By Elizabeth Margolis-Pineo

Rafael Clariot was born in the Dominican Republic in 1952. He immigrated to the United States in 1963, arriving in New York City. His early years were spent with an aunt, uncle and cousin Alice, who helped him form a love of books and art which have remained his passions to this day.

Clariot moved to Maine in the late 60s. He was awarded a scholarship to attend the Maine College of Art (MECA).

After graduating MECA in 1979, he studied interior design at the Boston Architectural Center where he began to explore all facets of lighting design, from purely functional to decorative. He cites Isamu Noguchi and Henri Matisse as early design influences.

Clariot began crafting lampshades in the early 90s. He exhibited his work from Maine to Virginia. He then started branching out with established businesses like the Thomas Moser Gallery in New York City and Green Design in Portland, Maine.

As an Artist and educator, Clariot has been inspired by three major cultural traditions: Dominican, Haitian and American. He strives to bring all three into his work. Each culture has had a profound historical impact on each other. "It's very important, it keeps me connected, both to my ancestors and my cultural heritage. The combination is exciting because each is so powerful and allows me to tap into the energy that exists in the Cosmos."

Of special significance to Rafael is the Veve These pieces are inspired by the Haitian traditional ceremonies which use the Veve (drawings) to connect to the Loa (spirit).

Veve are geometric drawings that exist through space and time. In the Haitian Vodou traditions, the houngan (priest) or mambo (priestess), first makes a ritual drawing of the Veve on the ground using cornmeal or flour. This opens the ceremony and establishes the line of communication between the visible world of human beings and the invisible world of the deities.

As a child of these traditions, I am in the service to the spirits of whom I am presenting through my work.  I am striving to bring the dreams and images that have been shown to me into form, into the world and back into the hearts of the people.

Clariot designs hanging pendants, wall sconces, chandeliers, table lamps, floor lamps, and creative lighting projects of all kinds. He also does specialty restoration. His work is shown in Piari Luna in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and from his home studio in Portland, Maine.

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