[dropcap]A[/dropcap] new art gallery, in the north of the island, is putting the works of several local artists on display in the most splendid of ways. Buki Cahane, a passionate Nigerian-born art curator, was lured to Saint Lucia nearly three years ago on account of the island’s diverse history and social landscape. Now, the mother of three has been driven by her love for the island and her passion for art to provide invaluable opportunities for both emerging and established artists. Her company, MeCurator, is only five years old but with an awesome mandate: “To build a collective of artists, designers, photographers and sculptors to promote the vast array of authentic Saint Lucian and Caribbean art to a wider audience.”
On Thursday evening the MeCurator Gallery opened to an impressive crowd of art enthusiasts. In an interview with The STAR, Buki highlighted the aspect of the journey that has touched her the most: “I think for me the outpouring of support just shows you how there’s a great eagerness for the arts in Saint Lucia. There’s a real sense that people want to partake and be part of the scene. Also for the artists, now that there’s a space, they feel quite prompted to paint and to create.”
An important objective for the selection of artists, Buki says, was to feature upcoming talent alongside veterans. Currently featured are artists as young as eighteen all the way through to artists who have been creating for decades. The collection includes the work of Adjani John, Junette Alexander, Gilroy Hippolyte, Alcina Nolley, Alwin Joseph and several others. At Thursday’s launch a triptych film fusion from UK-based artist Fiona Compton was also shown, revealing the versitility of the space which the curator says can, in the future, be host to other, suitable events.
Though the art can also be viewed and purchased via the www.mecurator.com website, for those hoping to snag authentic artworks in the flesh, the spacious gallery located at the STAR Publishing complex in Massade, Gros Islet provides a comfortable, well-lit, mounted viewing opportunity of all the pieces. Also, you won’t want to miss the chance to meet and converse with the devoted art curator herself!
