July 19, 2004 – This coming weekend Tillett Gardens on St. Thomas will take on the trappings that first made it a centerpiece of the local creative arts community nearly a quarter of a century ago.
For nearly 17 years the Arts Alive Arts and Crafts Fairs – later renamed Festivals – were thrice-yearly events. Then they were scaled back to an annual occurrence the weekend following Thanksgiving Day, and in the fall of 2002 Rhoda Tillett, the founding force behind the fairs, retired and handed the reins over to others to carry on the tradition elsewhere.
Tillett died last August after a long battle with cancer, but the creative aura she had fostered in the arts enclave refused to be denied. And so a small committee of people, including clay artist Ruth Prager, who has her studio in Tillett Gardens, brought the Arts Alive Arts and Crafts Holiday Festival back to the complex over the first weekend of December.
And now they're doing it again with a summer fair – Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"It was such a big success last December and we got rave reviews," Prager, a member of the Arts Alive board, said. "We had lots of requests to add another festival to the calendar."
As of a few days ago, the following artists, artisans and culinary tradition keepers had signed on as exhibitors:
Cynthia Born ("Lucky Bamboo" floral arrangements), Jacqueline Cawley (watercolors and oils), John Chinnery (works in colored pencil and oils), Shanda Chiumento (silkscreen T-shirts, totes and tanks), Alton Evans (jewelry), David Francke (hand-painted tiles, oils, acrylic, prints), Edell Hamlin (macrame) and Mary Jane Jones (jewelry).
Also, Michael Malone (incense), Kay McKean (ornaments made from mahogany and roofing materials), Cheryl Miller (preserves and hot sauces), Leah Norton (wire-wrap jewelry), Eunice Parillon (plants), Loretta Pshsniak (watercolors), Jackie Smalls and Judith Goodings (local pastries), Esther Smith (candles and candleholders), Brenda Tucker (watercolors), Nyda Young (clothing) and Gloria Zakers (jewelry and beaded artwork).
In addition, the Tillett Gardens resident artists and artisans will have their studios and shops open throughout the weekend as part of the fair. The Zen Retreat will offer complimentary mini-chair massages, mini-facials, accupressure and face-painting for children and will be selling massage oils and hand-made jewelry.
There'll be live music in the gardens both days, too, according to Prager. On Saturday, Jack's Restaurant in the complex will be presenting bands — plus a D.J. during its wing-eating contest set for 7 p.m.; to register or learn more, call 776-9464.
Sunday's performers will include a variety of student musicians, the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School Burning Blazers Steel Orchestra, Klint Constantine and Kareem Harrigan ("Of God," from STARfest 2004), Byron Todman (piano and flute), Nikita Williams (piano), Detra Davis (vocals), Nicole Moore (piano) and Soyika Richardson (another STARfest artist, on piano).
Admission to the fair is free and it's definitely family fare. For more information, call Vivian Faulkner in the Arts Alive office at 775-1929.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
