Seven ‘at risk’ young people have been showing off their artistic talent as they work on two murals opposite the Courts St. Lucia Ltd., Marisule Branch.
The five boys from the Boys Training Centre and two girls from the New Beginning Transit Home are participating in a project dubbed ‘Street Art – Bridging Genders’.
The initiative aims to create art pieces, bringing girls and boys together on the project.
“They are creating something visible to the entire community, demonstrating their worth that they can build something -they can create something artistic,’ Sophie Picavet, the Director of the Alliance Française de Sainte-Lucie, told St Lucia Times.
Picavet, also the Executive Director of Alliance Française in the Eastern Caribbean, explained that French artist Veneno and Saint Lucian artist Sakey developed the mural concept and provided training to the youngsters.
Veneno does spray painting, while Sakey specialises in acrylics.
“For the very fine lines the artists have to do it,” Picavet explained.
The artists were delighted to hear the young people request material they could use to create other works of art in due course.
Picavet recalled that Alliance Française had initiated a project called ‘Street Art Bridging Cultures’ to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the alliance Pyramid building at Pointe Seraphine.
The project featured international cooperation involving Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, and France.
Picavet explained that four artists contributed to the artwork.
Their work is being reproduced on items such as caps to raise money to fund after-school French classes at Alliance Française for at-risk youth and to provide scholarships to those who cannot afford them.
“We will be signing a contract with the artists saying that their arts can only be used to raise money for youth at risk and nothing else,” Picavet stated.
Based on the success of the pyramid art project, organisers launched the Marisule mural initiative, which should culminate this weekend.
“So far, we have negotiated for one piece to remain for at least a year. I am sure they will stay for longer because I don’t see the community painting over them,” Picavet told St Lucia Times.
Great work
This is what we need more of! Youth participation in beautification of the entire island from graveyard to VF, just like soufrier cemetery wall which is outstanding! Castries should be covered in fresh youth art work, empowering messages to all walks of life.! …. And on that note WTPH is with the GIANT Snake on the pyramid…it’s nice art work but no one likes it in pt seraphine the renters or elsewhere …why do u have a huge snake depicting St Lucia as the first things cruisers see as they port? SMPH can someone paint over the Giant PHoCking Snake on the Pyramid!?…
borhh is so u ahve to say dat last sentence???
@105smph … yes, SLU does need MORE artistic renderings around SLU and the city depicting our artistic “wealth”! Unfortunately, our myopic misfits does not see Artistic leanings as a “shot in the arm” to help our misguided youth.
I must look for the “huge snake” you speak of on the Pyramid at P.S.
I need to clarify something regarding the snake. The snake is one of the rarest snakes in the world known as the Saint Lucian Racer. Found only in Saint Lucia.
If you didn’t know, then now you know.
It looks like a giant boa , ok and thanks, so it’s the snake on the Marie islands, endangered snake…Irie