News of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Let's hear it for the girls

I used to live in Chicago, where they DO say, “Vote early. Vote often.” 

Well, in this case, it’s nearly the last minute, but, if you’re a VI resident you can support two St. Johnians whose photographs are finalists in the Territory’s “Share My USVI” competition, sponsored by the Department of Tourism.  Deadline for voting is Sunday, May 17.

Lisa Etre, a longtime resident multi-media artist, is one of he island's finalists, and Julia Pergolizzi from East End is the second.

Lisa’s entry is “Keepin’ de Beat” in the Culture and Heritage category. 

Julia’s contribution is a picture of bananaquits at feeding time.

“Julia's become interested in photography and took a bunch of pictures ... and is now a finalist in her age group (ages 11-13),” wrote Louise, her mother. “She's so excited about it.”

The rules of the contest say only legal VI residents can vote, and only people who are eligible to vote can see the finalist photos.  But anybody can go to www.sharemyusvi.com and see many of the contest’s entries.

Rutnik exhibits at New York show

The International Caribbean Art Fair wrapped up its second annual exhibition and sale Sunday.

The three-day expo featured artworks by Caribbean artists—either living in or outside of the Caribbean islands. As many as 40 galleries and artists representing the best in Caribbean art were exhibiting, including St. John’s Janet Cook Rutnik.

The ICAF venue was The Tunnel in the Chelsea gallery district of Manhattan.  It spans a city block and boasts 22,000 square feet of space.  The Fair's Web site is http://icafair.com/attendees/index.html

One of the sponsors of the international fair was Virgin Voices, a tourist publication for the Virgin Islands.

Artist Lisa Etre profiled

Longtime St. Johnian Lisa Etre has been painting for decades.  As a co-founder of the Pink Papaya gift shop in Cruz Bay, her bright, island-inspired paintings, prints, place mats and coasters went to the states in  many a suitcase.  Now, she’s moved on from supplying the shop, but she continues to create new works - which you can see on her web site (http://www.lisaetre.com).  In a recent interview with the with the St. John Source, she described how she’s also moving into new media, including handmade books, jewelry and masks.

(Read the Source story here.)

The Masters, St. John style

The Artists Association of St. John debuted its third annual "Replicating the Masters" event.  The theme is to have local artists try their hand at painting in the style of the great masters, like Monet and Chagall. The exhibition opened this week with dozens of pieces of art on display and an auction at the Association's gallery in the Lumberyard. The show is scheduled to continue until Feb. 10.

Web site: http://www.stjohnarts.org/ 

Artists Association: new space, new shows

Amanda Smith, the new Gallery Director for the Artists Association of St. John, is drawing up some big plans. 

Suspecting there's a little bit of artist in many locals, she's hoping that, eventually, the group's gallery will host not only regular exhibits of members' work but also daily classes.

"Everybody thinks you have to be a pro, but that;'s not true," Smith explained in an interview.  While she started painting nine years ago as a hobby, "When you constantly (keep at it), you improve."  By having classes in many media ranging from oil painting to watercolor to sculpture to jewelry making, she hopes to "reach people who are even just looking for a hobby. I don't want them intimidated."

You can listen to the interview with Smith.
Press the "Play" arrow.

You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.

Smith signed on as Gallery director earlier this year, just as the group was moving from the Marketplace to larger space at the Lumberyard, where Polli's Mexican restaurant used to be.  The Association has 152 members, most of whom are full-time residents.  Each is given 16 square feet each month to display their work.

Each month's featured artists are given an entire wall. The current exhibit highlights photography and paintings by Janet Cook-Rutnik.  December will highlight the paintings of Smith, the gallery director, and Lucy Portlock, a watercolorist.  An opening reception is planned for Dec. 13th at 6 p.m.

Smith also plans to open a small art supply shop next month, adjacent to the Gallery, Pirates Paradise Art Supply. Inventory will include "better and best" lines of acrylics, watercolors, oils, brushes, canvases and paper.

The Association's Web site is http://www.stjohnarts.org/

The islands' best on St. John

Dozens of St. John businesses took top honors in the annual Virgin Islands Daily News reader poll to pick the best the Virgin Islands has to offer.  More than 300,000 ballots were distributed by the newspaper. There were 365 categories, with winners on each island and a grand winner for the Territory. Three community organizations, including the Love City Pan Dragons of St. John, counted the votes over a number of weeks. 

Coral Bay's Rose Apollon Adams at Sweet Plantains won the blue ribbon as the "Top Chef" on the three islands.  Asolare won the grand prize for "Romantic Dining," the Balcony at Wharfside for "Ambiance," Chilly Billy’s for "Family Restaurant," and Cafe Roma for "Italian Food."

