We're in a lull between Arts Alive concerts, and after this weekend's "Mahalia" musical, the Reichhold center won't be mounting any productions until STARfest VI in May. But guess what? The gallery scene is jumping. . .
ON THE WALLS I: The new exhibition at The Color of Joy in American Yacht Harbor, a collection of paintings and mixed media pieces by St. Croix artist Judith King, has expected and unanticipated elements. King paints in oil, yet her works are "pastel" in imagery. The numerous petite canvases in the show, less than a foot in height or width, have the same qualities as her larger works — the soft-edges of memory's eye that photographers attain by using a gauze filter. One sees her cottages and seascapes as if through the windshield of a car in a gentle rain. Nostalgia is the overall theme of the show, as King did most of the paintings during a two- year relocation to North Carolina that didn't take. Two of them are St. Thomas-like scenes depicting multi-tiered townscapes of multicolored structures.
The other part of King's show consists of seven pen-and-ink-plus drawings that combine the appeals of graphic design and fine art. Earth tones with matching double and triple matting predominate in images that morph from tamarind pod to mocko jumbie, from shell to dancer. These examples of still life fantasy merit a close-up look. Seeds seen on the inside suggest fetal life; an opened pod for a moment suggests the configuration of the Middle Passage slave ships — yet has a joyful mocko jumbie emerging. These are one viewer's interepretations, unabetted by the artist. Art appreciaton is an interactive process — have a look and see what you think!
The show will hang through March 15. Next, opening with a reception on March 16, will be a show of acrylic paintings by Alexis St. John collectively titled "Lost in Dreams."
ON THE WALLS II: The show of contemporary Cuban art that opened last weekend in the Tillett Gallery reflects, more than anything else, the diversity of painting styles of the seven artists represented. Several local artists and art lovers were fascinated by a slick publication that art dealer Gloria Frank, who spoke about her buying trips to Cuba at the opening Sunday, brought with her. It included profiles and samples of work by several of the artists who have pieces in the show. The "propaganda" level evident in some of the works in the gallery exhibition is subtle, and less anti-capitalist than pro-preservationist.
The show will hang through March 18. Visits by student groups are welcome but should be scheduled in advance. Call 775-1929.
ON THE WALLS III: Sunday afternoon brings the opening reception at Mango Tango for the first showing St. Thomas artist Jens-Peter Kemmler has had in nearly five years — because his "leisure" hours have been devoted to restoring his home and studio from Hurricane Marilyn's wrath. Collectively called "In a Caribbean Garden," it consists of 30 oils, watercolors and sketches of island flora. The most imposing piece is a triptych nearly 7 feet across and 26 inches high depicting historic Charlotte Amalie and its harbor. Orchids from Kemmler's own garden and scenes painted on site in Dominica are also among his subjects.
The reception is from 2 to 6 p.m. Free and open to the public, it's an opportunity to meet the artist and discuss his art. This will be Kemmler's first time exhibiting at Mango Tango, and "I've never gotten so many calls from people who've heard in advance about a show," gallery owner Jane Coombes said. It will hang just for two weeks — until March 11. Opening March 12 will be a showing of new works by Donald Laurent Dahlke.
SOON TO BE SEEN I: There'll be a reception in the Fort Christian Museum courtyard on Thursday evening to open an exhibition of oil paintings by students of Tom St. Vincent di Coio. "Students" in this case should not be equated with "amateurs," as his class includes some of the best-known artists in the territory, notably Shansi Miller, Les Anderson and Eunice Summer. "Some of these accomplished artists have been attending his classes for nearly 20 years and continue to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow artists, as well as the excellent instruction," museum staff member — and St. Vincent student — Susan Edwards says.
Edwards herself is among those who will be exhibiting, along with Miller, Anderson, Summer, Margit Kanstrup, Jan Dunn, Cathy Carlson, Lyn Sprauve, Sandra Kelly, Randy Wombold, Ann Nielsen and Shirley Kernan. Their works will hang in the Temporary Gallery Space in the fort. The reception, from 5 to 7 p.m., is an "Arts After Dark" event presented by the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council. It's free and open to the public; there'll be complimentary finger food and a cash bar.
