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Artful Living

By Jeffrey Laign

The photographs you take of Curaçao will long remind you of the stunning surroundings you enjoyed on your holiday here, but to evoke the spirit of the land you must look with your heart, like the many artists who draw their inspiration from this island jewel.

Painters, sculptors, musicians and other artists prosper in this relatively small destination. With its golden shores, reddish cliffs and turquoise waters, Curaçao offers up a rich palette of colors and a vibrant culture expressed with feeling in a variety of ways.

Galleries Galore

As you stroll along the streets of historic Willemstad or explore the shopping promenades of resort hotels, you can't help but be impressed by bountiful displays of island art, ranging from imaginative paintings and finely detailed sculptures to clever crafts.

Gallery Alma Blou (Gallery of the Blue Soul), at Landhuis Habaai, shines the spotlight on a wide selection of local sculptures, paintings and other art objects. In addition, the gallery stages regular exhibitions of established and new artists. Admire the crafts of local artisans or simply meditate among the sculptures in the gallery's garden.

Also in Willemstad is Gallery '86, a showcase for local and international paintings and sculptures with Caribbean and European flair. You'll find the gallery in the historic Punda district. Exhibits change monthly, so there's always something new to see.

Curaçao's colonial manor homes make the perfect backdrops for appreciating the island's art and culture. Landhuis Bloemhof is one of Curaçao's smaller plantations, but it offers art lovers a wealth of lectures and workshops, as well as an archive, library and reading room dedicated to the arts.

Visual Visionaries

As you make your way through the island's galleries, you're certain to come across some names again and again. Curaçao is home to many fine painters and sculptors. Some of the best-known are:

Hortence Brown. Passion imbues Brown's carvings and moldings of marble, Curaçao limestone, alabaster and bronze. Brown learned her art in the Netherlands. Her compositions express the gamut of human feelings.

Marianne Cats. Her passion for history, landscape and architecture are reflected in her watercolors and acrylics. In addition, Cats restores historic buildings and plantation houses.

Jean Girigori. Born on a ship traveling between the Dominican Republic and Curaçao, Girigori turns out paintings that focus on the simple life but speak volumes about the human condition.

Hubert Marcolino "Yubi" Kirindongo. This man with a mouthful of a name is famous for turning "garbage" into art. A genius at recycling, Kirindongo creates abstract wonders from castoff automobile bumpers, computer parts and even corrugated iron sheets.

Jolanta Pawlak. Her bronze sculptures capture the beauty of Curaçao, and her photography offers dramatic perspective. In addition, Pawlak designs unique jewelry that often features silver, pearls and gemstones.

Beautiful Music

Curaçao's vibrant culture also finds expression in song and dance, especially when islanders celebrate Carnival each year. Latin and African rhythms play counterpoint to lilting melodies that summon up the essence of the island. One traditional dance—also the name of a drumlike instrument—is the tambu, developed by African slaves. Dancers move their bodies—but not their feet—to a wild and compelling beat.

But there's more to Curaçao's music scene than folklore. For nearly two decades, the Curaçao Jazz Festival has attracted worldwide attention with performances from luminaries such as Al Jarreau and George Benson.

Moreover, Curaçao's close ties with Latin America are evident during the Curaçao Salsa Tour in August. The best salsa musicians in the world will blow you away with their talent, and you can join in workshops, demonstrations and competitions.

Who makes the music that says "Curaçao" so distinctly? Among the island's musical headliners are:

Izaline Calister. A charismatic performer, Calister sings traditional songs in Papiamentu, infusing her renditions with a touch of jazz and the pulsating rhythms of the Afro-Antilles.

Randal Corsen. This master pianist, who took home the Edison Jazz Award in 2004, composes, produces and is considered a leading ambassador of Antillean-style music.

Celebrating Culture

One of the best ways to appreciate the culture of Curaçao is to attend a fun-filled island festival. In Curaçao, there are many.

The party starts on New Year's Eve, when islanders set off pagaras, long rolls of firecrackers, in a traditional attempt to drive away bad spirits. The noise, at any rate, can be deafening. A midnight blessing is offered to those who attend church service at Plaza Brion.

Later in January or February, it's time for Carnival. The celebration goes on for weeks, leading up to the Grand Parade. Revelers spend months of long nights planning and designing bright, festive costumes. Each parade group displays its own heritage, and each year the celebration spotlights a featured song.

The Seú Festival commemorates the harvest season in March with a parade of partiers decked out in folk costumes. Celebrants dance through the streets of Otrobanda giving thanks for the harvests and the feasts that will follow.

In Curaçao, there's always a reason to throw a party. If you're fortunate enough to be on the island during a celebration, by all means join in. If not, don't worry. You can soak up a great deal of Curaçao's fascinating culture by visiting one of the island's many museums.

Island Heritage

Curaçaoans take pride in their past and strive to preserve it. If you want to learn more about this fascinating island, be sure to visit:

Curaçao Museum: Works by local and international artists fill the building, along with furniture dating back to the 18th century. Peruse the magnificent collections and then contemplate the works you have enjoyed as you stroll about the serene museum grounds.

Fort Church Museum: Here you'll enjoy a fascinating collection of Dutch artifacts, old maps of the island and various other documents. The church has been home to an active Dutch Protestant congregation for many centuries.

Jewish Cultural Historical Museum: Part of the centuries-old Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, this museum offers a significant collection of Torah scrolls, Hanukkah lamps and other religious icons.

Landhuis Ascension: You can visit this beautiful former plantation home the first Sunday of every month. The open house program commences with a church service. Afterwards, admire the artwork and antique furniture. Folkloric music and dancing also are a part of the experience.

Maritime Museum: The sea has always played a large role in the life of Curaçaoans. Displays and exhibits inform visitors about old and modern shipping means and methods.

Museum Kurá Hulanda: One of the finest of its kind, this museum is home to a vast collection of African art and offers a detailed look at the slave trade that took place on the island centuries ago. The museum, in fact, was built on the site of a former slave yard.

National Archaeological Anthropological Museum of the Netherlands Antilles: Pre-Columbian and other ethnographic artifacts give visitors a good idea of what Curaçao may have been like before the arrival of Europeans.

Numismatic Museum: Coins and bank notes from the Netherlands Antilles are on display, along with a collection of precious and semiprecious stones.

Octagon Museum: In this eight-sided building at the Avila Beach Hotel, South American liberator Simón Bolívar took refuge with his sisters in 1812 as he sought to end Spanish colonial rule of his homeland.

Postal Museum: If you prefer stamps, you'll find them here, representing the Netherlands Antilles and other countries. Also of interest are postal artifacts such as antique letterboxes and reading glasses.

Savonet Museum: In the island's oldest plantation house are exhibits focusing on local wildlife, including the skeleton of a whale.

Check out Curacao's cultural festivals and events.