Dec. 19, 2003 — For those on St. Croix who find Festival doesn't keep them busy enough, here's a splendid alternative: a free four-lecture series on masquerading, to be presented at Fort Frederik Museum and Art Gallery.
The four lectures will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 22, 23, 29 and 30, a release said.
If by chance you don't know what masquerading is, on Monday, Dec. 22, Dr. Robert Nicholls, University of the Virgin Islands professor and author of the book, "Old-Time Masquerading in the Virgin Islands," will explain it all in the first lecture.
On Tuesday, Dec. 23, Dr. Chenzira Kahina will lecture on the Bamboula, and Asta Williams will discuss costuming and masquerading.
On Monday, Dec. 29, Willard John — long a stiltsman on St. Croix — will lecture on Moko Jumbies.
The final lecture on Tuesday, Dec. 30, will feature Dimitri Copemann on the music of masquerading.
The St. Croix and the visiting public are invited to the free lecture series. An added feature is the Dec. 22 opening of an exhibition in the Art Gallery of local artist works on the subject of masquerading. The continued support and patronage of the general public toward the Museum, to aid in the "endeavor to identify who [Virgin Islanders] are through exhibits and intellectual empowerment of [the] past," the release said.
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