On Tuesday, we caught up with the legendary artist Pen Cayetano who was making art in the Battlefield Park. Well, the painting he called "mighty two" was one part of a bigger project by the Belize Tourism Association to, as they call it, put "Art in Motion." Just what does that mean? We'll let them explain.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These artists are working on the "Art in Motion" project which is part of a plan by sisters Alexandria and Francisca Nicholson to revitalize and prettify Battlefield and Memorial Parks.
Alexandra Nicholson, Art in Motion
"We are actually trying to incorporate the lovely culture and artists, different arts because right now it is the artists but pretty soon we will have the musicians out here as well. But we are trying to incorporate Belizean culture back into Belize and Belize City. And we feel that through doing this everybody benefits."
Francisca Nicholson, Art in Motion
"We're trying to expose the art because a lot of the people in the community would never go, let's say into the museums like the Bliss Institute or the House of Culture. So also when they walk through this park they'll see the different artists and maybe it will want them to go in learn more about the local artists."
The work started in the Battlefield Park with a bench museum which they say is the world's first. And over at the Memorial Park, their landscapers have been busy working since this week on changing the face of the park. The Nicholson sisters say they chose these parks because they are ground zero for Belize's tourism product.
Francisca Nicholson,
"Tourism, everybody is saying its going to be our main industry here so we need to bring back the charm. A long time ago, like 15 years ago, there was still a lot of charm in the city and we just need to bring it back. We have a few projects we have in mind with the Albert Street so that when people come through here it is just a friendly place to be. And you know we going to show them that it still feels safe here and get rid of all that negativeness and there are still things to do in Belize City."
"This is the introductory for the rest of the country and so we just think that it needs a little bit of beautifying and there are a lot of artistic people here and a lot of talent here."
Talents like that of the legendary Pen Cayetano who did "the mighty two" or young artists like Edgar Gomez and Denroy Noralez from San Pedro who are donating their talent to the project.
Edgar Gomez, Artist
"I feel good you know, I feel good because I think we need more artist involvement. And then I heard Mr. Pen Cayetano was participating though I didn't get to meet him but I see his work and I understand he is good at it."
KS: So doing this is like pleasure for you or the pleasure is all yours?
Edgar Gomez,
"Yes actually."
And while Gomez is donating his talent, venture capitalist David Hauptli is helping with his financial resources -$10,000 of it.
David Hauptli, Entrepreneur
"You know we have all these cruise ships coming in every year now and they are really not exposed to all the cultures of Belize. And so what we are trying to attempt to do with the painting of the parks and the beautification project is attract them to Belize so that they will come back and spend a week here instead of just a couple hours."
Resources, the talent, and the dream - that is Art in Motion.
The project is ongoing and no date for completion has been set.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift