Haitian master steel-drum sculptor Gabriel Bien-Aimé attended the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe this July.  After a year and a half of the Covid pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the 2020 Folk Art Market, it was very much in doubt whether Bien-Aimé or any of other Haitian artists admitted would be able to attend.  It seemed even more unlikely when the president of Haiti was assasinated the week before the market's opening and the country's airports were shut down.  By this time the two other Haitian artists had chosen to stay home.

 So it was a temendous relief to learn that Gabriel had bought his ticket and boarded a plane soon after the Port-au-Prince airport reopened.  Under the circumstances Gabriel only brought as much artwork as he could stuff in his bulging suitcases.   But with the help of fellow gallerist Laurie Ahner, myself and many hardworking and creative volunteers at the Market, Gabriel was able to put together a splendid presentation of his work.  The folk art collectors of Santa Fe responded enthusiastically, and Gabriel all but sold out the work he brought.