Artwork Lovers assist USVI Moko Jumbie Artwork Exhibition fundraiser

On April eighth, over 140 lovers of artwork and tradition attended the opening of the “Moko Jumbies: Icons of the Virgin Islands” artwork exhibition fundraiser on the Virgin Islands Kids’s Museum. 

The Guardians of Tradition Moko Jumbies traveled to St. Thomas to assist carry Willard John’s Mokolution presentation to life for occasion attendees. 

Using leisure to assist educate, or “Edutainment”, Mr. John and his college students inform the story of the evolution of the Moko Jumbie from West Africa to the Virgin Islands. 

After studying extra about our Moko Jumbies, guests witnessed the slicing of the ribbons to disclose a well-curated assortment of work, sculptures, and combined media works from artists on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. 

Chantel Hoheb, VI Kids’s Museum Govt Director acknowledged that “13 of the 45 artwork items have been made by college students so we hope that in this final week, their family and friends come out to buy artwork and encourage our younger artists to proceed to create.”

Amber McCammon, VICM Director of Applications and Curator, and Tamara Michael, previously of CMCArts in St. Croix, collected, organized, and organized the Moko Jumbie artwork items to maximise visibility whereas sustaining a protected area for visiting households wherein to Discover, Play and Uncover.

Modeled after the artwork exhibition in St. Croix, artists will obtain 60 per cent of the gross sales, whereas the remaining 40 per cent of the proceeds will profit the Virgin Islands Kids’s Museum and the Guardians of Tradition Moko Jumbies. 

Whereas the VICM has hosted artwork exhibitions earlier than, that is its first time internet hosting an artwork fundraiser. 

The Moko Jumbies artwork exhibition shall be on show on the youngsters’s museum till Sunday, Could seventh. 

The artwork items are additionally on the VI Kids’s Museum web site for buy, https://bit.ly/3Hr2iDU. Just a few items like Mr. Freeman’s Gem Collection Mocko Jumbie Diamond Sculpture can’t ship resulting from their measurement and have to be picked up on the museum, nevertheless, transport is out there for many objects within the exhibition. 

“Though we didn’t obtain all of the assist we wished for this occasion, we’re grateful to the sponsors who stepped up. Because of Diageo USVI, the Guardians of Tradition Moko Jumbies have been in a position to journey to St. Thomas to assist us carry out our Mokolution presentation for the individuals of St. Thomas,” stated Willard John, founding father of Guardians of Tradition Moko Jumbies.

John continued: “We have been decided to placed on this present and exhibition throughout Carnival in St. Thomas to additional spotlight the necessity for inventive cultural occasions and information. Our workforce was excited to work with one other non-profit group that works to supply developmental alternatives for Virgin Islands youth.”

Though some items have offered, members of the neighborhood residing within the Virgin Islands and off-island are inspired to go to the youngsters’s museum to see the artwork items in all their glory or to view the exhibition on the VI Kids’s Museum web site.

 Creating artwork has been confirmed to lead to higher educational outcomes for college students and likewise assists in creating their problem-solving, behavioral, and social expertise. Fundraisers assist to make sure non-profits just like the VICM and Guardians can stick round to supply worthwhile companies for the neighborhood. 

The Virgin Islands Kids’s Museum is positioned in Buccaneer Mall, proper throughout the road from First Financial institution in Port of Sale Mall. Those that have questions or want to buy artwork after hours are requested to contact the museum at vichildrensmuseum@gmail.com.