The Beach Bar was a blue ribbon winner in two categories, "Beach Bar" and "Bar," while Woody’s won for "Bartending Staff."  Baked in the Sun at the Marketplace won honors for being the best bakery and having the best veggie burgers, while the Deli Grotto was voted the best deli in the VI's.

The full list is at the Virgin Islands Daily News Web site.

Steve Simonsen's Blues Festival Portfolio

Steve was shooting all night at the 5th annual Blues Festivals' big concert Saturday night at the Coral Bay ball field. He's posted a gallery and slide show with dozens of images.  Great stuff.

Sloop Jones, part two

In a second segment of our conversation with the Sloop Jones, he  explains his favorite art is "incidental."  Visit the studio on East End, and you'll see that cardboard boxes that once held cans of paint or a table on which he brushed smocks have become pieces of art, too, thanks to the drips and spills.

Jones also talked about his different take when home owners ask him to make signs for their properties. He prefers to be creative, doing sculptures, rather than just applying words to a board.  He describes a few examples in this podcast. (Pictured at left is "21st Century Flag," one of Jones' original pieces.)

Click the play button below.

You can download or hear the file by clicking here.

You can also subscribe to News of St. John's weekly podcast by going to the Apple iTunes Music Store and searching for "news of st. john," or you can copy the words feeds.feedburner.com.stjohn and paste them into the subscribe field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab.  You can also use that Feedburner link to subscribe in other podcatching software.  If you’re having a problem, e-mail: frank@newsofstjohn.com.

Sloop Jones: colorful talent

Sloop Jones is a man of many colors, two names, and lots of talent.  Born Terry McKoy, he picked up the "Sloop" nickname in college and went into business with his partner, Jones, in South America several decades ago.  So when he came to St. John more than 20 years ago, he named his company Sloop Jones.

Working in Guatemala, Jones said he was struck by the vivid colors of the Mayan Indians, and their contrast with his grey suit, white shirt, and black shoes. He said, "Theirs' was a life full of color. The color in my life was limited to a sliver of silk (a tie)."  That was a push that eventually brought him to St. John, in a studio far out on East End, where he and his other partner, Barbara Alperen built a business designing and hand-painting shirts, dresses, skirts, hats, rugs, pillows and more. His artistry and execution are first class; his palatte rich in vibrant yet relaxing colors.

While you can find some of his clothing for sale in Cruz Bay, driving out to East End for a visit to the studio/store is not to be missed. Jones took time one afternoon to show me around, and we began talking about he got from El Salvador to East End.  His Web site: SloopJones.com.

Listen to part one of a conversation with Sloop Jones. Part two, coming soon.

Click the play button below.

You can download or hear the file by clicking here.

You can also subscribe to News of St. John's weekly podcast by going to the Apple iTunes Music Store and searching for "news of st. john," or you can copy the words feeds.feedburner.com.stjohn and paste them into the subscribe field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab.  You can also use that Feedburner link to subscribe in other podcatching software.  If you’re having a problem, e-mail: frank@newsofstjohn.com.

Festival: St. John Through the Ages

Frank Langley says this week's art, music, and craft events are the only such festival in the Caribbean.  “You see them all over Europe, but not here," the president of the festival said in an interview in Franklin Powell Park.  The park is also a buffet of food and crafts. (I bought some very very hot sauce from Sonia.) The Festival continues through Friday.

Click on photos for bigger images.

Highlights of this year’s effort include a film which traces the origins of the island's indigenous music, known as quelbe.  A play about a former Danish Governor and his freed-slave mistress was also offered at the St. John School of the Arts.

As part of the festival, at many restaurants each night, local musicians are tuning up and playing.  We heard Rich Greengold's Sambacomo at La Tapa last night … both the food and the music were sensational. Our dinner started with a fantastic combination of three olive oils and fresh bread for dipping. I grazed with three appetizers: Josephine’s Greens salad (grown in Coral Bay), spicy beef kabobs, and gazpacho. Mrs. Inquiring Iguana had wonderful tuna. Price: $93, very reasonable for upscale St. John.

Listen to Frank Langley, founder of the St. John Arts Festival. Click the play button below.

You can download or hear the file by clicking here.

You can also subscribe to News of St. John's weekly podcast by going to the Apple iTunes Music Store and searching for "news of st. john," or you can copy the words feeds.feedburner.com.stjohn and paste them into the subscribe field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab.  You can also use that Feedburner link to subscribe in other podcatching software.  If you’re having a problem, e-mail: frank@newsofstjohn.com.