The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts and the LOOPS Foundation are partnering in a fundraiser to repair the 20-year-old wood stairs to the Artist-in-Residence apartments at the museum. The goal to raise $25,000 for the build will be matched by the LOOPS Foundation dollar-for-dollar for a total gift of $50,000 for the repair. The deadline for donations is coming to a close very shortly.
The “We Build With LOOPS 2022” project will reconstruct the three-story staircase and corresponding landings that provide essential access to the Artist-in-Residence apartments. The historic museum building on Strand Street in downtown Frederiksted has gone 20 years without a renovation.
“LOOPS Foundation founder Rudy Seikaly visited the museum and was so enamored with the community efforts and the events that we do, he immediately became a supporter of CMCArts,” Executive Director Lisa Mordhorst said. The mission of LOOPS Foundation is to revitalize spaces, specifically libraries and schools. CMCArts fits the bill.
While Seikaly’s construction company was working on St. Croix, he acquired the former Coconuts beachfront property in Frederiksted.
Seikaly collaborated with the museum for the LOOPS and CMCArts Summer Festival on the beach for a one-day event in July. The community came together to paint a mural, shared in arts and crafts, and went kayaking and snorkeling hosted by Cjay Tyson’s Sea Sports St. Croix. DJ Swain opened the event with music to entertain and dance. Ray Isles led the drum circle inviting the community to join. Mercy Child ended the evening at sunset with Isles sitting in on drums for some of the songs at the close of the festival.
CMCArts is inviting the community to come together again to donate to the fundraiser and to be a part of the actual building and landscaping as the work begins. “This building has been worked on and renovated by so many people along the way, who contributed time, effort, money, and abilities. Let’s continue that tradition,” Mordhorst said. “Once we start the actual construction, there will be some ‘action days’ where the community can come in and paint some of the boards, and volunteers can come into work on the renovation of our landscape. This community effort will rebuild and revitalize CMCArts.”
The Artist-in-Residence program has become the cornerstone of our educational programming and a very robust initiative spearheaded by our Education Coordinator Jessica Parker White, Mordhorst noted. “It has attracted the youth as well as the adults with Jessica bringing the artists out to the schools. It’s a much bigger program than it has ever been, and it is an important space for the artists and for the community in the sharing of creativity.”
Just this year, CMCArts hosted Chloe Duplessis, who shared her creativity with Sayeeda Carter in ‘ARISE’ and ‘You, the Promise of the Diaspora’ performance and photography exhibition. Sharonda Richardson was an inspiration for the youth learning the art and expressions of poetry. Clayton Singleton touched so many lives with his teen self-portrait and mural projects. The year will close out with Afrofuturist painter and Virgin Islander Ademola Olugebefola, who will travel to CMCArts from New York City. He has expressed excitement about returning home to the VI to share his story and artwork.
Seikaly founded LOOPS in memory of his late son Christopher Rudy Seikaly, whose nickname is Loops. The elder Seikaly has a vision to continue the legacy of his son’s idea that by helping others, you can bring yourself to a place of peace and joy.
“We feel very blessed that we have this resounding support and assistance in not just the funding, but in the management of the project and a deep knowledge of what needs to happen in this build – in efficiency in time, and efficiency in the build,” Mordhorst said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
“There will be many, many more collaborations. We’re working together to put the word out to the community about coming together to have fun, to change the world, and put out our positive energy – all together. We’re thrilled,” Mordhorst said.
CMCArts thanks the community in advance for their contribution. ”Your donation will go toward our WE BUILD With LOOPS 2022 Campaign.”
Here are the ways you can make a donation:
* Online at cmcarts.org/donate with the memo “WE BUILD 2022 with LOOPS”
* Call CMCArts at 340-772-2622
* Send a check to CMCArts, Inc., PO Box 734, Frederiksted, VI 00840
With the memo “WE BUILD 2022 with LOOPS”
For more information:
