Camille Musser Artist Love St. Vincent and the Grenadines

lunedì 13 novembre 2017

Camille Musser Artist Love St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Camille Musser

Camille says of her work: "My paintings are my way of affirming my deep love for the Caribbean. I have come to realize that St. Vincent and the Grenadines, my homeland, is the source of my inspiration, even though I now live thousands of miles away. I am constantly amazed at the way the landscape of these islands dominate my work."

"I grew up on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, surrounded by the sea, hills, fruit trees, the volcano and beautiful moonlit nights. These images have profoundly influenced my work. In my paintings I tend to pay homage to the island.

One of my favorite places to visit on the island is the Botanical Garden. It is the oldest garden in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1765. It is situated on 20 acres of land on the outskirts of Kingstown, the main town. It provides a peaceful spot to walk and admire the many different and rare trees, from all over the world.

The St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral is my favorite building on the island. The architecture is somewhat eclectic, with strands of Gothic and Moorish themes running through its design. Originally built in 1823, enlarged in 1877 and renovated in 1940. It looks very exotic in a tropical setting.

The petroglyphs made by the indigenous people, who inhabited St. Vincent before Columbus set foot in the region, can be seen on rocks throughout the island. I find them interesting, mysterious drawings. I have used some of these drawings in my art making and love the magical quality they bring to the work. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is indeed a very special place."

Camille and her work have been featured in Who Does She Think She Is?, a documentary film by Academy Award winning filmmaker, Pamela Tanner Bell featuring five fierce women who refuse to choose. Through their lives, we explore some of the most problematic intersections of our time: mothering and creativity, partnering and independence, economics and art. The film invites us to consider both ancient legacies of women worshipped as cultural muses and more modern times where most people can't even name a handful of female artists.

Camille Musser lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband of thirty years, whom she met as a young woman while studying in Europe. Camille has moved with her husband and their two children, living in Latin America, Europe, US and the Caribbean. She has been painting steadily since 1990, after taking a class with Ana and Fernando in Costa Rica. The subject of her paintings is the colorful island home she left at nineteen -- St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean Windward Islands. Her painting helped her reconnect with her Vinci heritage and propelled her to start the Youlou Arts Foundation, a non profit art organization which sponsors a visual arts program for the children of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.