SOON TO BE SEEN II: An exhibit of oil and acrylic paintings by St. John artist Lee Eng Khauv is coming up at the Westin Resort Banquet Hall, opening with a reception on March 11 and continuing with viewing all day on March 12.
After majoring in political science at college in Colorado, the artist says, "I decided to leave it all behind to enjoy the coconuts and sandy beaches of St. John. Here I found peace and tranquility and discovered my love for art once again." Her art studies have included spending time in Mallorca at the studio of "my greatest influence and source of inspiration," acclaimed European painter Jesus Camargo, "to watch him throw colors on canvas with no fear."
STARS FOR THE REACHING: For STARfest VI, the Reichhold Center is inviting the public to help pick the talent in advance. There will be some new performers for this year's revue, set for Mother's Day weekend, May 13-15, but some favorites from previous shows will be invited back, too. And who will they be? Well, that's up to you.
Ballots are available, or soon will be, at Krystal & Gifts Galore and Marianne in Tutu Park Mall, both Modern Music stores, the UVI bookstore, Blockbuster Video and the Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools on St. Thomas; and at the St. John Drug Center on St. John. Or, it says on the release, you can call the Reichhold box office at 693-1559 and cast your vote by phone.
COLOURFUL NEWS: Anyone who has been a regular exhibitor or visitor at the annual Caribbean Colour fine art shows has probably been wondering that the plan is for this year. Marilyn and subsequent hurricanes have moved the exhibition around from its old familiar February and March dates, but never fear. The 12th annual Colour show is in the works and the call for entries will soon be going out. The exhibition will open on April 14 in a new public-access space in Port of Sale Mall and hang for at least four days — perhaps a few more, if docents can be lined up to sit the show. What makes Caribbean Colour, presented by the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council, unique is that anyone professing to be an artist can enter one self-selected work in each of several mediums. The show is unjuried but judged, with cash prizes awarded in pre- announced categories.
A LOCAL HISTORICAL MUSICAL: A musical about slavery? No, more accurately a musical about a society of enslaved and free, and the dynamics of their relationships. Even so, it seems an unusual theme for singing. But then consider "Queen Mary" as a theme for dance, choreographed by Caribbean Dance Company's Monty Thompson and acclaimed around the world.
Sociologist and history researcher Eddie Donoghue has long kept one foot in the entertainment environment — writing scripts for children's television programs, acting in community plays, hosting his own radio show — meanwhile holding a succession of political jobs, most recently as head of public relations for the Education Department. Now, concentrating fully on his creative muse, he's about to see a musical of his own making p
roduced and presented on the stage of the Reichhold Center, a musical about a world he knows well from his research and writing.
Called Jankobum,, it's a fictionalized historical account of life and love in plantation times on St. Croix. Presented by St. John's Carabana Ensemble Theater Company and directed by Carabana's Clarence Cuthbertson, it will be performed on March 23-25. Incorporating figures from the 1759 slave uprising on the island and exploring the dynamics of an interracial marriage, the play "touches on mythology and is a challenge to bring to life," Donoghue says.
Tickets are $25 and they're now on sale or soon will be. Outlets are both Modern Music stores, Krystal & Gifts Galore, Parrot Fish Music, The Drafting Shaft in Sub Base and the UVI bookstore on St. Thomas; and Connections on St. John.
MUSIC, BY GEORGE: The next shared Arts Alive and St. John School of the Arts concert wraps up the non-classical season (already!) with a centennial tribute to George Gershwin in supper-club style. In the spotlight for "The Memory of All That" will be New York show and cabaret chanteuse Mary Cleere Haran, with her longtime partner in art, composer/pianist Richard Rodney Bennett, at the ivories and joining in for some vocal duets. Adding back-up will be Linc Milliman on bass. The show they're bringing to the islands played to rave reviews New York's famed Algonquin Hotel a season ago, after which they went on to mount "Crazy Rhythm: Manhattan in the '20s" at the same venue, again to critical acclaim.
