Photo: Ocean life inspired ceramic sculpture by Annemiek Van Kerkhof-Posthuma (left), and Brown Pelican painting by Tes Verheij (right).
The island’s economy has been hard-hit in the wake of the 2017 hurricanes and COVID-19 pandemic. A group of artists is teaming up to reach the public in a new, creative way, energise the local art scene, and bring a little life back to Philipsburg this October, especially the many shops that have been forced to close during the pandemic. The “All You Need is Art” project is in the planning phase and still accepting local artists, shop owners, and various business professionals to be part of the action.
The vision is to illuminate the capital with a variety of different art, utilising forgotten shop windows along Front Street as the exhibition space. This creates a new way to reach the market for both established and emerging artists, and creates a buzz in Philipsburg – especially in the evenings where busy days die down to almost empty streets. The shops will have their display windows lit up with solar flood lights.
Each window will be dressed and exhibit five unique pieces, which can be any form of two- or three- dimensional art, from woodwork to ceramics and paintings. Some of the best known local artists have already signed up for the project, but organisers are accepting more, and want to make a point of promoting new artists as well. Given the range of talents that will be on display, the public is sure to find something interesting to view or purchase.
But the project doesn’t stop there; for the length of the exhibit, which will run for the month of October, the art pieces will be put up for auction on a website made especially for the event. The site will launch on October 1 and be taken down at the end of the project, Friday, October 29. The website opens the door to international buyers, and puts something unique about St. Maarten “on the map”. A closing ceremony will be held the same day at Palm Plaza, Philipsburg.
In line with boosting the creative community on the island, there will be a set of seminars during the last week of the project, aimed at equipping all participating artists to adapt to the changing circumstances and enhance their businesses.
If you are an artist looking for exposure, a Front Street business-owner wanting to have your underused shop-window transformed into a stage, or an entrepreneur who would like to work with artists (shippers, for example), then contact All You Need is Art organisers Tes Verheij at email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Annemiek Van Kerkhof-Posthuma at WhatsApp +1 721 553-0081.
