[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”28″ gal_title=”Emancipation Art Exhibition”]
FOR the next four weeks, the works of three of Saint Lucia’s finest artists and photographers will be on display at Blue Coral Mall as part of the third annual Emancipation Exhibition being hosted by the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF).
The exhibition is being held under the theme, “Post-Emancipation: The Saint Lucian Psyche – Resistance, Relevance or Resolution”, and will feature works from artists Arnold Toulon and Sabrina Romulus and photographer Bill Mortley.
The exhibition, which runs from Monday to Saturday each week, is open to the public at no charge, and forms part of CDF’s thrust to showcase interpretations of the Emancipation theme through the visual and plastic arts.
Toulon, originally from Dominica, has lived in Saint Lucia for the past two decades developing an outstanding portfolio dating back to his “Fragment” series in 1994. He later developed the “scratch technique”, which entails painting with used phone cards and then etching into the surface with an ice pick. The artist specializes in oils and acrylics.
Self-described free spirit, Romulus, was born and raised at Pavee, Castries and has been into art since age five after being inspired when she saw her mother, a seamstress, drawing and cutting out patterns to make dresses. The 25-year-old is an all-rounder in the field of art but specializes primarily in acrylics.
Mortley’s journey in photography spans nearly three decades and he has covered many major events, including Saint Lucia Carnival, Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival and Independence activities. However, he specializes in wedding photography and has been invited to photograph weddings at local hotels as well as overseas.
During last Saturday’s official opening of the exhibition, CDF’s Director of Operations, Ramona Henry-Wynne, urged the public to visit the exhibition located on the third floor of the building to get an appreciation of Saint Lucia culture through the exhibitors’ work.
“All of their work would come from somewhere deep within. It’s their manifestation of what they see, how they feel and basically about life in Saint Lucia, and life in general,” Henry-Wynne said.
Deputy Governor-General, Mc. Donald Dixon and Minister in the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Empowerment, Youth Development, Sports, Culture and Local Government, Fortuna Belrose, were among the small audience in attendance at the official opening.
While Toulon and Romulus’ works line the walls of the exhibition area, Mortley’s can be seen on a large flat screen television monitor.
The exhibition times are as follows: Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and Saturdays (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.).
