Nov. 24, 2003 – The artists and artisans are working up an appetite again, and the St. Croix Landmarks Society is letting it be known that come Sunday, Thanksgiving leftovers notwithstanding, they'll be starving — for attention from people interested in purchasing their works and wares.
Starving Artists Day is held three times a year on the grounds of the Estate Whim Plantation, and this is the 15th annual yearend holidays version coming up — carefully timed to coincide with the shopping and gift-giving season.
Actually, it's Starving Artists and Farmers Market Day. Things get going at 10 a.m. and go until 5 p.m. There will be displays by at least 75 arts and crafts vendors, locally grown produce, games and other activities for children, and holiday music throughout the day with Jon Reuck as host.
In the greathouse, attendees can take in the just-opened exhibition of Danish West Indian antiques collected by Wayne James ("Press to Des', Pillar to Post: The Art and Antiques of a Worldly Bachelor") and a showing of watercolors by Jane Akins ("East Meets West"). There will be free guided museum tours all day, and gift shop visitors will find new merchandise as well as great savings on art, furnishings and accessories. The Museum Research Library will be selling historic St. Croix photographs and maps in the store.
One of the traditions of the event is breakfast on the Whim Museum office porch, served at the civilized hours of 10 a.m. to noon by Roque's Catering. Taste treats later in the day, offered by 10 food and drink vendors, will include shish kebabs, rotis and pates, with passion fruit juice, coquito and other local drink favorites to go with them. A cash bar will be open all day, too.
Another tradition is the 50/50 cash raffle — with half the proceeds going to the museum and half to the ticket-holder. Don't wander in looking to buy a ticket after 4 p.m., though, because that's when the drawing's to be held.
All in all, as publicity puts it, the day offers "great holiday shopping all in one place."
Admission is $4 for adults and free for children. You won't get another chance until March 28.
Should you yourself be a starving artist or artisan, there's still time to see about vendor space for Sunday's event. Booth space must be reserved in person at theWhim office in Frederiksted.
For more information, visit the St. Croix Landmarks Society Web site, send an e-mail to the Landmarks Society, or call 772-0598.
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