Christmas exhibit highlights work of islands’ artists

 Over 200 artworks from 16 registered artists are featured in the Island Artist & Christmas Craft Exhibit at the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture Galleria on Capital Hill.

The Island Artist & Christmas Craft Exhibit, which opened to the public yesterday and will run until Dec. 22, is one of three major exhibits sponsored by the leading agency in the advancement of arts and culture in the CNMI.

“The exhibit is very colorful and filled with the Christmas spirit and, at the same time, is still traditional in that it illustrates the rich cultural heritage and the beauty of the CNMI,” Parker Yobei, Arts in Education and Festival coordinator for the Arts Council, said yesterday.

This year’s exhibit features the works of island artists Joe Weaver, Joe Kani, Leslie Ware, Larry Lee, Jung Ae Lee, Debra Winkfield, Priscilla Pangelinan, RosanaVillaraiz, Poland Yamada, Nick Klewei, Jack Hardy, Cherry Camigia, Catherine Perry, and Heinz Staffler.

This exhibit also welcomes two new artists who recently registered with the Arts Council: Jennifer Kogure and Alegria Richardson.

The new store manager for the American Memorial Park bookstore, Richardson said she has been painting for over 20 years now, getting inspiration from her family and mostly from the places where she has lived.

Richardson, who previously lived in Guam, Palau, and Texas before relocating to Saipan, has eight works of art featured in the exhibit, with prices ranging from $200 to $300.

“This is the first exhibit that I’m a part of here on Saipan and it feels great. I can see that there are a lot of brilliant artists in the CNMI and I’m excited to meet them,” she told Saipan Tribune.

Richardson disclosed that she was active in the artists’ community of Palau, having taught art classes to elementary students in that island nation.

“I’m hoping to continue that here,” said Richardson. “I also hope that the artists’ community here in the CNMI will become more visible and stronger so we can show to the tourists how talented our artists are.”

The exhibit, Yobei said, features paintings, photographs, postcards, ornaments, bead art, storyboards, and other creations, some of which are sold for as low as $2 up to $400.

“We have a little bit of everything and they are perfect gift ideas for the holidays to family and friends both here and abroad,” said Yobei.

The council still expects more artists to come in and display their works at the exhibit.

“We’re optimistic that this exhibit is another opportunity for the artists to display and hopefully sell their creations,” Yobei added.

He urged the community to support local artists by stopping by at the exhibit, which is open Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 5pm, and on Friday and Saturday, from 11am to 4pm. It will be closed on Sundays and during holidays.

For more information, call 322-9982 or 83.