Creative Waves Expands BVI’s Cultural Horizons
By Jane Bakewell
Waves lapping on our shores are part of an alluring tropical dream for tourists visiting our islands. Recently, we have a new type of wave in the form of an art explosion coming to the BVI. “Creative Waves BVI” is the brainstorm of BV Islander, Zoe Sorrentino and a relative four-year “newbie” from England, Sophie Stanton, who formed this company in hopes of expanding the territory’s art and cultural horizons.
A perfect “artistic storm,” so to speak, came about when Sophie was approached both by Cedar School, and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College about doing a fundraiser for the arts. Cedar School is in the midst of planning, a brand new stand-alone Arts Center open to the public and the college was wanting to expand their Arts Department.
What came from this collaboration was the idea of showcasing local artists in a week-long event culminating in an art exhibition at the college. This highly successful event in late February, included; dance performances, theatre acts, a crafts fair and an arts workshop for children in Virgin Gorda. The crowning moment was an overwhelmingly, successful exhibition of well- known and rising local artists in a colorful display at the college’s main atrium on walls ascending two flights of stairs. In fact, the exhibition was extended an additional week due to public enthusiasm.
As a writer and “Cultural Correspondent”, for The BVI Insider, I was greatly impressed by the level of artwork displayed at the college. From paintings to photographs, sculpture and mixed media art, it was a feast for the eyes. Children from Cedar School as young as pre-K age were there with their teachers and interacting with the art. Some older children were even sitting on the steps with their sketch pads. Art was having its deep influence and impacting the creative horizons of the next generation.
In a sit down interview with Sophie, she explained that her partner Zoe, in Creative Waves BVI, has a background as an events planner and handles the logistics, while Sophie‘s experience brings her knowledge of the art world and networking to the table. Their ability to pull off a successful arts-week, along with the exhibition at the college and a fund- raising gala has helped both Cedar School and the H. Lavity Stoutt College meet some of their goals in expanding the arts, and opened up new horizons.
What’s next in promoting artists and art in the islands? More exhibitions and pop-up events are planned for this summer under the Creative Waves umbrella. A second strand is paid commissions for artists here, including three artists who will be doing painting on sails as an exhibition at the BVI Regatta funded by Department of Culture and displayed in other areas afterwards.
A third strand for Creative Waves BVI is the development of after school art classes for children ages four to eleven years. Funds will be raised to hire the teachers, acquire the art materials and make classes available to young artists.
Many ideas for public art in the BVI are being considered like the current “wall art” painted by well-known local artists seen throughout Tortola. Sophie has had over thirty years of experience in promoting art and is enthusiastic about getting businesses and government into funding cultural projects. Education, commissions for artists, public art and eventually an artists residency program, are all plans in the works.
Creative Waves BVI hopes to be a one-stop shop for promoting arts in the islands and it appears with past successes, art will continue expand as a vibrant part of the BVI’s cultural Identity.
For more about Creative Waves and their February art exhibit at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555937751018
More about BVI art and culture can be found at:
