Category: Spirit of St. Martin

Heritage and Fun at Photo Exhibition Opening

The photo “Serenity” by Francisco López won the Erika Cannegieter-Smith People’s Choice Award. (Photo by Francisco López)
The photo “Serenity” by Francisco López won the Erika Cannegieter-Smith People’s Choice Award. (Photo by Francisco López)

Over 300 people of all ages came out to Amuseum Naturalis on Friday to celebrate island heritage and enjoy an evening of music, food, drinks, and photography at the grand opening for the 2016 Heritage Photo Exhibition. The annual Heritage Photo Contest and Exhibition was developed by Les Fruits de Mer as a way to showcase local heritage and photographers, and as an opportunity to create a public dialogue about the unique heritage of the island.

Attendees thronged the museum’s Special Exhibition Room to see the 32 works chosen for display from the 140 submissions for this year’s theme, The Spirit of St. Martin. Additional images were spotlighted in The Spirit of St. Martin slideshow playing in the museum’s theater. Guests also voted for their choice to win the Erika Cannegieter-Smith People’s Choice Award, an annual prize which honors the founder of Be the Change SXM. The winner of the 2016 People’s Choice Award was Francisco López, with a vivid image of children on the pier in Grand Case Bay.

“It was a fantastic night, and it was especially great to see people sharing memories and talking about what heritage means to them, and what’s special about this island’s heritage,” said Mark Yokoyama, co-founder of Les Fruits de Mer and co-curator of Amuseum Naturalis. “This kind of discussion and sharing is exactly what we hope this event will inspire.”

For anyone who missed the opening, the free exhibition will be on view from 4-8pm on Thursday June 30th, the last publicly open day planned for the pop-up Caribbean natural history museum Amuseum Naturalis. Amuseum Naturalis is located at 96 Boulevard de Grand Case in Grand Case. The contest gallery can also be viewed online at https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/category/spirit-of-st-martin/.

View, Vote and Enjoy at Heritage Photo Exhibition Opening

The winning photo captures The Spirit of St. Martin with a vibrant portrait brimming with unique local personality. (Photo by Bianca Schladt)
The winning photo captures The Spirit of St. Martin with a vibrant portrait brimming with unique local personality. (Photo by Bianca Schladt)

Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate island heritage and the art of photographers of all ages at the 2016 Heritage Photo Exhibition. The Exhibition will present a wide variety of perspectives on St. Martin heritage at its free public opening at Amuseum Naturalis on Friday, June 24th from 6-10pm. The Exhibition will feature images from every entrant in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest, which was developed by Les Fruits de Mer as an annual way to showcase local heritage and photographers, and as an opportunity to create a public dialogue about the island’s heritage.

Over 140 entries were received for the theme of this year’s contest, The Spirit of St. Martin. “Everyone knows that St. Martin has a unique spirit—whether you’re a lifelong resident or a first-time visitor,” said Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “When we chose The Spirit of St. Martin as our theme for 2016, we hoped to see a broad and creative range of interpretation, and we did! It’s really inspiring–every entry shows a different perspective on what makes this place so special. Plus, the Exhibition is a great opportunity to enjoy art created right here on the island.”

The Exhibition will include the first-prize winning image from the overall competition, by Bianca Schladt, and the first-prize winning image from the youth competition, by Luna Valenti. As well, as at least one photo from every participant will be on display so that guests can vote during the opening for their choice for the Erika Cannegieter-Smith People’s Choice Award. This award honors the founder of Be the Change SXM. An awards ceremony will take place during the opening at 9pm. Prizes in all three categories will include not only cash but also a wildlife book, a t-shirt, and a gift certificate to Lagoonies Bistro & Bar.

The rich past and present tradition of the Marigot market inspired Luna Valenti, winner of the youth competition. (Photo by Luna Valenti)
The rich past and present tradition of the Marigot market inspired Luna Valenti, winner of the youth competition. (Photo by Luna Valenti)

For anyone who can’t attend the opening night, the Exhibition will also be free for public viewing from 4-8pm on both Sunday June 26 and Thursday June 30th, the last publicly open days planned for the pop-up Caribbean natural history museum Amuseum Naturalis.

Amuseum Naturalis is located at 96 Boulevard de Grand Case in Grand Case. The contest gallery is online at https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/category/spirit-of-st-martin/.

Loekie Morales

statue by night 2015 waarzegster

A Lady of fortune is searching for answers in her glass bowl during Statue by Night of the Caribbean living statues by night in December, 2015. A cultural festival of living statues depicting the traditions, cultural heritage of Sint Maarten and its region. The Caribbean Living statues festival is the first one in its kind in the region, having its primeur on Sint Maarten.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Loekie Morales

beautiful justice lady clsf2011

justice infront courthouse 3 clsf 2011

Lady Justice as a living statue commending the work of judges in front of the Court House of Sint Maarten in the Front street. The Court house is one of the most remarkable and oldest Monuments on Sint Maarten. The sky is crystal clear symbolized the transparency of Vrouwe Justitia.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Jan Hein

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The chef and owner of Caribbean Blend is a true ambassador for Dutch St. Maarten. Daily, he greets and serves a brand new crowd of customers- straight from the ship- always with a smile.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Bianca Schladt

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Where else in the world, do you meet a man taking his pig for a walk on a sunday morning?!?! This is the spirit of St. Martin to me: colorful, urban ledgends with a touch of mystery.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Louise Petit

Iguane St Martin

Qu’ils soient dans les palmiers, le long de la route ou sur les rochers, il ne se passe pas un jour sans que l’on puisse apercevoir un iguane. En effet, ces reptiles colorés font partie intégrante de la richesse de la faune de St Martin.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Uta Loubser

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The tabebuia heterophylla, also known as pink trumpet tree, is native to the Caribbean islands. St.Maarten/St.Martin is filled with it. When the trees are in bloom you can see them everywhere, in gardens, alongside roads, and decorating the hills. The gentle soft blooms range from white to pale pink and purple and only last a few days before they fall off. Here I was lucky to catch a hummingbird in its branches, that tiny most energetic of birds that hardly ever alights long enough to take a photo of.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Uta Loubser

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The kestrel is a small bird of prey. It likes to sit perched on the edge of a roof or like here, on the top of a branch, where it has a clear view of small movements below. We have consistently seen kestrels in the eastern hills near Dawn Beach for the past 10 years.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Uta Loubser

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The sargassum weed lining our eastern shores is quite beautiful when fresh. It also serves as a foot massage when walking on it. As it dries and rots it attracts flies, so it regularly needs to be collected and disposed of.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Uta Loubser

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Late afternoon flock of brown pelicans flying overhead, so typical for St.Martin/St.Maarten.
This picture was taken from Dawn Beach.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Michael J. Mark

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Picture of abandoned ship in Simpson Bay with Island Saba in the background.

Everything is returned to the earth and this ship will be returned to the sea.

Symbolizes the pure nature of SXM. You can never take that away.

I love this place.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Luna Valenti

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Tout comme ce panneau indiquant des dizaines de villes internationales, Saint-Martin est un mélange de couleurs, de nations, et de religions.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Luna Valenti

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Grâce à cette photo on peut remarquer que l’esprit du marché de Saint-Martin n’a pas changé malgré les années qui sont passées.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Claire L’Hostis

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L’héritage de Saint-Martin, c’est aussi sa dernière plage déserte côté français et les fabuleux points de vue quand on se promène sur les sentiers de randonnée qui parcourent l’île

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Corine Pineau

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J’ai pris cette photo lors de la manifestation « ARROW ROOT JOLLIFICATION » à Colombier

Pour moi elle représente bien l’esprit de Saint-Martin car l’esprit c’est ce qui fonde un pays, son histoire, son patrimoine matériel et immatériel. Au premier plan des pierres sèches, marqueurs historiques. Un champ de dictame ou arrow root où des hommes dans leurs diversités, comme autrefois replantent à la main les jeunes pousses témoin de la solidarité saint-martinoise. Les voitures en arrière plan soulignent la modernité pour mieux révéler la tradition.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Hilbert Haar

Je taime

I drove past this spot atop the hill going into Marigot many times and I saw the frame for this picture immediately. Still, it took me weeks before I finally stopped one morning to take the shot. I like the combination of the graffiti and the flamboyant tree; together these elements make a perfect love declaration for the island.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Guy Corbou

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Après une heure de marche sur le chemin rocailleux au milieu des plantes endémiques, arrivée à Petites Cayes, nous sommes seuls tels des Robinsons et là un trésor: les caniques ouvrent leurs gousses et laissent paraître leurs graines semblables à des perles… réserve naturelle oblige: notre moisson sera de photos et d’un sentiment de paix au milieu de cette nature préservée, rythmée par le bruit de l’océan qui vient s’échouer contre le récif corallien…

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.

Francisco López

under the airplane

Under the plane.-

For me this picture is St Martin. People of different races, of different ages, enjoying together in the water under the iconic presence of an airplane.

This is an entry in the 2016 Heritage Photo Contest. View all the entries in the online gallery, learn more and find out how to enter here.