Oct. 18, 2006 — "Colorful," "funny," and "unusual" are just a few of the words one could use to describe the wildly imaginative painted trash barrels popping up at locations throughout the island.
The latest installment in an islandwide art project by St. Croix teachers and artists, the barrels can be seen at high-profile spots like Peter's Rest shanty, Rainbow Beach, The Sand Bar in Frederiksted and WAPA in Sunny Isle, just to name a few.
The trash barrel project actually got its start about 10 years ago when local artists came together to paint barrels in response to the growing trash problem on the island. The latest project, which began in September 2005, took shape when former art teacher Betsy Campen, along with local artists and teachers, asked local art students to once again create the cylindrical mini-murals.
However, this year's barrels will have an added security feature, courtesy of the V.I. Waste Management Authority. "All of the barrels [in the '90s] were stolen," said Campen, "so this time we were fortunate enough to receive locks from VIWMA."
The authority also helped distribute this year's barrels, 73 in all, at unique locations across the island. According to Campen, the project "will remain active as a part of VIWMA's recycling program in the school system."
The barrels were auctioned off in February to help raise money for art supply gift certificates, which were given to the 17 participating students at their commencement ceremonies in June. Says Campen, "The students attending college this year are still sending me thank-you notes because they were able to get the supplies they needed for their classes."
Campen said she wanted all the students who participated in the project to know where their masterpieces were located. With that in mind, she created a poster and map with all of the barrels and their corresponding locations.
Not willing to "schlep" the barrels again any time soon, Campen says the next art project, entitled "It's About Time," will feature clocks reframed and reworked by another round of students.
Noting that "too much emphasis is put on the left brain and academics," Campen says it's important to award students who may not be academically excellent but are gifted in art. "We need to reward right brain function," she said.
To get your copy of the poster and map and for more information on the latest project, contact Gallows Bay Frame Shop at 719-2246.
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