Where When How Summer 2012 : Page 24Art Provo PHOTOS BY KATHR YN FOX WHERE WHEN HOW TALKS TO MARY O’NEILL, PROPRIETRESS OF PROVIDENCIALES GALLERY, ART PROVO. How long have you been living in the Turks and Caicos Islands? I have been living in the Turks and Caicos since 1981, we moved to Grand Turk for five years, we moved over here to Providenciales in 1986. When did you open Art Provo? I opened the gallery in July 2003. My assistant, Irene Dean who was raised in Blue Hills, joined me six years ago. She’s an invaluable part of my team. Why did you decide to open a gallery? I’ve always loved art and when I was a child, my mother used to take me to the galleries in Dublin, Ireland where I grew up. Wherever I’ve travelled, I’ve always visited the galleries. It the Caicos Banks. But his depictions of the local island houses are really fantastic, and many peo-just seemed like a natural fit. ple collect them. Once they start collecting, How do you choose the artists that show in people come in every year to add to their col-lection. I even had someone email me to buy your gallery? The artists come into the shop and ask me if one online for mother’s day this year. I’d be willing to show their art. That’s how I’ve met all the artists I carry. All the artists in the How do vacationers take their gallery live on the island, some part-time res-purchases home? idents and some are full-time residents. And We encourage people to carry back their art I’m particularly proud to represent Dwight on their flights, but we ship all over the world. Outten who’s a Turks Islander from Middle We are excellent at packaging, we have never Caicos but the artists I have are from all over had one problem, and we’ve shipped some the world, including the US, Canada, Belgium, large pieces. If you’re carrying art on the air-Haiti and the UK. plane, usually a flight attendant will help you place the piece somewhere for the duration Can you tell us a little more about of the flight. We’ve never had anyone saying they’ve had a problem travelling with their art. Dwight Outten? Dwight was born on Middle Caicos and is a self-taught artist. He is very well known for his I n addition to paintings, what other forms of depiction of the typical island house, he also art do you carry at Art Provo? paints some lovely beach scenes, flamingos, and Some wonderful stuff by Heather Simpson-24 • • • • • SUMMER 2012 “Where When How -Turks & Caicos Islands” Publication List Using a screen reader? Click Here |
