PHILIPSBURG:--- The Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL) is hosting its annual Black History month celebration under the theme "Grafting Roots: Passing on the Legacy".
This year the primary focus will be on the achievements of St. Maartener's in three areas, namely Painting, Dance and Literature. PJL's exhibitions will showcase the passing on of knowledge between the elders and younger generations and how it is imperative to the survival of St. Maarten's legacy.
According to Morenika Arrindell, PJL Activity Manager, each elder who will be highlighted in the exhibitions, have served key roles in sharing their talents with the world and in particular the youth of St. Maarten.
"Their contributions have spurred young, talented St. Maartener's to explore their own creativity and have motivated them to consider creating and passing on legacies of their own," Arrindell said.
Arrindell said that each elder has been paired with a person from a younger generation who has also made steps to create a legacy of her or his own in that same genre.
"So for example Ruby Bute is paired with Lucinda Audain in terms of painting, though this could also have been done in terms of their poetry. Lasana Sekou has been paired with Deborah Drisana Jack for their literary contributions to St. Maarten and Clara Reyes has been paired with her protégée Rudolph Davis," Arrindell explained.
Bute's selection for painting comes as a result of her continuous efforts in the preservation of St. Maarten's culture, through her paintings, as well as her commitment to the mentorship of upcoming artists, are exemplary. Audain selection is a result of her emerging presence as a young, dynamic painter on the St. Maarten art scene. Both the paintings of Bute and Audain will be exhibited for the entire month of February in PJL's lobby.
Audain, who is also the founder of Funtopia, a company geared towards family entertainment, with face and body painting as one of its main services, will be giving free workshops in the PJL lobby, on Saturdays, February 2 and 9. These workshops cover face and body painting and are open for all persons who are interested in learning the craft. The workshops will briefly highlight the history of face and body painting and its current recognition as an art form. Audain will teach a few of the basic line strokes and promises that all who return for the follow-up session on February 9 are in for a major treat. Audain said she plans to choose a willing participant to serve as the model for a full body painting demonstration.
The general public is invited to attend this first installment of PJL's Black History Month Celebrations with our first featured workshop artist, Lucinda Audain, on Saturdays, February 2 & 9 from 11:00am – 12:00pm. For more information please contact the Philipsburg Jubilee Library at 542-2970 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
