The 175th anniversary of Emancipation was celebrated throughout the Virgin Islands on July 3, with commemorations in a myriad of offerings locally. Cane Roots Art Gallery in downtown Christiansted boasts the visual expressions of 11 artists and what this historical event means to them…all in a variety of media.
The Company Street Gallery opened its doors July 6 and has kept the commemoration alive with the sharing of artist talks by John Obafemi Jones, Elisa McKay, and Niarus Walker. Gallery owner Sonia Deane’s invitation to the community welcomes patrons to peruse the artworks Tuesdays through Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. until the closing day of October 20.
“I felt that Emancipation 175 was a very important date in Virgin Islands history and I embraced the idea of having Cane Roots Art Gallery join with the local community to commemorate and celebrate this historical event,” Deane said. “I am not a Crucian. I am Guyanese born and raised in the United States. I’ve lived on St. Croix for six years, and I recognize and appreciate Crucian culture and its importance to its people. I feel grounded in the culture when I can share, through the art of our different artists, their expressions of that period in history.”
Deane said, there is no art that goes back as far as the Emancipation, but the artists’ portrayal of architecture, their thoughts, and their feelings represent their lived experiences on these islands.
“Come out again, or come for the first time,” Deane said. “Meet the artists through their spirit and their passion within the framework of their art.”
Augustin Holder
“The composition tells a story about one’s journey of self determination. I want the viewer to understand that it’s a metaphor about life,” the artist said.
Holder uses bold colors and distorted lines to enhance the pictorial landscape to create a sense of chaos. Several compartments encapsulate different styles of brush strokes and solid lines, which can be deemed as roadblocks to one goal.
“The boat on the horizon and its solo traveler tie my story together. The message is perseverance. Always keep doing what it takes to get you through the hurdles,” Holder shared. “You will reach your destination.”
Sue Snow
Sue was born in northern California and trained as a graphic artist. Moving to St. Croix in 1984 was life-changing for her. It inspired her to paint pictures and set her on a different path.
“I strive for realism and to capture in time whatever elements that attract my eye, whether the beauty of any of God’s creations, or joy, love, or some other emotion, inner spark, or the dignity of a person,” she said.
Elwin Joseph
With the exposure and success from his first exhibit, Joseph, as a self-taught artist, started showing interest in other mediums like watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, and pastel. As Joseph’s continued growth and love for art pushes him to excel, it has allowed him many opportunities to participate in various shows on St. Croix.
Joseph’s watercolor shows the crumbling yet stately ruins of the Roman Catholic Convent on the corner of Prince and Hill Streets in Frederiksted.
Elisa McKay
McKay is a self-taught artist who works in African print fabrics and black silhouettes. She began her art career over 40 years ago with handcrafted greeting cards.
McKay’s triptych portrays the three stages of freedom. “Planning for Freedom” depicts a conversation between two individuals in black silhouettes sharing their strategy. “History tells us that women were important in the planning of the uprising,” McKay said.
“Rising Up to Freedom” shows a family in their struggle to rise out of the shackles of enslavement. “They represent the family of God,” according to the artist.
Freedom is a show of hands, the answer to the call for freedom. They’re upraised and proud and in sync with the “hand” of God. “We are all one in freedom – in mind, body, and spirit.”
John Obafemi Jones
“I sincerely hope that the triptych, ‘Eighteen-Forty-Eight’ will serve as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the people who fought for their and our freedom. Emancipation Day of 1848 is a milestone of the struggle for self-determination of the African diaspora in the U.S. Virgin Islands and worldwide,” Jones said.
“At the triptych center is a youth holding a book. The image represents education and knowledge – powerful tools in the fight against colonization and neo-colonization,” he added.
“The two symbols at the left and right are Sankofa birds. The mythical birds symbolize the belief that the past serves as a guide for planning the future. The wisdom of the West African Akan is learning from the past ensures a strong future. Looking back at our history, we can better appreciate our culture and traditions. Looking back at our past, enable us to learn from our ancestors’ mistakes, but more importantly, their triumphs,” Jones said.
Stephanie Chalana Brown
“Take a moment to reflect on the lost liberties and the triumphant reclamation of freedom. In celebrating those who fought for their own liberation, how can we truly honor their struggle without acknowledging the ongoing pursuit of joy through liberty. It is imperative to recognize how systems often attempt to strip away this joy especially for individuals with melanin, despite liberty being a concept that should extend universally to all humanity,” according to Brown.
El’Roy Simmonds
Simmonds was drawn to art early in life and is recognized internationally for his contributions to the Fine Arts in the U.S.Virgin Islands, Denmark, New York, Haiti, and more. His creative soul expands as a teacher, entrepreneur, musician and sculptor. As an exchange student at the Kuntz Academy in Copenhagen, Denmark, he conducted research on the relationship between Denmark and the Virgin Islands, which is reflected in his work.
Niarus Walker
“For a Teaspoon of Sugar” is an encaustic collage that reflects the seven colonial flags with sugar cane workers in the background. The title gives thought to the story that the British demand for sugar in their tea fueled the industry.
Norma Drish
“Making Johnny Cakes” is Drish’s observation of her mother making this timeless dish. The ritual begins: Drish reminisces the simple ingredients, the technique, and the rhythm in which the dough is kneaded. Add more water, sprinkle more flour, until the right texture is achieved. It is a very intimate moment, one that she has revisited repeatedly for decades.
“I capture the tranquil mood in the sage background and the afternoon light coming from the left. The light not only accentuates her facial features as she sinks into her task but also her hard-working hands that seem to perform it with such ease. The patterned traditional tile creates a contrast to the sage background, yet it pulls it all together to draw the eye to the main subject,” Drish said.
Danica David
Born on St. Croix, David is a contemporary artist, author, and visual art educator. She has used the arts for over twenty-five years to depict the Virgin Islands’ cultural nuances, vibrant colors, and textiles. Danica teaches at the St.Croix Educational Complex High School and is an adjunct professor at the University of the Virgin Islands.
Carolyn Roblyer
Robyler has painted plein air on St. Croix with the Palletteers for many years. She discovered her true passion is painting murals and for over 20 years has been painting them on St. Croix, Arizona, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Massachusetts, and South Africa.
Liz Llanos
“We Are the Shards: A fragmented journey of reflection, repurposing, and repositioning of Chaney”
“…As I reflect on all I have endured in the last 50 years of my life, I see the divine order of things. God used all my broken pieces, experiences, love, people, pain, laughter, death, and life – to create something new, something better, something beautiful. The museum exhibit, Chaney-Stories from Migrant Fragments, which included concepts and original paintings by La Vaughn Belle, suggests, ‘We claim the fragments, wear the fragments, find the fragments, and live in the fragments.’ My Chaney jewelry reminds me that We ARE the Fragments, molded together in community, strength, and beauty.”
Founded in 2020, Cane Roots Art Gallery is a space that celebrates the art, culture, and creativity of artists from the Caribbean and the Americas by hosting exhibits and highlighting their stories and works. Cane Roots serves as a center of cultural expression for local artists and the community, a learning hub for students interested in the arts, and is committed to educating a broader audience to the vibrant arts scenes found across the region.
Cane Roots Art Gallery, 24 Company Street in downtown Christiansted, is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit canerootsartgallery.com.
