Corozal’s Art in the Park visits a gallery near you

There is a roving exhibit opening on Saturday night at the Mexican Cultural Institute on Barrack Road in Belize City.  Debra Wilkes Grey, a member of the Corozal’s Institute of Creative Arts Committee, said that she saw the need to promote the artisans in her district and her idea was to place creativity in the Corozal Central Park. The exhibition will be travelling to other districts. News Five spoke to Wilkes Grey as she put the final touch on the exhibit.

Debra Wilkes Grey, ICA, Corozal

“We have acrylic paintings from various painters. We have some wood that is turned; different types of local woods, woods that you don’t normally see. We have salom, we have dogwood, we have mango, which is—it’s nice to see the different woods. we have artists who have done photography. We have one lady who does the jippy jappa baskets. I think that’s about it.”

Jose Sanchez

debra wilkes grey

“The artists themselves are from the Corozal District. Where did this idea all begin?

Debra Wilkes Grey

“It was an initiative on my part. I noticed in Corozal that we were lacking public art.  The only places that I was seeing art was in our banks and I figured there were some artists out there in Corozal and we went in search of. Our first event had about ten artists that came out to support art in the part and now we have artists joining us from Orange Walk, from Belize District. Our last event we had some artists from Cayo. So I think word is getting out and I think people are joining us. Whenever the event goes on we have so many people in the community coming out and that was the second reason for doing it. I love the wood and I love seeing the variety of woods. Between Allan Jones and Bob Wright, we’ve got wood covered in all directions carving and turning, jippy jappa baskets working with natural materials again, is a good thing to see. We have some wonderful painters. Fred Trejo, he’s from the village of Caledonia and he shows up every time and he sells. He does really well. his art is beautiful, as well as Marlon Mesa who comes from Orange Walk each month.”

Jose Sanchez

“So it’s all a sampling of what Corozal has to offer.”

Debra Wilkes Grey

“Correct, correct. In the past people have sort of found Corozal as a quiet sleepy place but it’s so beautiful there and having people come out in the community has been a great experience.”

Some of the pieces on display are for sale. Wilkes- Grey said her committee recently started the Corozal Child Arts Collective which encourages youths to come out and create.