Jan. 25, 2006 – The public is invited to attend screenings of a work-in-progress documentary about St. Croix scratch band king Jamesie Brewster and his quelbe music.
The screenings will be held at 4 p.m. Jan. 28 at Whim Museum on St. Croix, at 5 p.m. Feb. 5 at Mooie's Bar on St. John and at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at Gallery St. Thomas on St. Thomas.
St. John-based filmmaker Andrea Leland is in the midst of putting together the documentary from footage she took featuring Brewster in 2004.
"I'm just interested in Caribbean culture and what was indigenous," she said.
Leland hopes the screenings of the "rough cuts" will bring awareness about the project and help raise money toward finishing the documentary.
The St. Croix-born Brewster has performed throughout the Caribbean and Europe.
"He doesn't compromise his music. He plays old-time scratch music," she said, noting that Brewster learned to play from his father.
The Quebec, Canada-born Leland holds a master of fine arts degree from the Art Institute in Chicago. She is also a painter.
Leland produced and directed the award-winning documentaries "The Garifuna Journey," "The Long Road Home" and" Voodoo and The Church in Haiti," which have been shown at museums, conferences and festivals throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States.
If you'd like to donate to the Jamesie Project, make checks payable to the St. Croix Foundation, P.O. Box 1128, St. Croix, VI 00821.
To learn more about the project visit the film's Web site.
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