ViV Magazine Volume 4 (April - May 2014) ViV Magazine Volume 4 (April - May 2014) | Page 14

Cookie:

Q-- You make awesome chandeliers. Where did the
idea come from? Did you study art and where? Where
can one find this lovely art work?
A--My career as an artist in ironwork began after a very good
friend of mine, Christine, came to my house and saw a candelabrum I had drawn and had executed for me by a craftsman.
She asked me to have the same made for her. At that time, I
was throwing a party and had two other candelabra made
for the occasion. When my mother and sister saw them, they
told me I should consider going into iron work because I had
a hidden talent. It all began there and here I am, (14 years
later), absolutely loving it. My work is sold by Donna Karan
at her store Urban Zen in the Hamptons (Sag Harbor), Urban
Zen store in the village in NYC, and at ABC Carpet in NYC.
Actually, I must add that creating has definitely been my
passion, but then Donna came to Haiti saw my work and
brought me to so much exposure. She designed the award
for the Clinton Global Initiative and chose me to execute the
design in collaboration with Nadia Swarovski, whose crystals
were used for that purpose. It was finally chosen to be the
award which will be presented every year to the citizens who
are honored.
‘Caribbean fusion’ aren’t words you expect to see written in a
Haitian restaurant review, but Papaye carries off the idea with
considerable aplomb, taking Creole dishes and jamming
them up against Asian, European and other culinary influences. Somehow it works, and is worth repeated investigation.”

Cookie in the eyes of Donna Karan:

‘’Karine Faubert Villard, lovingly called “Cookie” by all who
know her, was born to Haitian parents in San Juan, PR. Cookie
launched her career as a wrought iron artist in Port-au-Prince,
Haiti twelve years ago when she began to transform chandeliers, patio furniture, house gates, windows, and doors. With
great skill and an impeccable eye, Cookie finds artistic success by mixing crystals with wrought iron to create objects
of beauty; the roughness of the iron and the