In the midst of the stabbing deaths at Jump-up and countless other violent altercations among young Crucians, many are asking, what will the future bring?
The youth participating in the smART Summer Youth Institute have taken that question upon themselves. Over 100 Virgin Islanders at three different locations, ages 4-18, have engaged the problems they find most pressing on the island by creating artwork that increases awareness and proposes strategies for change. Youth participants at Mon Bijou utilized art to respond to a recent death in their community by creating “Stop the Violence” posters, which they posted around the neighborhood. Artwork from all participating locations will be on display from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, No.10 Strand Street.
Youth expressed concern on issues ranging from violence to tourism, growing fresh food to the economic health of local malls. Suenita Banwaree, local artist and smART institute instructor, commented on the discussions held by the students, “I noticed that the youth of this island are not ignorant of the politics and tribulations that we face everyday. They want to fix it, and we all should work together to do so.” Many youth are as concerned as their elders about the future of the island.
Kari Currance, a high school student attending the smART institute at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, said, “I think that art can make changes because it’s visual. You understand things better when you see things. You are more impacted by things when you can actually visualize the problem, and then you can come up with a solution.” Working collaboratively with their peers, Crucian youth are utilizing visual medias to identify issues and propose solutions.
Founding co-coordinator of the smART program, Cynthia Hatfield believes in the value of art for young people. Hatfield said, “The youth have the creativity to solve visual and social problems, and we are fostering that creativity.” This creativity would otherwise go unnoticed, especially as art education and opportunities are disappearing from schools. In addition to creating art, smART staff members engage participants in character building games, in creating a sense of belonging in the group, all while having fun.
The smART Summer Institute exists to increase cultural exchange, development, and art advocacy amongst the peoples of St. Croix. By using visual and language arts to facilitate dialogue among participants in art-based workshops, youth engage in a variety of creative processes to express their ideas and articulate their cultural heritage. The smART program is taking place at three locations: Upward Bound at U.V.I., Mon Bijou Community Center, and the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in Frederiksted. Scholarships provided by the Virgin Island Council on the Arts enables nearly all students to attend the program free of charge.
If you would like more information about this program, to visit the institute or to schedule an interview, please call Nora Howell at 513/541-7276 or e-mail her at Lenora.Howell@gmail.com
