2011.05.17: May 17, 2011: CAR RPCV founded Cadeaux du Monde, Rhode Island's longest running green, fair trade folk art gallery, which features art and crafts from all over the world
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2011.05.17: May 17, 2011: CAR RPCV founded Cadeaux du Monde, Rhode Island's longest running green, fair trade folk art gallery, which features art and crafts from all over the world
Central African Republic RPCV Katie Dyer founded Cadeaux du Monde, Rhode Island's longest running green, fair trade folk art gallery, which features art and crafts from all over the world
"My mother and I began the gallery to meld my vocation and my avocation. I became interested in folk art when I was in the Peace Corps in the Central African Republic and wanted to do something to support village-based artists," Dyer said. Cadeaux du Monde does more than just sell fair trade items. It's all about education as well, including a "Cadeaux in the Classroom" workshop which presents a multi-dimensional international experience to students involving music, crafts, dress and discussions about various countries. The shop's missionis to be green as well as promote fair trade practices and products. All of its products are made by sustainable methods and most of them include recycled material. Recycled metals like scrap plumbing make up the brass for items around the shop.
Central African Republic RPCV Katie Dyer founded Cadeaux du Monde, Rhode Island's longest running green, fair trade folk art gallery, which features art and crafts from all over the world
Celebrating Fair Trade in Newport: Cadeaux du Monde
Cadeaux du Monde celebrated its ideals as it offers Newporters quality art and crafts.
By Patti Cassidy | Email the author | May 17, 2011
From Mumbai to San Diego, more than 40 nations celebrated World Fair Trade Day the second Saturday of every May. In Newport, Cadeaux Du Monde, or "gifts of the world," on Mary Street, which describes itself as "an eclectic fair trade international folk art gallery, "marked the day with an open house.
Owner Katie Dyer said that she chose to celebrate by allowing herself time to chat with her visitors about fair trade and her shop, rather than schedule a specific event which might discourage people from dropping in at any time during the day.
Cadeaux du Monde is Rhode Island's longest running green, fair trade folk art gallery, which features art and crafts from all over the world. The shop has been in business since 1987.
"My mother and I began the gallery to meld my vocation and my avocation. I became interested in folk art when I was in the Peace Corps in the Central African Republic and wanted to do something to support village-based artists," Dyer said.
She also showcases the work of local artists in its "Galerie Escalier," or staircase gallery. The exhibits there rotate, and currently feature a wide range of work, from Natalie Pfanstiehl's watercolors to underwater photography by Tom Freeman.
The gallery for local artists has evolved over the years, Dyer said, because so many artists were customers and they could understand the need to be compensated fairly for their work. At first she showed some sculptures in the garden at her shop on Bellevue Avenue, but when she moved, she committed a full area of the shop to the artwork.
Cadeaux du Monde also hosts a variety of gallery demonstrations, such as making chainmaille jewelry, paper cutting, and the art of assemblage. Dyer said that she likes hosting the workshops because they connect the public to the artists who create the work.
"We get so distant from art works that we forget they're made by people and not factories," she pointed out. "I hope that after they've seen the demonstrations, some people will be inspired to try the techniques on their own."
Cadeaux du Monde does more than just sell fair trade items. It's all about education as well, including a "Cadeaux in the Classroom" workshop which presents a multi-dimensional international experience to students involving music, crafts, dress and discussions about various countries.
The shop's missionis to be green as well as promote fair trade practices and products. All of its products are made by sustainable methods and most of them include recycled material. Recycled metals like scrap plumbing make up the brass for items around the shop.
The shop's front garden is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat, since it does not use pesticides, and provides wild food, water, and cover for the birds and other creatures that thrive there.
Dyer urged Newporters to support the mission of Cadeaux du Monde by becoming more aware consumers and buying carefully and thoughtfully.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: May, 2011; Peace Corps Central African Republic; Directory of CAR RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for CAR RPCVs; Business; Fair Trade; Rhode Island
When this story was posted in May 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years As we move into the Peace Corps' second fifty years, what single improvement would most benefit the mission of the Peace Corps? Read our op-ed about the creation of a private charitable non-profit corporation, independent of the US government, whose focus would be to provide support and funding for third goal activities. Returned Volunteers need President Obama to support the enabling legislation, already written and vetted, to create the Peace Corps Foundation. RPCVs will do the rest. |
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
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Story Source: Newport Patch
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - CAR; Business; Fair Trade
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