They are from different backgrounds and use different media – but they have one thing in common – art and that is what has joined the 25 artists participating in the Joint Ventures Exhibition 2 at the Bliss Center. The official opening was this afternoon and 7NEWS was there.
Terryl Godoy, Coordinator
“Everybody has their own taste, their own style.”
And that’s what makes the Joint Ventures Exhibition II unique. Work from 25 artists are on display at the Bliss Center as part of the exhibition. Man at work Terryl Godoy is the organizer.
Terryl Godoy,
“We have about 25 artists displaying paintings from all over the different districts of Belize. It motivates artists to come together and unite in such a way. Musicians do it and now as artists we are doing it in this way now and we also have our paintings on sale.”
One artist hoping to make a sale is 29 year old Kurt Cruz from San Pedro. He was stabbed in 2006 and left paralyzed - but that hasn’t stopped him from creating art.
Kurt Cruz, Artist
“The most art I do is a little bit of still life, mostly sceneries of the sea, island, and sceneries of waterfalls and jungles. I am doing it to help myself and to show the Belizean people that they do have talented people, even if we’re disabled – we are talented.”
Keith Swift,
Tell us about the challenge of creating art despite your disability.
Kurt Cruz,
“Well I used to be right handed and I was in San Pedro in 2006 and I got stabbed in the lower back. Doctors told me I wouldn’t walk and I couldn’t do anything again but after four months I stood up with a walker and decided to paint with my left hand because I wasn’t able to use my right hand. And I just started to paint with my left hand and so far its doing good for me. In my heart I believe you shouldn’t give up, never give up, and always be strong and have faith and do what’s good for you.”
Curvin Mitchell has been seriously creating art for 9 years. He brought his canvas and paintbrush to the exhibition.
Curvin Mitchell, Artist
“I’ve been an artist from since birth but I’ve been into it for nine years now and I think it is time for me to be recognized by the country, the people, that I am an artist.”
Terryl Godoy,
“We need to keep our artists alive in the sense of, sometimes it can be frustrating if you go with a painting to the bank or somewhere trying to get a sale and then really they turn you down and you feel so less as an artist and you decide to leave the art thing because it is not working. So when we do things like this and get ourselves together, it motivates each other to keep on going and we always impress ourselves by the work we do and it keeps us growing and growing and growing and growing.”
The exhibition runs through to Friday March 28th.
