Cover Artists Cover Artists

THE POTTER’S WHEEL | CRUCIAN LEGEND

April 23 May 23

S ara Lee Hayes Leo S. Car ty

After graduating from Wheaton College (MA) in 1972 with a BA in Asian Studies, I moved to Chicago, got a job and began to enjoy the party life This became boring quickly, so I enrolled in Adult Education classes at the local high school, chose Potter y and learned to throw pots on a potter ’s wheel. I took that craft to St. Croix about 10 years later and, when I felt my work was good enough to sell, I set out a table at a Star ving Artist Day show and have been making and selling pots ever since.

I never intended to become an artist and never thought that working with clay would become my career. I worked with it because it’s fun and I enjoy the creative process that it inspires For tunately, it has ser ved me well. Along the way, I have also found that I have teaching skills. Clay is grounding. It is forgiving. It can be recycled and reused. People want to touch it and are amazed at what can be created out of a lump of clay I t ’s seeing that wonder that encourages me to continue teaching.

I’ve been recognized as a Culture Bearer for the Virgin Islands by the VI Dept of Education and put local culture into my work and teaching. My collection has grown and evolved as seen in the bright statement bowl on the cover of the April issue I t was hand-built from colored clays then glazed for functional use. New one - of-a k ind pieces incorporate sea fans, Grapetree leaves, Mocko Jumbies, geckos, tur tles, star fish, coral, and cutouts

Yo u c a n f i n d my p o t t e r y a t c r a f t a n d a r t s h o w s a s w e l l a s a t

The Mermaid’s Purse Galler y, Caravelle Arcade, and Many Hands, Pan Am Pavilion, in Christiansted. I have lived on St. Croix for over 40 years as a self-taught clay ar tist/potter and currently manage the Clay Studio and teach potter y classes at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Ar ts in Frederiksted. slpotter y@hotmail.com

The late Leo S Car ty, born on April 17, 1931 in Harlem, New York had talent that was recognized at an early age when he received a scholarship to the Museum of Modern Ar t for Children at the age of 10 for a mural he painted while attending a summer recreational program.

He moved to St. Croix and began to expand his style and mediums in 1976 by teaching at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility, University of the Virgin Islands, and being the coordinator of the Adult Education Senior Ar t Program During the 70s and 80s, Leo created week ly political car toons for the St. Croix Avis, taught K-12 Ar t at St. Dunstan's Episcopal School and ser ved on the boards of the V I Council on the Ar ts, St Croix Ar ts Council, St George Village Botanical Garden and the St Croix Jazz Society before devoting all his time to painting by1989.

Car ty's impressionistic paintings adorn the walls of many public buildings throughout the USVI. A Federal Commission 3-panel mural hangs at the Alric L. Christian Federal Building and Cour t House in Orange Grove, St Croix depicting the histor y of all three islands Leo received his highest honor in 1996 as one of 12 recipients of the Governors' First Awards for Excellence in the Ar ts in recognition of his accomplishments and exceptional contribution toward the advancement of the Visual Ar ts in the Virgin Islands

Star ting in March and running through June 9, Leo Car ty will be honored at Ft. Frederik in Frederiksted in an exhibition, Leo Car ty: Histories of Freedom leading up to the 175th Anniversar y of Emancipation in July The show, curated by Monica Marin, features Car ty ’s work depicting impor tant leaders & events in VI histor y including some of his political car toons and Freedom Series.

Stefan Car ty, Leo’s youngest son, founded the Car ty Fine Ar ts Studio online in 2020 to commemorate the 10th Anniversar y of his father ’s passing with the mission to continue the legac y of illustrating island life through vivid images that capture the imagination. Visit w w w.car tyfinear ts.com