'Wicker Man', Crafting a family tradition

You've probably passed him sitting on an overturned crate, working on his latest project, on your way to work in the mornings. His name is Negash Douglas but most people just call him 'Wicker Man'.

Douglas' work space is that narrow sidewalk near the intersection of Olivier Road and Constant Spring Road in St Andrew. It's certainly not an ideal location but Douglas has become something of a staple in the area. He's been working and selling there for more than 10 years. Douglas works with wicker and wood, day after day, creating baskets, chairs, tables and artwork.

"This is my whole life. I love this more than anything else," he said last Thursday morning. It was just after 10 but, by then, the Cassava Piece resident was already on his fourth hour of work.

"I come out here, usually before six in the morning to clean up and set up. Then when the work start, it don't stop until late in the night," he said.

Experienced craftsman

Douglas will begin working on creating a wicker basket around 7 a.m. and be completely done with it by 10 a.m.

"Years of experience, man," he laughed.

While passers-by often admire his handiwork and sales have remained respectable, even in a tough economy, many deem Douglas and his spread, along an already narrow sidewalk, as little more than a nuisance.

"Why him caan go set up somewhere proper?" yelled a female motorist as the interview was taking place.

But Douglas is convinced he isn't impeding anyone and proudly boasts of his history right there on that sidewalk.

"My father used to sell right here," he said.

"From I reach eight years old, I start come out here with him and is so I learn the thing."

Douglas said he has fond memories of spending hours with his dad in that very area, making and selling wicker furniture in the late 1970s. His father no longer works with wicker, but Douglas is intent on carrying on the tradition.

"People don't like to learn this kind of work anymore. It take time and patience. But I believe this is good work, man. Nothing make me happy like when I out here working," he said.