Courtesy of: The Morning News
By: Rosalie Klein
Located adjacent to the main lobby of the Westin Aruba Resort, the resort’s elegant art gallery hosts some of the most attractive art collections conveniently located for perusal by island visitors. Their shows embrace all of the art community, and all styles of work. On Saturday, August 10, a new, two-month, photography exhibit opened sponsored by Aruba Experience Magazine, titled “Colors of Aruba II.”
The stated purpose of this current collection is “to reveal to island visitors aspects of Aruba that is beyond the beaches and resorts,” stated one of the artists on display, Susan Ruiter, who is also editor and publisher of the magazine. Her work, along with that of her colleague Trina Stevenson, and galleries co-curator, Eduardo Valbuna, comprises this exhibit.
This vibrantly-hued collection of photographs definitely captures the intense tropical colors that are found around the island, in flowers, cactus, and the rainbow of colors Arubans choose to paint their houses. It is meant to convey the cultural and environmental influences that present a more realistic portrait of island life, as opposed to the surroundings of the resort areas.
The artists expressed the hope that it will open a window to the native beauty and colors of Aruba to island visitors, inviting them to stop by the gallery to enjoy and absorb the experience.
Each artist has also revealed their distinct vision and viewpoint, as the collection is comprised of a very few landscapes, but is much more focused on the minutiae of the environment. Most works have zeroed in on details that many may miss. This is, to a great degree, the essence of a photographer’s art, their ability to see what the ordinary observer does not see, and to capture it a most unique fashion.
The Westin Art Gallery is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A gallery representative is present every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon to facilitate sales of any pieces, and they can also be reached at telephone numbers 588 2267 / 740-2678 or 742-1987.
