was born on 9 December 1935 in Port au Prince Haiti to Antonine Garoute Reared by his mother he became close to his mother s twin brother Colonel Hamilton Garoute a poet and army officer From about his tenth year Garoute accompanied his uncle on trips to oversee many different locales in Haiti during which he came in contact with a wide range of the population beyond the cities and had his first encounter with clays and the potting process He came early to understand clay as an inspirited substance from the earth capable of full artistic spiritual expression His uncle s poetic vision the opportunity to be in close touch with the diversity of people and experience with clay and potters would strongly shape Garoute s future He attended schools in Port au Prince and at age 12 enrolled in a class led by Luce Turnier at the ...