Cruise-ship passengers on the Adventure of the Sea received a special treat Saturday as they wandered from the pier to Fort Frederik Museum. The Society of Caribbean Artists (SOCA) was holding its 2nd annual Arts Fest.
Not only was this event free and open to the public, it was double the size it was last year.
"The show has been greatly expanded," said Norma Krieger, founder and director of SOCA. "We have a stronger contribution from artists."
Last year 14 artists had work on display, and this year there were 30, she said. SOCA, now in its third year, has been growing, too.
"There were some challenges getting the show up," said curator Nii Ahene-La, also a co-founder of SOCA..
Last year’s show only used the main exhibit hall, he said. This year the North Exhibit room was full of artwork, too. It ranged from an interesting collection of blue pencil drawings on paper plates to an installation featuring wire and seed ants crawling on the floor and up a wall.
What enthralled many visitors, as well as locals coming out to enjoy a festive day in Frederiksted, was the display upstairs in the fort’s old Commandant’s Quarters. Sen. Wayne James had more than a dozen objects from his Crucian antique bedroom furniture collection on exhibit.
There were plenty of activities going on during the day-long event. They included art workshops by Phyllis Biddle, a film screening by Johanna Bermudez-Ruiz, guided tours of Fort Frederik and the museum’s permanent exhibition, dance and drumming, and local food.
"We wanted to do it all this year," Krieger said. "We wanted education, entertainment and culture all in one event."
Exhibiting artists included Roy Lawaetz, Maude Pierre Charles, Nii Ahene-La, Diego Conde, Preston Doane, Marjorie Robbins, Sue Snow, Gerville Larsen, Augustine Holder, Phyllis Biddle, Elisa McKay, Cindy Male, La Vaughn Belle, Ademola Olugebefola, Lourdes Neugart, Danica David, Mike Walsh, Avelino Samuels, Yemaha Jones, El Roy Simmonds, Pedra Chaffers, Willard Curliss John, Bernard Clendenin, Marcia Jameson, Kat Pierie, Claire Richards and Akirash.
SOCA’s mission, according to a news release announcing the event, is to raise awareness of the Caribbean visual art aesthetics. Art works are for sale and will be on view until Oct. 17. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. On Oct. 17, there will be a closing reception featuring a presentation by La Vaughn Belle called "Moving Pictures — The Visual Iconography of the Virgin Islands in Film."
For information about the exhibition, call 772-2021.
