This month's St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council "Arts After Dark" event marks the close of a year of study at the School of Visual Arts and Careers and the opening of an exhibition of artwork by the students.
The annual end-of-year recognition program and reception takes place at the Fort Christian Museum on Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited and admission is free.
Seventeen teenagers in the program will have more than 80 watercolors, pastels, acrylics, linoleum cut prints, photographs, "found object" assemblages, and other mixed-media works on display in the Temporary Gallery Space at the museum. Many pieces will be available for purchase — representing a unique opportunity to purchase an "early work" by a future famous artist at a very affordable price!
S.V.A.C. instructor Edie P. Johnson says this year's exhibit "has some of the best work our students have ever done." She adds with a laugh, "But I say that every year."
Adding to the arts ambience will be music by the vocal/instrumental folk ensemble Harmony Dem and calypsonian Louis Ible Jr., as well as the culinary creativity of the art students' teachers and parents who will provide complimentary finger foods and soft drinks.
The afterschool and summer arts enrichment program was founded 16 years ago at the fort, where it has been housed continuously except for a period following Hurricane Hugo. Many of its alumni have gone on to pursue art studies at prestigious institutions of higher learning on the mainland.
The three current S.V.A.C. students who are 1999 high school graduates have all been accepted into such art programs: Joel Estrada (Charlotte Amalie High School) at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Marcella Ferreyra (Antilles School) at Skidmore College, and Capathia Rey (Wesleyan Academy) at Hampton University.
