Life in the Virgin Islands looked quite different for most residents in the 1960s than it does today, and artist Reuben Vanterpool dedicates much of his time to showcasing his experience growing up back then.
In observance of International Museum Day, Mr. Vanterpool’s Jenesis Studios was among several sites that hosted special exhibits and events for visitors.
A short drive up Great Mountain Road from the busyness of Road Town and a detour just off Ridge Road leads to the quiet garden and art studio. There, Mr. Vanterpool greets visitors and first shows them a brick outdoor oven many families traditionally used to bake cassava bread and other goods.
From there, he leads visitors inside the building with two main rooms. The first showcases his three-dimensional models that depict a snapshot of life growing up in the VI, including a donkey-powered press for processing sugar cane. Visitors can expect tales from Mr. Vanterpool about drivers protecting that sugarcane from eager children as donkeys carried stacks up and down mountains, among other tales.
Painting gallery
From there, the tour progresses to the second room containing a gallery of his paintings. His illustrations share stories of everything from weddings to the daily toils of attending crowded classrooms, or completing homework by lamplight.
Gesturing to one painting about the use of a plant-based balm for cuts, he recalled a time when he badly injured his foot.
“I remember my mom saw me coming up the road and knew something wasn’t right with that foot,” he said while demonstrating his gait.
He added that his mother sent out for the medicinal grass, and before he even arrived home, it was ready to apply to his injury.
His gallery is ever evolving, and visitors can also view his works in progress.
Garden
Outdoors, the studio includes a living element: the herb and fruit garden.
Mr. Vanterpool continues his storytelling outside as he explains the common medicinal and culinary uses for the plants he grows: cacti bearing bright prickly pears, fragrant herbs used in curries and other dishes, and trees just starting to bear avocados, soursops, Surinam cherries and more.
Challenges come with maintaining a lush garden, not the least of which are droughts and fruit-hungry birds. Mr. Vanterpool said the biggest challenge, though, was recovering from damage caused by the 2017 hurricanes. Regrowth takes time, and he said the gardens were just starting to thrive when the pandemic hit.
Despite those obstacles, Mr. Vanterpool said he enjoys getting to share his slice of history with visitors. Information for booking special tours is available on the studio’s Facebook page.
Museum Day
The Department of Culture encouraged residents to explore the territory’s museums and historic buildings from May 19 through May 26 under the theme “Museums, Sustainability and Well-Being.”
Participating facilities included the Anegada Iguana Headstart Facility, Old Government House Museum Gardens, J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens, and Elmore Stout High School, which hosted a fashion exhibition by Trèfle.
Though some exhibits were only temporary, visitors have more to anticipate. The Old Government House is developing a native plant garden that will feature traditional medicinal plants.