Every year about this time, the artists of our island can be found setting up their creations at Emilio Wilson Park. Most of us make plans to stop by and check out these gorgeous or whimsical items, buying those that catch our eye and always stocking up on gifts we can squirrel away for special occasions throughout the months ahead.
But Art in the Park is more than just an art show or a shopping opportunity; it’s a chance to visit with friends and meet new people. It’s a festival-like atmosphere where you can bring along the children for a day of music, face painting, balloon twisting, living statues and of course plenty of treats – fresh-made and delicious.
Organizer Barbara Endre has been putting on this special event for many years now, always with care to keep it full of unique arts and crafts. She donates the entrance fee of US $1 per person to Emilio Wilson Park and Historic Center for its maintenance and upkeep. An additional $1 per car for parking is also collected. That seems a small price indeed for a day of sunshine, art, friendship and fun.
Some of the artists and artisans you will meet this year include Daphne Prevoo, who creates beautiful artisan soaps from the finest ingredients; Hilda Hernandez, who creates kitchen sets from colourful fabric; and Sandy the Spice Lady, who packages the freshest flavours from our region into her hand-painted bottles and gift sets. Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without a visit with Miss Ruby Bute, who will bring her latest paintings of islanders, flowers and all the inspirational images she sees in her unique vision. You can bet the New Generation Status Band will march through in the afternoon hours, showing off their youthful exuberance with drums-a-blazing! Surprise artists are sure to pop up to add to the fun, you’ll have to be there to catch it!
Save the date: February 12, 10:00am-5:00pm – Art in the Park at Emilio Wilson Park. For more information, call Barbara at 544-5189 or 548-3723. Find out more about the WEEKender’s featured artists from this year’s Art in the Park on page 5.
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Art in the Park Featured Artists
When you come out to Emilio Wilson Park on Feb 12, be sure to check out the booths of these participants!
Daphne Prevoo
Daphne has been making soap for more than 16 years. She learned to make soap in art school in England. “We did the standard things first, then we tried unusual combinations such as sculptures out of sugar, and then we made soap. My grandmother used to make soap so I was already very interested in this.” After art school, Daphne travelled back and forth between England and Swaziland in Africa. She realized she could start a viable business in Swaziland making soap and employing local people there in a small factory. After meeting her husband-to-be and planning to move here to his home, she decided to sell the soap factory. Once settled here on The Friendly Island, she reconsidered her passion for making soap – not a factory this time, but a hobby/business – something that she could pursue out of her home.
Daphne makes six varieties of soap, a process that can take about six weeks from preparation to completion. She uses only the best organic oils – coconut, olive and avocado. These she buys from small farmers in our region. Following the traditions and teaching of Rastafari, she uses no palm oils which are taken from forests in non-sustainable ways. “I believe in health and cleanliness, my art is a creative process that has to be one.” Her coconut and other oils are mixed with small amounts of aromatic essential oils and pure rainwater. The blends are her signature, and each bar is unique and wonderful to own, use and smell. Enjoy supporting this artist on February 12, and soon you will seek her out at her regular display at Belair Hotel on Monday evenings where she sells to the weekly welcome party for the island visitors.
Hilda Hernandez-Geraijery
Beautiful fabric is the trademark of this artist who sees kitchens and imagines a canvas needing adornment. Hilda is an American Airlines flight attendant who’s been residing right here for the last 14 years. She flies all over the globe and finds interesting and unique fabrics on her stopovers. These she sews into fancy tea towels and handle covers for appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves. “I was watching the Today Show on TV and saw host Matt Lauer talking about having a fear of germs. One of the things he said was that the dirtiest place in the house is the handle of the refrigerator! I thought, ‘Why not make a cover for the handle?’ It can then be washed regularly and it would be nicer to touch. Plus it’s pretty!”
Hilda uses Velcro to secure the fabric to the handles and creates matching tea towel sets so the whole kitchen can be decked out in matching fabric and styles. Everything is machine-washable and stands up to normal wear and tear, so these make great gifts for anyone who loves to cook or appreciates special hand-made items.
Sandy the Spice Lady
Nutmeg from Grenada, coconut oil from Dominica, arrowroot from St. Martin and much-much more! Sandy the Spice Lady is well known for all the wonderful and fresh flavours she brings in to the French Marketplace, but did you know she hand paints the jars and bottles for all the sauces and jams she makes? Her booth is a symphony in the art of display, with swatches of creole cloth and images of flowers, beaches, sailboats, hundreds of other little masterpieces.
Need some fresh vanilla extract, or even a vanilla bean full of rich sweet resin? Check out the terrific deals Sandy has! You can’t go wrong with these top quality ingredients! There is something for everyone at this corner of Art in the Park.
