On Saturday, October 23, 2010, Artvi Advocates will present its second Young @ heART project: The MAD MEN ARTVI pARTy in celebration of Arts & Humanities month. It will take place at The Saint Lounge in Red Hook across from Marina Market from 6-9pm. Arts and Humanities Month is a month-long celebration that has become the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. The Young @ heART project is a new initiative designed by Artvi Advocates to connect the young at heart with the arts in the Virgin Islands. The goal of the Young @ heART project is to help inspire greater appreciation for the arts and encourage the long-term commitment to arts philanthropy in the Virgin Islands. It seeks to connect artists, art lovers, patrons and collectors who have a keen interest in furthering their knowledge of the arts and provide consistent financial support for the creation, exhibition, performance and proliferation of arts in the Virgin Islands.
According to Priscilla L. Hintz, founder of Artvi Advocates and co-curator of the event, “The Mad Men theme was inspired by the art work depicted on the television series Mad Men, which portrays parts of society and culture of the 1960’s. This decade was an exciting, revolutionary, and turbulent time that had a major impact on art, our society and culture.”
The event will feature, for one night only, renowned chef and artists, Tony Romano, Cruzan born artist, Luca Gasperi, St. Thomas native David Hill, Puerto Rican painter Ensor Colon and Augustine Holder. In addition, photographers, Drew Alston, Lamont Blake, Steve Rockstein and Marlon Davies will be presenting a compilation of their photography via a projected slide show. All the work featured will be reminiscent or stimulated by the best Abstract Expressionist, Pop Artists, Op Artists, Conceptual and Post-minimalist artists of the 60’s. These art movements were unique and influential artistic expressions that continue to have an impact on artists today. Eric Browne, a Virgin Islands native, will also be creating an inventive musical compilation that will be featured at the event. It will include memorable music of the 1960’s ranging from Frank Sinatra ballads, Chubby Checker’s “The Twist”, traditional Jamaican Ska music that emerged in the early 1960’s, and popular Calypso tunes of the time.
In addition, you will be able to watch the artists exploit the mystique of accident, a Surrealist technique called Exquisite Corpse. “This technique is a collaborative collage of words or images based on an old parlor game, it is played by several people, each of whom would write a phrase or draw an image on a sheet of paper, fold the paper to conceal part of it, and pass it on to the next person for his/her contribution. This will be an engaging, live and interactive piece that the artists will create during the event,” said Kimberly Young, co-curator of the project.
1960’s inspired suits, cocktail dresses & hats are highly encouraged. The first fifty attendees will receive a free Tom Collins cocktail. The event is free and sponsored by Key Art Supplies, St. Thomas Dairies and The Saint Lounge.
Artvi Advocates is a grassroots nonprofit organization of energetic and innovative art advocates who have a keen interest in furthering the cause of arts and cultural advocacy in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its mission is to support and promote the arts in order to enhance the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of the Virgin Islands through arts education and advocacy.