Haran, an accomplished musical history researcher-writer, blends her song stylings with "witty quotations, show business lore and humorous self-explanatory asides," New York Times critic Stephen Holden writes. Bennett, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his service to music, has composed music for more than 50 films as well as classical works. He worked with Paul McCartney on the former Beatle's orchestral work "Standing Stone," which debuted at Carnegie Hall two years ago. He also accompanied oboist Gerard Reuter at a Classics in the Garden concert in 1995.
TWO RHYME TIMES: Poets who enjoy sharing their works, people who like to read others' poems and folks who like to listen to poetry are in for a double treat in the coming month. The Humanities Division of the University of the Virgin Islands will have its monthly "Poetry & Conversation" evening starting at 6 p.m. on March 10 at L'Hotel Boynes. And the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council will have a poetry reading from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 22 as an "Arts After Dark" event in the coffeeshop of the Frenchtown Deli.
Those wishing to sign up to read at "Poetry & Conversation" are asked to contact Mary Alexander at 693-1340. Those wishing to do so for the "Arts After Dark" session should call 776- 4812. And there's no reason the same people can't do both.
THE WEEKEND IN PRE-VIEW
Saturday: United Way of St. Thomas-St. John lets it all hang out from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Emancipation Garden at the agency's 5th annual bazaar and flea market fund raiser. Along with pre-owned books, clothing and accessories, household items, toys, CDs, tapes and videos, there will be plants and seedling trees on sale. The Youth in Action Steel Orchestra will provide music, and there'll be games for kids, a raffle and food and drinks available.
And the arts and crafts tenants of Tillett Gardens are hosting their first "Garden Party" Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's a kind of mini-Arts Alive fair that will be a monthly event, according to organizer Lynn Piccassi-Berry, whose Ridvan Studio is in the arts complex. Exhibitors will be showing paintings, pottery, leathercraft, beadwork, jewelry, essences and oils, candles, plants, original computer-generated art and more.
Saturday, Sunday: The Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John's first two winter whale-watch outings take place aboard the catamaran Jolly Mon. Saturday's trip is sold out, but some tickets are still available for Sunday. They're $55 for non-members of EAST and are available at Nisky Mail Boxes and East End Secretarial Services on St. Thomas and at Connections on St. John.
Saturday night: In celebration of Black History Month, the Reichhold Center for the Arts presents "Mahalia," a new musical about the life and music of "queen of gospel" Mahalia Jackson, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, $15 and $10.
Sunday: The local Red Cross chapter's 2nd annual Pet Health Fair and Dog Show takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Crown Bay landfill. There'll be information about caring for pets in times of crisis, a dog parade with prizes for a variety of qualities (there's a $5 entry fee to compete), games for kids, food and drinks for humans and drinking water for the dogs.
Sunday night: Spike Lee's 1990 drama Mo' Better Blues is this weekend's "Cinema Sundays" offering at the Reichhold Center. It's about a self-centered jazz trumpeter who keeps everyone in his life at arm's length, including two lady friends. Music by the Branford Marsalis Quartet is featured. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults. It's R rated, so get a sitter for the kids.
CLUB DATE COMING UP: Cinema fans, especially those who turned out for the Reichhold Center's recent first International Film and Video Festival, should consider the Sunday flic at the Reichhold on March 5 priority viewing, for a couple of reasons. It's The Buena Vista Social Club, and, for starters, it happens to have been the most talked-about documentary in America last year. Inspired by the Grammy-winning album of the same name, the film is set in Havana, Cuba, and focuses on the lives and music of a group of once-famous musicians who had faded into obscurity but have now found new generations of admirers, at home and in sell-out concerts in Amsterdam and New York's Carnegie Hall.
But there's a closer-to-home reason many will want to see the picture: It's one of the films nominated for an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary — and thus direct competition for Speaking in Strings, the profile of brilliant but controversial classical violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg shown at the fest that was produced by St. Thomian Lilibet Foster. Which of the two is more deserving of an Oscar (without taking into consideration the other nominees)? Well, see what you think.
TO BE SEEN: Scene & Herd appears weekly in the Source, previewing arts and entertainment events open to the public on St. Thomas and St. John. To have information considered for inclusion, submit it in writing by the Monday before desired posting date. Fax to 776-4812 or e-mail to [email protected].