https://soundcloud.com/wuviam1090/the-art-exchange-gardening-party-dec-18
On December 18th, I intend to be somewhere that nurtures my soul, and feeds my spirit while setting a foundation for the community in areas of art, agriculture, entrepreneurship, youth and community. All are invited to The Art Exchange’s Gardening Party from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Frydenhoj location at Casa Gracie to join in the gardening, a “potluck” or purchase a paver for making a pathway into the community garden. Listen to the interview for more details as I talk with Chinwe Osaze & Akil Jacobs about Agriculture, Art, Culture, Community and The Art Exchange’s Dec 18th Gardening Party or join the Facebook event. The Art Exchange also has a downtown location which will have a soft launch on Friday, December 16th, 2016 during Miracle on Main Street.
Chinwe Osaze working with students at the Yvonne E. Milliner Bowsky Elementary School in the “From Spawn to Farm Project” 2015/16.
The Art Exchange, Inc., located in the Virgin Islands, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded to support community development and education through experiential, project- based learning in the arts, agriculture and entrepreneurship. It initially started in 1992 with artist and educator Chinwe Osaze and Jacquelyn Amanayea (Sisters’ chant) Abraham on St. Thomas. A few years ago, Chinwe invited in Akil Jacobs, the current Assistant Director. They work with artists, farmers and all creative individuals within the Virgin Islands community.
View from Casa Gracie the eastern location of The Art Exchange’s Community Garden.
The Art Exchange, Inc. would like to invite our community to join us for a beginning of the planting season Gardening Party. If you’ve been meaning to get your hands in the soil–and for a really good cause, are you interested in learning more agriculture and want to develop a Green Thumb. Well join us.
Contribute to the Traditional Pot Luck:
Bring a fresh vegetable, fruit, or natural ingredients
We will communally create;
a main dish/entree (a paella, or “ital”),
2) a green and fruit salad,
3) a drink.
It all develops on-site using what is gathered and a designated Dub Master and assistant(s) will prepare the meal. Items now available in the garden also become a part of the meal.
Picked straight form the community garden at The Art Exchange, Inc.’s Frydenhoj location at Casa Gracie.
I asked What IS The Art Exchange?
Their responses reminded me of the word rEVOLution: “We are bringing the people who want to make this a better place. It’s about art, agriculture, community building, love…”
“We want to be a community based organization. We are the do-ers.” ~Chinwe Osaze, Executive Director
Directions: Coming from Red Hook, heading West, when you get to Nick “Daddy Friday” Drive, keep going until you get to the stop light at the top of the hill pass the Armory where you’re going to turn right, but because of oncoming traffic, it’s safer to first go left onto the neighborhood, turn around and then drive straight across the street back at the stoplight to start coming up the hill. Additional signage will be there near the benches.
Coming from West (Nadir) going East towards the Armory you’d just turn left at the stoplight atop the hill. Use this Google map or call Chinwe for directions.
Objectives of the Art Exchange
1. To build capacity within the community by operating a youth/women’s entrepreneurship training program
2. To harness family and community (local and global) resources to support industrial development.
3. To create and support community development initiatives
4. To establish an economically sustainable enterprise that would help to stimulate the local economy and showcase the viability of the medicinal plant farming, bee rearing and eventually, essential oil production and eco-camp operation.
Artisans’ & Farmers’ Markets will also resume monthly in 2017 on second Sundays in the front parking lot of Buddha Sushi, estate Frydenhoj.
Join me and Sankofa Saturdays in supporting and celebrating all that is The Artists Exchange, Inc.
