Crucian artist Waldemar Brodhurst amazed patrons at his Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts exhibit. The opening in February was a huge success and the show has been held over. Saturday is the last chance to experience this artist’s creativity and pure talent in his transformation of wire and found and recycled materials into human, animal and folkloric subjects. They are all infused with their own unique vitality and expressions. Museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After his mother’s death, Brodhurst first began expressing himself through his art as a positive channel to release his emotions. He, through his sculptures, became a testament to the transformative power of art.
Brodhurst is a fourth-generation Crucian with a multi-cultural heritage of Danish, Puerto Rican, German and Afro-Caribbean descent. Viewers of his work will appreciate the influence of the stories that have been deeply rooted in his life experience in the Crucian community and in Vieques, Puerto Rico. His life-size sculptures represent cultural and historical icons as well as his smaller, tabletop pieces.
The reverence that Brodhust possesses for the environment is visible in his quest to reimagine the sea creatures and the land animal kingdom in his work. His first sculptures were small and hand-held as he explored his craft. His popularity and artistic vision grew to what can be witnessed in the more than life-size statues all over the island.
Brodhurst’s work is displayed in all the rooms in the upstairs gallery. His celebration of life through his art is also celebrated in documented stories around the galleries.
“The use of cable, rope, barbed wire, glass, wood and screening together with found and recycled materials are all fair game for my extraordinary imagination and ability to turn trash into beauty,” Brodhurst said.
His female figures show the strength and vulnerability of women, which comes from the suffering and courage he witnessed in his mother, he added.
“Unbound”
“She’s unwrapped herself from dullness of the constraints of society, self doubt, neglect, expectations, and traumas.
Stretching her limbs free from the tight cocoon she lived in so long. No longer tormented by the dreams of possibility, but hungry to taste wonders of her infinite beauty.
Dropping any attachment of what no longer serves her, if it ever did, she does not care, for the freedom to be herself is finally here.
She knows so much now, remembering the past, having dreamt of her future, she will do whatever it takes to live today as she was made. No longer bound to yesterday.”
A leisurely walk through downtown Frederiksted will reveal an array of Brodhurst’s wire sculptures. They turn up in the most unexpected places. Feast your eyes when in the streets of the west end community, around the east end of the island and at CMCARTS Upstairs Gallery. Brodhurst is everywhere!
“Waldemar Brodhurst: Wire Art & Crucian Stories” Exhibit on display until Saturday. Museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information:
www.cmcarts.org
Call: 340-772-2622
