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St. John Historical Society Historic Art Show & Sale
St. John Historical Society Historic Art Show & Sale
P.O. Box 1256
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: February 20, 2015
Title: Historic paintings on display at St. John Historical Society fundraiser
The St. John Historical Society will hold an art show and fundraiser at the Westin Grand Ballroom on St John from 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 10.
The event, A Look Backtime, will offer a rare opportunity to view historical paintings of the Virgin Islands now held in private collections. The event will also feature local artists with their own works for sale with a portion of the artwork sales going to benefit the Society, a raffle and a silent auction.
One of the historical pieces of artwork on display will be an 1850 Fritz Melbye painting, Cruz Bay Battery on St. John, which was commissioned by Gov. Carl Hänschell (1809-1859). The painting hung at the battery on St John, which then served as the governor’s residence, until the Hänschell family took it with them to Lemvig, Denmark. The painting remained in the Hänschell family until it was acquired recently by a private St. John collector who graciously consented to loaning it to the society for this event.
Melbye was born in Denmark in 1826 but traveled and painted extensively throughout the Caribbean. He is credited with inspiring the young Camille Pissarro, the St. Thomas artist, to take up painting as a career.
An original Pissarro sketch will also be on display at the fundraiser, and commentary on selected pieces of historical art will be part of the activities.
Available for sale will be the work of several local artists, including Kimberly Boulon, Lucy Portlock, Janet Cook-Rutnik, Elaine Estern, Livy Hitchcock, Lisa Etre and George Hollander, with a portion of the artwork sales benefitting the society.
A raffle and silent auction will include gift certificates from local restaurants such as Waterfront Bistro, Ocean 362, Vista Mare, Virgin Fire, the Lime Inn, Ronnie’s Pizza and the Fishtrap; a sunset sail and half-day sail on Cloud9; and hotel stays at Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Estate Lindholm and String of Pearls.
Other items include a private tour of the Cinnamon Bay Museum guided by National Park archeologist Ken Wild; a private tour of Susannaberg conducted by Ronnie Jones; jewelry from R&I Patton; a Scandinavian dinner for six prepared by Robin Swank and Larry Boxerman; a whitening from St. John Dental; free car servicing from Community Motors; a gift certificate for fiberglass work by Mike Sheen; five out-of-print copies of Life in 5 Quarters; copies of St. John Backtime and St John Voices; a mahogany hand-turned pen by Pam Richards-Samuel; and a back issue of the American Folk Art Museum’s 1990 publication that featured an article on the St. John market basket by Bernie Kemp.
Music by Bo Magnie will complement light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. The historical society suggests a minimum donation of $25 per person at the door.
The St. John Historical Society is a membership-based, non-profit organization that has served the St. John community for the past 41 years. Its mission is to document, preserve and share with the public the history of this very special island. This has been achieved with the help of numerous professional historians, crafts people, artisans, musicians and educators who have brought this island’s rich history to life. Through its collections, publications, media, educational programs, field trips, special events and more, the historical society has been and continues to be the leading resource for discovering St. John. To learn more, visit the society’s website at http://stjohnhistoricalsociety.org/
You may address any questions to:
Lonnie Willis
President
340-693-8590 cell 340-344-4303
contactus@stjohnhistoricalsociety.org
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: February 20, 2015
Title: Historic paintings on display at St. John Historical Society fundraiser
The St. John Historical Society will hold an art show and fundraiser at the Westin Grand Ballroom on St John from 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 10.
The event, A Look Backtime, will offer a rare opportunity to view historical paintings of the Virgin Islands now held in private collections. The event will also feature local artists with their own works for sale with a portion of the artwork sales going to benefit the Society, a raffle and a silent auction.
One of the historical pieces of artwork on display will be an 1850 Fritz Melbye painting, Cruz Bay Battery on St. John, which was commissioned by Gov. Carl Hänschell (1809-1859). The painting hung at the battery on St John, which then served as the governor’s residence, until the Hänschell family took it with them to Lemvig, Denmark. The painting remained in the Hänschell family until it was acquired recently by a private St. John collector who graciously consented to loaning it to the society for this event.
Melbye was born in Denmark in 1826 but traveled and painted extensively throughout the Caribbean. He is credited with inspiring the young Camille Pissarro, the St. Thomas artist, to take up painting as a career.
An original Pissarro sketch will also be on display at the fundraiser, and commentary on selected pieces of historical art will be part of the activities.
Available for sale will be the work of several local artists, including Kimberly Boulon, Lucy Portlock, Janet Cook-Rutnik, Elaine Estern, Livy Hitchcock, Lisa Etre and George Hollander, with a portion of the artwork sales benefitting the society.
A raffle and silent auction will include gift certificates from local restaurants such as Waterfront Bistro, Ocean 362, Vista Mare, Virgin Fire, the Lime Inn, Ronnie’s Pizza and the Fishtrap; a sunset sail and half-day sail on Cloud9; and hotel stays at Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Estate Lindholm and String of Pearls.
Other items include a private tour of the Cinnamon Bay Museum guided by National Park archeologist Ken Wild; a private tour of Susannaberg conducted by Ronnie Jones; jewelry from R&I Patton; a Scandinavian dinner for six prepared by Robin Swank and Larry Boxerman; a whitening from St. John Dental; free car servicing from Community Motors; a gift certificate for fiberglass work by Mike Sheen; five out-of-print copies of Life in 5 Quarters; copies of St. John Backtime and St John Voices; a mahogany hand-turned pen by Pam Richards-Samuel; and a back issue of the American Folk Art Museum’s 1990 publication that featured an article on the St. John market basket by Bernie Kemp.
Music by Bo Magnie will complement light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. The historical society suggests a minimum donation of $25 per person at the door.
The St. John Historical Society is a membership-based, non-profit organization that has served the St. John community for the past 41 years. Its mission is to document, preserve and share with the public the history of this very special island. This has been achieved with the help of numerous professional historians, crafts people, artisans, musicians and educators who have brought this island’s rich history to life. Through its collections, publications, media, educational programs, field trips, special events and more, the historical society has been and continues to be the leading resource for discovering St. John. To learn more, visit the society’s website at http://stjohnhistoricalsociety.org/
You may address any questions to:
Lonnie Willis
President
340-693-8590 cell 340-344-4303
contactus@stjohnhistoricalsociety.org
Last edited by madelon on Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: St. John Historical Society Historic Art Show & Sale
Thank you for posting this. Hope to be there!
I Like to KIS (Keep It Simple)
Re: St. John Historical Society Historic Art Show & Sale
It was a great event! Congratulations.
I Like to KIS (Keep It Simple)