Oct. 20, 2006 — ARTfusion, a new magazine dedicated to the local arts, works like a hand-held museum for both visitors and residents of the Virgin Islands. Featured among its glossy pages are pieces by several of the territory's artists, gallery reviews and feature articles about V.I. history and culture.
"We offer a unique product," said Priscilla L. Hintz, ARTfusion's publisher and editor-in-chief, during a promotional event held Thursday evening at Blackbeard's Castle on St. Thomas. "Other local magazines offer resources for tourists, while ARTfusion is geared toward tourists and locals who want to learn more about arts and culture of the Virgin Islands.
The magazine, she explained, "addresses a niche" in V.I. culture that previously had gone unexplored. "Additionally, the magazine builds a bridge between the three islands by exploring the different aspects of art and culture on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix."
ARTfusion articles will range from architecture to photography, drawing on local resources, said Hintz and her creative director, Robin A. Fredey. "It's not like we're going to be hiring a staff," Fredey said. "Instead, we're going to be using art experts in the field. And we'll pick those individuals depending on what the themes of our stories are."
An artist herself, Fredey has written many of the articles featured in the magazine's first edition, dated Fall 2006-Winter 2007.
"We hope to put our expertise to good use, and really highlight the arts of the Virgin Islands," Hintz said. "And this magazine is the vehicle through which we can do that."
Hintz said she has extensively studied various aspects of Caribbean culture, including history, art and architecture. The magazine, she added, is a piece of "artwork unto itself," with its photos of pieces by local artists Luca Gasperi, Albert E. Daniel and Eric Winter, who passed away in 2001. The magazine also offers readers a list of local art venues and events, along with an artist registry.
"I'm really excited about what we're doing," Hintz said. "And we both hope that the magazine continues to grow and evolve. And we really hope that the community gets involved, because we want to write about what they're interested in."
The magazine is also dedicated to art education, Hintz said, and offers students exposure to art theories, techniques and other sorts of information.
ARTfusion hosted Wednesday's event for the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce. Other promotional events include a cocktail party at Bajo El Sol Gallery at Mongoose Junction, St. John, on Friday, Oct. 20. A third and final event will happen Friday, Oct. 27, when ARTfusion will host a Business After Hours event for the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce at Fort Fredrick, Frederiksted.
A grant from the Virgin Islands Council On the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts helped launch ARTfusion. Hintz said the magazine is also sponsored by Kerrygold Butter, distributed by St. Thomas Dairies; Guardian Insurance; Grey Goose; and PAMA, distributed by the West Indies Corporation.
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