An integrated arts workshop incorporating history, cultural symbolism and an experiential arts project, culminating in a finished art flag in the style of Haiti's Drapo Vodou. Directed at participants ages teen through adult.

1. The following presentation and art workshop were created by:
Sarah Stone
www.sarahstoneart.com
Please note that in preparing this workshop I have made every effort to respect copyrighted material and
comply with fair use guidelines. If you feel I have violated your copyright, please notify me and I will remove
the offending material, or at your discretion, include a credit to you and your copyright. This product is an
educational resource, the primary intent is to provide a resource for deeper enjoyment of art and art history in
context with broader appreciation of history and world cultures.
This presentation was intended for students aged teen through adult.
Though this project is not religious, this subject
matter may elicit religious sensitivity among some people.

2. World Art
La Sirene Vodou Banner, by artist Evelyn Alcide (Port-au-Prince, Haiti)
Spirit Flags of Haiti

3. In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the West
Indies which he named Hispaniola, claiming it for Spain.
The Spanish, excited by Columbus’ claims that the island was gold-rich, enslaved the
island’s indigenous people, the Taino/Arawaks, to dig for gold.

4. But there was
very little gold
on the island.
Unable to meet
the Spaniards’
demands, the
native
Tiano/Arawaks,
weakened by
hard labor and
deprivation,
succumbed to
diseases carried
by the Spanish
and died.

5. In 1664 France claimed the Western portion of the island and established
plantations of tobacco, indigo, cocoa and cotton.
With no native work force left, slaves were imported from Africa to provide the
labor to work the fields.

6. The French called their part of the island “Saint-Domingue.”
It became one of the richest colonies in the French empire.
By the 1700s, plantation owners on the island were importing 40,000 African
slaves per year.

7. Many different ethnic populations of people were uprooted from Africa and
imported to Hispaniola/ Saint Domingue during the African slave trade.
The captured native Africans were forcefully separated from their families,
cultures and religions. People with different languages, backgrounds and tribal
histories were thrown together. In spite of this fragmentation, the Africans in
the New World began to weave their disparate traditions together to form a new
and unified community.

8. This combination of traditions included beliefs and practices from many of
the West African countries such as Guinea and Dahomey, now known as
Benin and Nigeria, producing a religion which still exists on the island
today:
Vodou.

9. The word “Vodou”, also called “Vudu”, is a word from the West African Ewe
language meaning “spirit”.
The Vodou religion incorporates a pantheon of major spirits, called “Loas”,
which is a Yoruban word for “mysteries”. They are often represented by
runic symbols, or “Veves” like this one.
In addition to the Loas there are hundreds of minor spirits governing things
like water, healing, storms, crops and love.

10. The spread of slavery throughout North and South America and the Carribbean
also spread the Vodou religion to those regions.
Vodou and related traditions descending from African tribal roots can be found today
in Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, and Brazil as a direct result of the
slave trade.
Ewe dancers, West Africa
Cuba
Carribbean
Brazil
Louisiana

11. European plantation owners persecuted slaves who practiced Vodou. As a
result, followers of Vodou found counterparts for their loas in many of the
Catholic saints, giving their religion an acceptable appearance to their owners.
Dambala, the snake spirit, is equated
with:
St Patrick, who rid the
land of snakes

12. Hollywood films have depicted “Voodoo”- the Americanized spelling-
as an evil practice focused mainly on casting spells and creating zombies.

13. In practice Vodou is
concerned with
overcoming daily
hardships, communing
with one's ancestors,
and requesting divine
guidance.
Some of the very
beautiful objects used
in Vodou houmforts (or
temples) are these
sequined and beaded
“spirit flags” also called
“Drapo Voudou.”
.

14. These elaborate flags
represent the Loas,
or spirit helpers, with
whom believers can
communicate.
Each spirit helper has
their own special
strengths which
makes them unique, and
each has their own
characteristic symbols.
Drapo Vodou is an art
form unique to Haiti,
giving visual life
to Vodou Loas.

15. The Drapos (flags) are elaborately decorated with colorful sequins, each
stitched onto a satin background.

16. This flag is for Erzulie, spirit of love.
Her symbols (seen in this flag) are heart, seeds, water, and flowers.
Sometimes the flags do not show physical forms,
but represent powers, colors, and personal symbols.

17. In this workshop we will make our own colorful Spirit Flag.
Like the Drapos we have seen, our flag will incorporate symbols
from our own traditions.
What symbols can you think of that represent something
important to you?

18. Procedure Part 1
This is a good question to begin this project.
What symbols would you use/create to represent ideas
or activities that are important to you?
Materials to use: Paper & Pencils or markers
Begin by drawing simple sketches of things that you like such as:
•your pet
•your house
•your favorite color
•your vehicle
•your favorite hobby / sport
•your favorite food
Simple cut-out style drawings are best, no
need to be super realistic with this activity.

19. OK, now that you have come up with some simple
symbols that you like,
Pick 3 or 4 that you like the best.

20. Procedure Part 2
18” x 24” is a good size for a flag.
Here is what you will need (per person):
1)An 18” x 24” piece of muslin
2)2 x 14” x 16” pieces of muslin
3)Acrylic paint colors
4)Painting brushes
5)Scissors
6)Assorted glitter colors
7)White glue
8)Optional: sewing needles and thread
9)20” dowel 3/8 diam (approx)
10)Access to printer or Xerox for enlarging

21. Paint the 18 x 24 muslin one color of acrylic paint
Paint (1) 14 x 16 muslin another color of acrylic paint

22. 1) Using a copy machine or printer, enlarge your chosen symbols to
about 3” - 8” across per EACH SYMBOL. The size choice will depend on your
final composition. You may have to resize a couple of times to get it where you want it.
2) Cut out each symbol and lay them on the unpainted 14 x 16 sheet of muslin,
arrange until you have a pleasing composition.
Once you have a design you like:
3) Trace the shapes onto the unpainted 14 x 16 muslin and cut out.
(Remember, or photograph your design before you cut your shapes)

23. Great! Let’s finish our flags:
1.Using your acrylic colors paint each cut-out shape a color different than the
two sheets you have already painted. The shapes can be all one color or
varied colors. Have fun, these will be background colors.
2.When the paints are dry, coat 1 shape color side up with white glue. Choose
a glitter color and sprinkle liberally on this glued shape until covered. It’s OK
if the under-color shows through.
3.Repeat this process with all of your other shapes.
4.Let your shapes dry.
5.Lay your glittered shapes onto the painted 14” x 16” muslin. At this point,
depending on how much time and patience you have, you can glue the backs
of each piece and lay them down according to the pattern you designed, or
you can stitch them on using your needles and threads.
6.Once the pieces are attached, securely, and dry…
Now you have your design shapes cut out of muslin, yes?
And two pieces of muslin painted different colors?

24. Get out your white glue again and
coat the background
14” x 16” sheet of muslin with glue.
(Go AROUND your shapes)
This can be evenly applied
or you can drizzle
it in patterns depending on the
finish look you want.
Don’t get the glue on your
shapes!
While your glue layer is WET,
sprinkle with a glitter color.
>Pick one that will look well with the
background color of the 14 x 16 sheet.<
Shake excess glitter off when done.
Glue/glitter goes on background,
don’t get glue on the shapes

25. When your 14” x 16 layer is completely dry, glue (or sew)
this layer onto the 18” x 24” background layer.
Be sure to measure it so that there are 2” on right, left & bottom
of the 14” x 16” layer and 6” at the top.
It will look like this:

26. The final step is to fold the 6” of fabric at the top in half
and glue or sew together
to make a sleeve pocket for your dowel.

27. Voila! Your “Drapo” is now finished.
Add string and hang!

28. Thank you for participating!
The information provided in this presentation is by no means comprehensive.
If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of Haiti/Hispaniola, Vodou or
Drapos, please explore these resources:
http://www.hispaniola.com/dominican_republic/info/history.php
http://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/haiti/articles/vodou-flags-between-the-
terrestrial-and-the-spiritual-/
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?
fromPage=online&aid=79329&fileId=S0010417501003590
Zora Neal Hurston, Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica
(New York: Harper Perennial, 1990)
With gratitude,
www.sarahstoneart.com