March 13, 2003 – Ahmed Alarefi, Alexander's Café's featured artist of the month, doesn't use photographs or even sketches before putting brush to canvas. Instead, he paints, with feeling, from life.
"As I paint from life I translate what I see –– the effects of color shapes and emotions in a subject are exciting to repeat," Alarefi says.
"Paintings from Life," which includes landscapes, still lifes and portraits, opens with a champagne reception at 5 p.m. Friday night at Alexander's Café in Frenchtown.
Alarefi's work is not new to those in the Virgin Island's art community. He has shown his work and won prizes in the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council's annual Caribbean Colour show.
"He treats things with such reference," show coordinator Claire Ochoa says, adding, "He doesn't varnish his work, so it has a different feel to it."
Alarefi graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and a B.A. in Architecture from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N. Y.
and has lived in St. Thomas for the past eight years.
The exhibit continues through April 10. All works are available for purchase.
For more information contact Show Coordinator, Claire by e-mailing at the address below or by calling 340-643-6363.