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ALEXANDER'S TO SHOW ESTERN WATERCOLORS

Jan. 4, 2002 – An exhibition of works by St. John watercolorist Elaine Estern will open at Alexander's Café on Friday with a meet-the-artist champagne reception from 5 to 7 p.m.
Estern, a 28-year resident of the Virgin Islands, describes herself as "living the dream." She resides and works in a blue-shuttered beachfront home on St. John's Frank Bay that is itself a work of art — bought as a Hurricane Hugo makeover project and today a picturesque feature in a number of her paintings.
Art, Estern says, is her "fourth (and final) career" — following on mother, Montessori school administrator and paramedic. A veteran sailing, diving and snorkeling enthusiast, she is known for her images that combine under- and above-water perspectives. She works only in watercolor, the appropriate medium, she ways, for capturing fish in their natural environment.
In addition to original paintings and prints, she produces an annual calendar of frameable artwork and a variety of gift items that feature her art, from mouse pads to stone trivets and coasters.
Born in California and raised in Brazil, Estern has always lived in or near the tropics, and her artwork has always reflected her interests as an environmentalist. She got her first watercolor instruction from prominent artist David Millard, who winters on St. Thomas. When she opened her Coconut Coast Studios more than a decade ago, she was among the few artists in the Virgin Islands to own and operate a gallery as well as produce artwork.
For the Alexander's show, "I am going to dedicate the majority of the space to underwater art, but I will have a few other pieces," she says. Among the other works that will hang in the Frenchtown restaurant are "Harbor View," a vista from the old L'Hotel Boynes on St. Thomas's Blackbeard's Hill, and a beach scene curiously titled "Flamboyant Megan's."
"Yes, I know the spelling is wrong," Estern says with a chuckle, "but that is the way it was put into print in last year's calendar. My printer's daughter is named Megan, and she thought I made a typo!"
One of her favorite recent paintings that will be in the show is "Coki Point," which has been reproduced in her 2002 calendar. It's "a spectacular underwater scene, with many smaller portraits of fish framed and placed around it," she says.
Estern has had numerous solo shows and has exhibited in galleries throughout the Caribbean and in Hawaii. Her work can be found in collections throughout the world, including the White House. In addition to showing at her own studio, she is represented at Harmony Hall in Antigua and Les Artisans in St. Barths. She was accepted into the 2001 San Diego International Watercolor Contest. For a sampling of her art, visit her Coconut Coast Studios web site.
Alexander's is offering a special menu prix fixe dinner following the reception. Reservations are required; they may be made by calling 774-4349.
The show will comprise 13 works — mainly watercolors and lithographs. The reception raffle winner will receive a mixed media "Shadow Box Fish Bowl." It will hang through Feb. 7.

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