Art and music fest for Irma’s anniversary, mural to be mounted in RT

Celebrations to mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Irma extended into the weekend with a series of activities to promote unity and resiliency such as a community effort to paint a mural.

The artwork was part of an art and music festival which was held at the Queen Elizabeth ІІ Park on Saturday.

“The art mural was to symbolize regrowth, resiliency and strength. It was a blank canvas and anybody who came today splashed some paint on there or whatever you want, like your handprint. We wanted the community to come and paint it together,” event organiser Darryl Flanders told BVI News.

Upon completion, the mural will be mounted somewhere in Road Town but the exact location has not been decided, Flanders said.

Meanwhile, a fashion show, creating a human chain, and a night of music and expression were other activities on Saturday.

The human chain was formed at Long Bay beach on Beef Island earlier that afternoon.

Residents joined hands and collectively formed their bodies in the shape of the words ‘One BVI’.

Art and music festival

Later in the day, various artistes gave thanks through song at the park.

Those artistes included Oren Hodge, Amanda Georges, Gabrielle Denae, Tracee, Oneyke, Kendra, Shauna Kay Miller, the High-Frequency band, among others.

“It’s all to be a positive uplifting event and music that will let us come together and closer as a community,” Flanders stated.

“We knew that the anniversary of Irma was coming around and people were probably thinking of those bad, dark memories from Irma. So, we wanted to bring a moment of thanksgiving and appreciation for us coming together as a community after Irma.”

Prior to the concert, a ‘resilient’ fashion show was held with models such as Yadali Thomas Santos, the 2018 Miss BVI World.

The events were a partnership between UNITE BVI, AWOL, The Irma Diaries, Arial Produced, Trefle Designs, Progressive Ministry Management, among other entities.