Art Thursday: Love is in the Air at Crucian Gold & Cane Roots

M.A. Dworkin

St. Croix - Great thinkers believe that art and love are profoundly intertwined, representing emotional expression, connection, and creation.

“Art and love are the same thing: it’s the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you,” states cultural critic Chuck Klosterman. 

“In our life there is a single color, as on an artist’s palette, which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love,” says the famed radical modernist painter, Marc Chagall. “Art must be an expression of love, or it is nothing at all,”

“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble. To live,” relates the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin. 

But listen to the post impressionist, Vincent Van Gogh: “There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people…I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart.”

Well, if you can’t figure out which of these lyrical quotes rings true in your life, maybe you need to clear your head out and take a stroll around the galleries of Art Thursday in Christiansted this week. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day there will truly be love in the air. You are sure to fall in love with one of the many wonderful paintings hanging on the white gallery walls. You are sure to fall head-over-heels in love with some fabulous jewelry piece calling out at you from one of the showcases. You are sure to find something along Gallery Row that you just can’t live without. 

And you will surely love the atmosphere the galleries have created along the quaint streets of C’sted, with the wine and cheese, the soft music, the great vibes, the friendly faces in the shops; and that overwhelming feeling of utter peace and contentment that only great art and jewelry can fill up in those wanting places in your heart. Ah yes, love is in the air, and it does make the world go round.

This month’s highlighted galleries are  Cane Roots Art Gallery and Crucian Gold’s Maufe Gallery. 

Situated in the heart of Christiansted Town and sharing the walls of the Bishop family’s artist jewelry shop Crucian Gold and its newest addition Crucian Cafe, is the unique Maufe Gallery. Highlighting the work of acclaimed St. Croix artist Therese Trudeau, and featuring local and international artists throughout the year, there is always something new and interesting at this cutting-edge gallery. There is often a new exhibition every month, and other activities such as live music and performance art are featured.

The current exhibition at Cane Roots Art Gallery is John Obafemi Jones’ I’m Still Here. This magnificent Crucian artist brings “new meaning to colors on the canvas.” A must-see exhibit, presented by one of the stalwarts of the St. Croix art scene, Sonia Nahar Deane. Ms. Deane is an exuberant and passionate art collector. She fell in love with the Big Island, and since moving here she completed the rehabilitation of a 2,800 square foot building that is now known as Cane Roots Art Gallery. This charming space has become one of the major hubs for art on the island, where collectors can appreciate and purchase art from Virgin Islands artists as well as stand out artists from around the world.

So feel free to wander aimlessly about the streets of Art Gallery Row in Christiansted. Soak up the creative atmosphere, enjoy the ultra-hip vibes of the artsy crowd you bump into. Try taking a short trip inside the mind of one of the artists you may encounter. Try to experience what they were thinking when they created their work of art, their exquisite piece of jewelry. Slow down a bit and leave the outside world behind for a night. Immerse yourself in the truth and beauty of art. Catch the fever of Art Thursday. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll fall in love with the art of being in love. It’s in the air!