Isabelle Picard has been a St. Croix resident for the past ten years. Growing up on a sailboat in the south of France, Isabelle spent most of her formative years in Hyeres, a beautiful seaside town on the French Riviera, before venturing off to the far corners of the world. She has traveled extensively, spending much of her time in the French West Indies, New Caledonia and Mexico. She is fluent in four languages.

A mural artist by profession, her work can be seen in private homes and public buildings throughout South Florida, the Virgin Islands and the south of France. Her paintings on canvas have also been collected worldwide. Her style is whimsical, colorful, happy, and has been called modern Caribbean Folk Art. Having studied graphic design in Florida, some of her work reflects a more graphic style. Post baccalaureate, Isabelle worked for several years as the head designer for a high volume custom paintings and mural company in South Florida, before starting her own company.

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DAILY STRIFE is an exhibition commemorating VI-PR Friendship, to be presented at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in October. This exhibition explores individual and collective struggles encountered as one deals with the current political, social and economic situation in the Puerto Rican and Virgin Islands communities. Hope, oblivion and chaos are three emotional states that are intertwined with the daily quest for survival and inspiration as we face the same challenges of migration, hurricanes, traffic, decay, consumerism, apathy, environmental threats and economic crisis. In this exhibition, artists from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will present photographs, digital images and installations that address the struggle for our "daily bread" and the way we view our daily lives; some with hope and humor others with irony. Over 50 images ranging in size from 10 x 10" to 4' x 3' will be on exhibit for 2 months from Oct. 16 through Dec. Three artists will travel from San Juan, PR to help install the work and participate in the artists' talk that will be held at CMCA, Saturday, Oct. 17th.

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Bonnie Luria has been a painter, a textile designer, an illustrator, a jewelry designer, a city girl and a full time resident of St. Croix for the past 9 years.

A native New Yorker, moving to St. Croix fulfilled her "lagoon fixation" that taunted her for most of her life. "I always saw myself living in a tropical location but, like most of us, thought it was a fantasy reserved for a weekly vacation until a chance encounter with a charming, convincing, and uniquely alluring man who had moved here eight years before I did."

Knowing that if you don't take a chance, chance takes you, she packed up her city tent and pitched it here, marrying her lure and revitalizing her painting career.

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By Pam Kerschner

"The novelty of Caribbean island living inspires my "cartoon" illustrations and oil paintings a lot. When I first came to St. Croix, I was compelled to pursue my art and enjoyed the support and friendship of many wonderful island artists. After twenty years on St. Croix, I am currently living in Colorado to help my 90-year-old aunt and my father during their challenging years. I paint Caribbean life while living "out west," and plan to retire soon, still painting, in the Virgin Islands.

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Jane Akin finds her subjects in historic buildings and the plants and animals all around her. You can almost hear the trees swaying and the creatures moving through the bush!

Jane's home/studio is in Estate Boetzberg where she produces four shows a year, as well as commissions, and teaches watercolor and drawing. She is also the Artist in Residence at the Buccaneer Hotel offering watercolor classes twice a week.

Jane has been an interior designer and architecture is still a haunting subject making many of her commissions house portraits. But tropical flowers are her very favorite subjects and, like Georgia O'Keefe, paints them larger than life. This is where her mastery of watercolor really shows its spontaneity--mingling colors, "glazing" one over another, creating luminosity, allowing the pigment to "bloom," and creating texture with salt or dry brush.

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By Nina York

Why should real art have to be serious? Why can't a painting that makes you smile be as valid as a somber one? At Christiansted's Yellow House Gallery, owned and run by long-time resident artist Judith King, originator of the charming cover art of this issue, you are guaranteed a few chuckles as you view her paintings of the St. Croix scene.

Located in a charming old wooden townhouse on Queen Cross Street between Company and King Streets, this gallery is Chicago native King's favorite venue among the sites she has occupied. She arrived here in 1967 with her parents after having obtained a BA in art from Knox College in Illinois.

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Designworks, located in Apothecary Hall at No. Six Company Street in Christiansted, opens the 2008-09 Art Thursday series on December 11 with "The Red Pennant," a collection of new paintings by Designworks' own "artist-in-residence" Caroline Duprey.

Caroline studied art at the Manchester Institute of Arts, Manchester, NH; Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA; Ginger Norman Studio, Loudon, NH; and DeCordova Museum School, Lincoln, MA.

Her work has been exhibited throughout New England and in the Virgin Islands where it is available at Designworks and Twin City Cafe on St. Croix and Mango Tango Art Gallery on St. Thomas.

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SOCA is a visual arts organization based in St. Croix. Founded in 2006 by Norma Krieger, Maud Pierre-Charles, Roy Lawaetz and Nii Ahene. This group of well known professional artists formed the core team which spearheaded the effort to build a successful visual arts organization in the USVI. SOCA's mission is to foster and promote Caribbean aesthetics and the artistic expressions of the Caribbean visual artist.

The "Artist Circle" -- Arts Fest presented a day of two free art workshops for children and adults; a musical performance; a panel discussion of artist dialogue; an award winning film presentation and an exhibition of SOCA members works in the newly renovated gallery space. Artists were invited to come and sketch the historic Fort Frederik site and create a work of art during the course of the event.

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For decades Stephen Larsen has been shooting images around the world. His travels have taken him to the ends of the earth including such places as Antarctica, Australia, Africa, Central America, Himalayas, India and Laos.

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This is home to the artistry in glass of Jan Mitchell and the evocative photographic artworks of Steffen Larsen. Watch glass work in progress and shop for gifts in a restored historic building on Company Street, the heart of Christiansted's SOHO (South of Hospital Street) district where the arts are alive. www.janmitchellcollection.com
Island Map C-132
Tel. 719-1000

Permanent link: Mitchell-Larsen Studio

Located in an historic loft in Christiansted, this studio showcases the paintings and prints of the late and beloved, Maria Henle. Also represented are the photographs, books and films of St. Croix's premier photographer Fritz Henle and the fine art photographs of Tina Henle. Select artists' exhibitions during season. For further info visit www.mariahenlestudio.com
Island Map C-131
Tel. 773-0372

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Resident Jane Akin showcases spectacular watercolors of tropical flora and architectural subjects capturing the elegant essence of the Caribbean. She is open for visits and offers classes in watercolor and drawing. Jane's works can be seen at Many Hands, Design Works in Christiansted, and the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in Frederiksted.
Island Map I-86
Tel. 713-8419

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Now is the perfect time to create that family portrait you've always wanted! St. Croix has some of the most beautiful natural beaches in all of the Caribbean. Take this opportunity to bring home a true souvenir from the islands. Kelly Greer, CPP, has been creating family portraits for over a decade. Trust your family keepsake to a professional. Sessions are by appointment and may be available within 24 hours. Mention that you found her in St. Croix This Week and receive an additional 10% discount on your portrait order. Email kelly@greerphotography.
com or call 340-514-3620 for more details.

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