Charlotte Amalie High School student Makeda Joseph, 17, took top honors in the Tourism Department’s Teen Carnival Poster Contest.
“I thought about what Carnival was like when I was younger. Putting the poster in collage form allowed me to include many different elements, some of which I don’t see that much of nowadays in our parades,” Joseph said.
She said she doesn’t see as many mocko jumbies in Carnival parades as she did when she was younger.
“And the ladies in pretty costumes and people dancing. That’s what Carnival means to me,” she said.
Joseph’s art was created with a combination of colored pencil and watercolor. She said she picked these mediums because she liked the watercolor helps spread the colored pencil over the canvas.
Her art will be reproduced as a poster and used by the Tourism Department to promote Carnival’s 60th anniversary.
A senior, she plans to study business management at the University of the Virgin Islands. After that, she hopes to transfer to Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida.
“I’m doing business management because I plan to have my own business and need the knowledge,” she said.
Joseph is a member of the National Art Honor Society. She will be awarded $500 while her school will receive a $500 donation for use by the art department.
Open to students ages 14 to 18, the contest, in honor of its 60th anniversary, asked students to present their most creative depiction of Carnival.
“All of the entries were masterful,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty said. “They spoke to the creativity of our young people and their ability to communicate through artist expression. It’s a proud moment to see this kind of talent available in our Virgin Islands.”
The other finalists were Jazmine Willocks of St. Croix Country Day School, Shannon Newland of Antilles School and and Jerrell James of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
In addition to their submissions being on display at the Tourism Department Office, each finalist will receive a gift bag.
