MARIGOT--The winner of the Erika Cannegieter-Smith 2016 People’s Choice Award at the Heritage Photo Exhibition grand opening on Friday went to Francisco López for his vivid image of children on the pier in Grand Case Bay. The annual prize honours the founder of “Be The Change SXM.”\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n
Over 300 people of all ages came out to Amuseum Naturalis to celebrate island heritage and enjoy an evening of music, food, drinks, and photography at the opening for the 2016 Heritage Photo Exhibition. \r\n
The annual Heritage Photo Contest and Exhibition was developed by Les Fruits de Mer as a way to showcase local heritage and photographers, and as an opportunity to create a public dialogue about the unique heritage of the island.\r\n
Attendees thronged the museum’s Special Exhibition Room to see the 32 works chosen for display from the 140 submissions for this year’s theme, The Spirit of St. Martin. Additional images were spotlighted in The Spirit of St. Martin slideshow playing in the museum’s theater. \r\n
“It was a fantastic night, and it was especially great to see people sharing memories and talking about what heritage means to them, and what’s special about this island’s heritage,” said Mark Yokoyama, co-founder of Les Fruits de Mer and co-curator of Amuseum Naturalis. “This kind of discussion and sharing is exactly what we hope this event will inspire.”\r\n
For anyone who missed the opening, the free exhibition will be on view from 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday June 30, the last publicly open day planned for the pop-up Caribbean natural history museum Amuseum Naturalis. \r\n
Amuseum Naturalis is located at 96 Boulevard de Grand Case in Grand Case. The contest gallery can also be viewed online at http://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/category/spirit-of-st-martin/.\r\n
Les Fruits de Mer is a non-profit association based in St. Martin whose core mission is to raise awareness about nature, culture, and sport. The organization carries out this mission through publications, an education programme, and special public outreach events that entertain, inspire, and inform. The association is currently accepting new member applications on its website, http://www.lesfruitsdemer.com. \r\n
Amuseum Naturalis is a free, public pop-up museum of the natural history of St. Martin and the Caribbean, created by Les Fruits de Mer for high season 2016 and June 2016, and made possible by the generous sponsorship of Delta Petroleum. During June 2016, Amuseum Naturalis is open to the public from 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Sundays and Thursdays, and open by appointment to school, youth and senior groups. \t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
Source: Daily Herald \n\t\t\t\tLopez wins People’s Choice Award at Heritage Photo contest opening"
