March 31, 2009 — A new initiative starting this week will focus on the natural liaison between two creative endeavors on St. Thomas — fine dining and fine art. It's aptly called "Savor."
"It's a collaborative effort," said Jane Coombs of Mango Tango Art Gallery, who got the notion rolling with Ruth Prager of Gallery St. Thomas. The idea quickly ignited with the support of two other galleries and four restaurants.
Participating are David Hill's Gallery in Royal Dane Mall and the artist's restaurant partner,
Amalia Café, a Spanish restaurant in Palm Passage. Gallery St. Thomas has an upstairs location in the first block of Main Street, while Hervé Restaurant and Wine Bar, known for its French Caribbean cuisine, is nearby on Government Hill. Yacht Haven Grande features Mango Tango Seaside Art Gallery and Grand Cru Restaurant and Wine Bar, now owned and operated by Chef Patricia La Corte.
The new art venue in the neighborhood is Seven Minus Seven, located next to Pueblo in Sub Base. The alternative-art space has partnered with a restaurant well known for its seafood, Agave Terrace, located in Point Pleasant.
"That's so cool with Agave Terrace," Coombs said. "It will get people from the East End into town, too."
Starting this Thursday evening and continuing the first Thursday of every month, the galleries will stay open until 8 p.m.,with appetizers supplied by the accompanying restaurants, which will also feature specials from the gallery's partner.
"Our purpose," Coombs said, "is to make St. Thomas known for two things: the local art and the really fine cuisine. We don't get enough writeups, and our art and our food are just stellar. We would like travel writers to take note of our thriving art and food scene."
Each gallery offers completely different approaches to making, displaying and selling art, Coombs said.
"The one denominator that binds the four galleries is that all showcase the talent that is part of the character of the islands," she said. "Gallery St. Thomas and Mango Tango Art Gallery also reach out beyond the islands to bring significant art to local viewers."
David Hill, a local artist, creates and shows his art in his gallery. Both Gallery St. Thomas and Mango Tango are overflowing with paintings and wood turnings by their exclusive artists. For Savor, Gallery St. Thomas features artist Kimberly Boulon, and Mango Tango presents new ceramic sculpture by Mandy Thody.
Seven Minus Seven is a constantly evolving space, Coombs said, with new work brought in weekly by artists who physically turned a discarded building into a terrific art work and display space.
"The great thing about eight people is our ability to reach out," Coombs said. "Paulette Keefas-Chassin of Herve is calling her contacts in New York. Everybody is excited about this. For me, it's like folks will know, just like the weekends come up, 'Save the first Thursday each month for Savor.'"
Coombs' enthusiasm for the art scene is legend on the island, where she and partner Smoky Pratt have been an integral part of the art community for the past two decades.
"We'll keep this going for 10 months a year," she said, "and other galleries may participate."
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