Feb. 11, 2003 – This year's third annual St. John Arts Festival, set for Feb. 22-28, combines music, theater, dance and the visual arts, but cultural appreciation is the showpiece.
Among the highlights will be a series of appearances by Kakuta Ole Maimai Hamisi, who will speak on the history and culture of his Maasai people of Africa. Frank Langley, festival founder/organizer, said the festival is sponsoring Hamisi's visit.
Hamisi will make presentations to all of the island's elementary school students at the St. John School of the Arts in sessions from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. He'll speak to pupils in grades 7-9 on Feb. 24, kindergarten through grade 3 on Feb. 25, and grades 4-6 on Feb. 26.
St. John author Christina Kessler, who has organized the visit, said Hamisi's appearances are particularly relevant for Julius E. Sprauve students because the school is currently raising funds to build a well for an elementary school started by Hamisi in his homeland of Merrueshi, located in southeastern Maasailand, about 180 miles southeast of Nairobi, Kenya.
Kessler said that the Merrueshi students now must walk seven miles to a well to get water for the school. "Every week, it's a different family" that takes on the task, she said.
Hamisi is currently working at the Seattle Museum of Art and the Seattle Zoo. He plans to attend law school next fall.
As part of the St. John Arts Festival, he will be making other appearances as well. He will be guest of honor at the festival opening ceremony on Feb. 22 at noon in Cruz Bay Park. On Feb. 27 at 7 p.m., he will make a public presentation at the School of the Arts. Students in the school's African dance classes will perform as part of the program.
Music, theater and visual arts events
The festival also will feature daily free lunchtime concerts from noon to 2 p.m. and craft fairs from noon to 5 p.m. in Cruz Bay Park. The musical lineup: Territorial Court Rising Start Steel Orchestra on Feb. 22, Love City Pan Dragons on Feb. 23, a brass band on Feb. 24, Echo People on Feb. 25, a reggae band on Feb. 26, Rich Greengold's Samba Combo on Feb. 27, and the scratch band Koko and the Sunshine on Feb. 28.
Gospel singers and church choirs will give a "Voices of St. John" performance in Cruz Bay Park on Feb. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m.
The community is invited to a Fish Fry in Cruz Bay Park on Feb. 28 from noon to 2 p.m.
And there will be theater, too.
An abridged reading of Carlyle Brown's play "The African Company Presents Richard III" will be given by members of St. Thomas's Pistarckle Theater at the School of the Arts on Feb. 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
The play is based on the 1821 historical events involving America's first troupe of black actors, who comprised freed slaves. Society challenged the troupe's right and ability to perform Shakespeare's "The Life and Death of King Richard III."
Following the reading, Rosary Harper, University of the Virgin Islands speech and theater professor, and David Edgecombe, Reichhold Center for the Arts director, will moderate a forum on the play.
Throughout the week, various restaurants, bars and night spots will be featuring live music. Here's the schedule of who's performing where and when:
Feb. 22
Sofrito at Rumbalaya, 9 p.m.-midnight
Hatch at the Front Yard, 11 p.m.-3 a.m.
T-Bird at Banana Deck, 6-9 p.m.
Chris Carsel at Skinny Legs, 7-10 p.m.
Medicine Wheel at Island Blues, 8 p.m.-midnight
Canival Show at the Westin Resort, 8 p.m.
Feb. 23
SambaCombo at Miss Lucy's, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
Ted and Friends at Island Blues, 8 p.m.-midnight
Jazz Jam at Mongoose Restaurant, 4-7 p.m.
Wayne Clendinen at the Westin Resort pool bar, 1- 4 p.m.
Wayne Clendinen at Banana Deck, 6-9 p.m.
Feb. 24
SambaCombo at La Tapa, 7-10 p.m.
Sally Smith at Chloe and Bernard's, 7-10 p.m.
Feb. 25
Dos Almas at Morgan's Mango, 6:30-10 p.m..
Feb. 26
Dos Almas at LaTapa, 7-10 p.m.
The Taters with Ike at Maho Bay Pavilion, 7:30-10 p.m.
Rob Paper at the Beach Bar, 9 p.m. 'til closing
Inner Vision at Fred's, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Marty Beechler at Chloe and Bernard's, 7-10 p.m.
T-Bird at Rumbalaya, 8-11 p.m.
Eblues at Shipwreck Landing, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Feb. 27
Mark Wallace at Morgan's Mango, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Harvey and Henry at La Tapa, 7-10 p.m.
Hatch at Rumbalaya, 9 p.m.-midnight
James at Banana Deck, 6-9 p.m.
SambaCombo at Voyages, 7-10 p.m.
Rob Paper at Island Blues, 8-11 p.m.
Feb. 28
Wayne Clendinen at the Westin Resort pool bar, 1-4 p.m.
Chris Carsel at the Inn at Tamarind Court, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Cool Session at Fred's, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
The Iguanas at Mongoose Restaurant, 7-11 p.m.
Greg Kinslow at Café Wahoo, 6:30-9 p.m.
Mark and Whistler at Banana Deck, 6-9 p.m.
T-Bird at Island Blues, 7-10 p.m.
The visual arts will be represented, as well.
The Artists' Association of St. John is presenting an exhibition at the Battery of paintings, drawings and sculpture exclusively by artists who live on the island. The show will open with a reception open to the public from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, then will be open daily through Feb. 28 from noon to 6 p.m. All of the works are for sale.
Throughout the week, artists also will be making appearances at participating St. John galleries.
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