No matter where you find yourself in St. Croix, art adorns every surface of the island. Murals and brightly colored signs light up the streets. Metal sculptures and installations are placed in front of buildings to entice visitors to enter. As I walk down the street in Frederiksted, almost every store or restaurant has custom art, often depicting the details and history of St. Croix. The amount of passion and celebration for the culture seethes through each brushstroke and truly expresses the passion of the Crucians. St. Croix artists truly reinforce the beauty that emblazons this majestic place.
Local artists are all around us, decorating and enriching the lives here on island. Giving tourists the opportunity to take home a piece of the magic here is the ultimate gift. I felt compelled to meet some of these creators and find out what drives their design.
Every week, I want to highlight why these curators matter and infinitely better the community in St. Croix.
Artist Series #1: Abby Moon
The first creator I’d like to feature is Abby Moon.
Abby moved to island in August 2016 from Woodland Park, Colorado. Originally an 8th grade teacher at the former Elena Christian Jr High School, she began practicing art after Hurricane Maria in 2017. With the power being out for 3 months (Crucian life is not for the weak) she needed a hobby to occupy her time.
“…I picked up watercolors during that time and started painting the island. That was a time that brought me so much appreciation for the island. All I want to do is capture the vibrancy of St. Croix. She is an island that must be painted!”
And boy, can she paint. Her inspirations include all facets of the island. The flora, fauna, people, culture, and architecture. She wants to showcase every tiny piece of the grand puzzle that is St. Croix, and the community has loved it. “Everyone on island was so encouraging and supportive. The responses inspired me to keep painting and sharing. The fact that people bought some of my artwork just blew my mind.”
Her mind may be blown, but mine isn’t. In 2021, because of the community support, she started a project called “The ABC’s of St. Croix.” Needing inspiration, she started with the basic alphabet as her base. And, highlighting individual components that make up the big picture of St. Croix grew into something huge. “My ABC project has really turned into a love letter to St. Croix. It’s a passion project. My goal is to turn it into a children’s book.”
However, that’s not her only aspiration with watercolor. Her current obsession? The women of St. Croix. “I’ve found inspiration in the beauty, power, strength, and femininity of the Crucian woman, so I’m going with it.”
She even finds motivation in the scariest of places. “I went scuba diving at Armageddon on the west end for the first time. It was my first time diving with sharks. I thought it was going to be a terrifying experience, but it was the most magical experience. I came up from the depths and yelled ‘I must paint them!’”
Social media proves to be her strongest ally. Locals on Facebook and Instagram have rallied to show their support and continue her success. The camaraderie and backing from the community keeps her drawing everyday. And lets be honest, watercolor paper isn’t cheap on island! Her growth is directly correlated with the love the local people have for their community, and she is overwhelmed by their support.
If you too would like to purchase Abby Moon’s watercolors, check her out on Instagram or Facebook or society6.com/paintcroix.
Keep your eyes peeled for new artists every week! If there’s someone whose art inspires you, feel free to comment their name and I’ll reach out!
I have several of Abby Moon’s pictures. Love her art work!!