After a sunset-soaked toast and dinner on the Frederiksted Strand, partygoers will adjourn to the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts for an auction to raise funds for museum programs and exhibitions on Nov. 30.
Sunset Soiree starts at 5 p.m. across the street from CMCArts featuring music on the Strand with Mek’s saxophone until the sun dips below the horizon. Guests will relax with drinks and dinner from the Chicken Shack until dark.
After the sun sets, silent and live auctions will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Art Center’s courtyard. More than 50 items will be auctioned plus $100 surprise sacks. A cultural travel tour for two to Cuba, three nights at Sandcastles, and gift certificates for restaurants and retail shoppers will tempt bidders. Original art has been donated by local artists, including Niarus Walker, Sara Lee Hayers, Toni Lance, Shelley Silverlight, Cuban artist Choco and others.
“CMCArts is a treasure in our backyard allowing artistic expression to be encouraged, honored and celebrated – what a gift,” Lisa Lord-Price, CMCArts board member said.
After 8 p.m., DJ Chef Chevy will ramp up the excitement with disco sounds and dancing will commence.
Programs that will benefit from the fundraiser include the artist-in-residence program, Little Artist Days for children ages 2-7, and school youth field trips for public, private, and homeschool groups.
According to Lisa Mordhurst, CMCArts executive director, seven to nine exhibitions are installed annually and feature mostly local artists – a “primary mission program.”
“Art exhibitions are archival objects in their own right. They are important indicators of perception and appreciation of art and artists at a certain point of time. Through exhibitions, CMCArts is producing part of the national record and archives for the USVI by promoting and preserving the voice of the USVI. Arts, cultures and philosophy are the foundation of all the different aspects of our life and art exhibitions communicate the humanities to the world. They are living research and, by virtue, art exhibitions are our community classrooms,” Mordhurst said.
Classes and workshops include CMCArts Children’s Parade Troupe, Kallaloo dance, stained glass instruction, textile dyeing, painting, and clay play.
Tickets to Sunset Soiree are available for $100 at cmcarts.org/events.
Sunset Soiree’s major sponsors include the Buccaneer Hotel, Bellows International and Island Saints, Sandcastles, The Market, Hibiscus Beach Hotel, TEAM Consultants, Plessen Healthcare, RapierMed, the Loops Foundation, the Hamed Family, and Susan and Barry Armstrong.
CMCArts is the only art museum in the territory and is open to the public, free of charge. There are various levels of membership available for access to programs, events, and discounts at the museum store.
