Corinne Innis, who grew up between St. Thomas, St. John and Manhattan, is making inroads into art circles in San Francisco.
Innis is the youngest daughter of Mary Innis of St. John and Roy Innis of St. Croix.
Innis calls herself an Afro-Caribbean artist. "I think wherever you are from is what your art reflects. If I were from Italy I guess I would call my work Italian art."
Innis says she is also a modern artist. "I guess that comes from living part time in Manhattan."
She say though she was born in New York she was brought almost immediately to St. John. "My first memories are of St. John."
Throughout her life Innis moved between the Virgin Islands and New York.
"When I graduated from college I came back to St. John," where she stayed from 1986 until 1989 when she moved to Berkeley, CA.
Innis' work was first seen publicly in February 1997 at an exhibit entitled "Women From Far Away." The exhibit showcased the work of women from places such as Ethiopia, and Chili.
Since then Innis has shown her work as a participant in Pro Arts and the Art of Living Black Open Studios.
Last November her painting "Orixa and Her Disciples" was used as the poster and postcard for Ishmael Reed's latest play "Hubba City." The image also ran on the front page to the style section of the San Francisco Examiner as part of an article on Ishmael Reed.
One of her pieces — "potted plant" — a three dimensional live plant in a pot, was chosen to be part of Pro Arts' juried exhibition.
Out of 719 works "potted plant" was one of 12 works selected to be in their yearly calendar.
In January "Orixa and Her Disciples" and "Three Sisters With Boat" were selected to be in the exhibit — "What We Think of Ourselves" — at the Center for Visual Art in Oakland.
Innis works in a variety of mediums.
Bright colors and expressive facial features are characteristic of Innis' work. She would like to see her work translated to designs on album covers and shower curtains or mouse pads.
"I think many artists don't think art should be a business," she said.
"I want to have more functional use for my work. Instead of waiting to sell originals, I want to sell the images.
Innis has already come up with mousepads and other items that carry her images and is working on new ideas all the time.
"There are a million things that need images. The Kleenex box needs an image," she said.
"I want to stay home and work and create my art."
Innis knows she has to be able to make enough money at it to do that.
Editors' note: To view Innis' work go to Showcase.
