremy, myself, Sue and J.D. Thompson (a couple from southern Utah), and fellow pilot Ryan Daniels had to make in the mountaintop village of Belle Fountaine. A storm had moved in quickly, requiring us to land and spend the night in a place Jeremy knew well. He had discovered the village while flying supplies to earthquake-ravaged
cities around the country. It was here, in this beautiful hillside community, that I saw the beautiful essence of Haiti. Surrounded by waterfalls, the people of Belle Fountaine were least affected by the earthquake but their isolation instilled an enchanting innocence about them. As our helicopter hovered over the mountains, people came running out of their huts in the pouring rain just to see ‘Mister Jeremy.’ We stayed the night at Belle Fountaine where the people were anxious to care for us … a beautiful gesture from those who have so little. The next day we returned to Port au Prince Airport, where we met Willa and designer Juliana Um. Jeremy passed on giving them the road tour of the city and opted for the sky view. Willa’s mind went straight to work. Since 2005, her company, Fairwinds Trading, has opened U.S. markets to thousands of artisans and entrepreneurs in the majority world while introducing high-value, culturally expressive products to millions of Americans. With Jeremy’s help, Willa would be able to assess the organization of exportation in via the air in a matter of days as opposed to by land, which could take weeks or months. The quicker a plan could be constructed the sooner artisans would be back to work.
Across H aiti
an
estimated
400,000
artisans rely on the sale of handicrafts as either a primary or secondary source of income. We flew over the thousands of tents that stood as cities. We observed the conditions of roads, many unworthy of vehicles. We noted villages, fishing islands, and the overall terrain of the country – all important aspects in the organization of exportation. At the end of the day, we landed at a private beach resort where we spent the night. The crystal blue water calmly swayed back and forth along the shore. It was a far cry from the images of downtown Port au Prince and provided a backdrop for reflection. In the morning, Willa, Juliana, Sue, and I sat on the beach in silent prayer; a circle of sisters from three different religious traditions (Jewish, Buddhist, and LDS) all joined in a deep intention to assist Haiti however we could. We flew into Jacmel, a city filled with creative artisans. Willa and Juliana went to work, shopping every artisan location we could find. It is here that the story becomes Willa’s and I become an onlooker in adoration. Sharing her thoughts on that inaugural flight, Willa said, “My first impression of Haiti is indelible in my mind … the land, the beautiful land. It was an amazing introduction. It was not until the last day of our trip that we returned to Port-au-Prince. This somewhat backward way of meeting Haiti, first seeing the beauty, then the destruction, was invaluable in giving us a perspective on the whole country and not starting with a short-sighted view of only rubble and ruin. I was to acquire a perspective that, without Jeremy, I wouldn’t have had. And because of this, our efforts in Haiti were able to move forward at an accelerated pace. You simply cannot put a price on the value that his means of transportation provided.”
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In a matter of three months and only four visits to Haiti, Willa and her team at Fairwinds filled their first major order of products. On October 7, 2010, the “The Heart of Haiti” Collection was introduced at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City. Here, from Willa’s journal are a few of her notes that shed light on how the “Heart of Haiti” Collection came to be: Trip 2: Travelers: Willa; Juliana; John Radjewski, Fairwinds COO; Jim Heynen, Fairwinds Managing Director. Purpose: 1. Formed partnership with Brandaid Haiti. Met with Cameron Brohman, Brandaid Co-Founder, and Dr. Thor Burnham. Brandaid to manage production on the ground; Fairwinds to handle sales, media, marketing, and product development. 2. Checked samples from three communities we decided to work with on Trip 1: Papier-mâché artists, Jacmel; Metal artists, Croixdes-bouquets (who make incredible works from recycled oil drums); Quilt-makers of the Peacequilts organization, Cite Soleil. Notes from Trip 2: • Croix des bouquet metal workers: Stunned by the beauty of their work and their quick turnaround time. Under the leadership of Serge Jolimeau, work was assigned to 7 Master Artists. Each one of them then hired assistants and apprentices to help finish the samples. Juliana worked with the master artists; gave feedback regarding raising the quality by pointing out small details and adjusting designs. One of the most beautiful creations was the Heart of Haiti pendants that the metal workers