Art lovers will be able to immerse themselves in a variety of media this weekend with more than 100 works created by a group of St. Croix residents – the newly formed Artists Guild of St. Croix.
The art show begins Friday evening with a champagne reception and continues Saturday and Sunday at the D.C. Canegata Multipurpose Recreation Center.
The art work created by St. Croix residents is for sale and includes paintings, fabric art, collage and mixed media, according to Phyllis Charles, the exhibition’s chairwoman. Each piece was juried by off-island artists before being admitted into the show, she said.
The guild was created last summer by a group of artists who met again in the fall to write bylaws and goals for the new nonprofit organization. Charles said goals include promoting St. Croix art and artists, sponsoring workshops and students, and marketing the island as an arts destination for tourists. Workshops will focus on subjects that are currently not taught in the community, she added.
“In order to do some of these grandiose ideas, we needed some money,” Charles said, so they decided on the exhibition.
Advance tickets for Friday’s reception are $15 at the Blue Mutt in Christiansted and $20 at the door. Those attending the art opening can vote for their favorite work, and three pieces will be awarded as the “Peoples’ Choice.” The opening reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. There is no charge to view the show Saturday or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Also on Friday night, revered St. Croix artist Betsy Campen will select the first winner of the Jake Bierowski Memorial Award. Bierowski, Campen’s son, was murdered in his home in September 2012. The case remains unsolved.
Participating artists include Campen, Charles, Jane Akin, Laura Ballard, Rasa Glengary, Sharon Hyll, Jamila Hammad, Elizabeth Keith, Jenny Keith, Laurie Ingersoll, Marcia Jameson, Joan Kumpitch, Marilyn May, Elisa McKay, Crista-Ann Molloy, Barbara Osborn, Dee Petachenko, Isabelle Picard, Marjorie Robbins, Carolyn Roblyer, Melinda Scott, Emy Thomas, Gail Widmer and Alma Winkfield.
For more information, visit www.artistsguildstx.org.