Nov. 26, 2001 – A reception opening an exhibition of vintage Virgin Islands photography by Ray Miles will be held Thursday starting at 6 p.m. at the V.I. Cultural Heritage Institute.
The black-and-white photographs, taken in the 1960s, are in large part of scenes "one doesn't see anymore" — of "men mending sails on the waterfront, a finely dressed gentleman riding his horse and cart into town, little girls in pretty frocks and straw hats waiting at the dock," a release from the institute states. The pictures, many of them enlarged to framed, poster-size prints, are "evocative, artistic and poetic," it says.
And many carry as credit the name "Raymond Miles" — actually Miles' first and last names reversed, something that came about through a mix-up in paperwork when he was first contracting to do photographic work for the V.I. government.
Miles, who was born and reared in London, has lived in the Virgin Islands for four decades, where he has made his mark not only as a photographer but also as a fine-art painter and videographer. His paintings span a range of styles, from traditional West Indian oils to surrealist acrylics. He will be at the reception to discuss his exhibited work.
The public is invited to the opening and to view the show at any time. It will hang through the end of January.
The institute is located at 5-6 Kongens Gade ("Education Street") in the block east of the bottom of Government Hill. For further information, call 774-9537.