had made for us. Sitting in Serge’s garden, talking, working, there was a great feeling of focus and determination. • Papier-mâché artists, Jacmel: Met Satyr to see samples. Here the products were not so good. Designs had been misinterpreted, and what the artists thought we would like did not appeal to our team. Circumstances in Jacmel were terrible – the quake had destroyed most of the workshops and many of the artisans were living in tents. Despite setback, everyone was determined to make things work. Juliana and Satyr and had a very intensive work session over two days. “We left, with fingers crossed. In 10 days, on June 18, we had a meeting scheduled with the Macy’s buyers to show them samples in hopes of getting an order that day.” ***** Trip 3 Travelers: Willa and Lauren Buys (18-year-old intern for Fairwinds) Purpose: 1. One day to pick up samples (June 15th, three days before the meeting) Notes from Trip 3: • Getting goods out of Haiti and through customs is never a sure thing. We HAD to have the products at Macy’s meeting. Day before Willa left, she got really sick – possibly a residual parasite from the last trip. Took Lauren. • Blown away by what metal workers created – incredibly inspired. • Satyr met us in PaP. He had traveled 5 hours by bus to bring the
NOVEMBER thru DECEMBER 2010
Papier-mâché samples. Took the samples out of bags and we LOVED them. Hooray, they had done it!! “We met with Macy’s on June 18th with 102 sample products, all created in three weeks. The buyers loved the work and placed an order for Macy’s. HOORAY!” ***** Trip 4 Travelers: Willa; Lauren Buys; Juliana; Cam Thor; Lee Lysne, Exec. Director, Kind World Foundation; Stacy Rosenthal, Director of Special Events, Macy’s. Purpose: 1. Check on production progress. 2. Site tour for Lee Lysne, Kind World Foundation, who donated $29k to help the Jacmel artisans rebuild their workshops. 3. Picked up samples for media and shot photography and video of all of the artisan groups.
Serge Jolimeau is a world-renowned metal artist who has
Notes from Trip 4: • Highlights from this trip include Lee seeing the building from there donation where the artisans would now be able to work, in Jacmel. • Artists in other areas working so hard to get the products done in time – working in tents, outside in courtyards, with products lined along sidewalks drying in the sun … an AMAZING effort to deliver a product order on time.
Serge creates his masterworks using imagery drawn from his rich visionary imagination, memories of participating in ceremonies, the magnificent Haitian landscape. A master technician, Serge inspires the metal artists and artisans to strive for the highest level of achievement. Serge proclaims ...
“I most remember the joy and sense of accomplishment felt by the Haitian artisans. They were once again earning a living … the villages were abuzz with activity, hiring new workers every day, earning funds that they could use to send their kids to school in September.” – Willa Shalit
woman
exhibited globally. A wise community leader, Serge presides over the guild organization ADAAC–Association of Artists and Artisans of Croix des Bouquets – that links the many artisan ateliers of Croix des Bouquets, a small town outside of Port Au Prince.
“ with help and hard work, we will rise again.”
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“The
patterns
of
this
collection
are
inspired
from
patchwork, made from old rags.
Our message to the world is that we are creating joy from remnants. We are sending joy out into the world. We hope that people will smile and feel great happiness when they see and collect our work.�
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NOVEMBER thru DECEMBER 2010
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Pierre Satyr is a Master Papier Mache artist. Pierre is the President
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Sister Angela, with sparkling eyes and a ready smile, has been sewing since she was a little girl in convent. A born visionary, she made her “final decision� to become a nun at age 6. A dancer, musician and teacher, Sister Angela has mentored many young women before, during and after the current crisis. Introduced to quiltmaking in 2004, Sister Angela is now the leader of Peace Quilts in Cite Soleil where women create exquisite expressions of their love for Haiti, through fabric patches.
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NOVEMBER thru DECEMBER 2010
Isador has been creating art for 21 years. He created the wooden trays and coasters in the Heart of Haiti collection. Isador works out of his small atelier home in Jacmel, where he lives with his wife, Yveline Isidor, and 5 children: Gerldine, Stephane, Kenson, Gamae, Olivier.
“This work, the order from M acy ’s, helps me support my family and it allows me to train and support other young people.
When an artisan creates, it is like a love in your heart.”