A modest, appreciative crowd gathered at the Devonish Art Gallery, in Lower South Hill, on Saturday evening, August 31st, to witness Mr. Courtney Devonish handing over the store’s operation to new management. Devonish Art has been in business in Anguilla since the 1980s, and Saturday’s transition signaled new prospects for the progressive growth of the entity.
Now, that Mr. Devonish has reached the stage where he chose to retire, he passed on the baton to an innovative, shrewd businesswoman, Mrs. Doreen Liburd, who also operates J & J’s Souvenir & Gifts Shop, Global Express Shipping Anguilla, Rainbow City Trading and Best Choice Car Rental, all under the enterprising umbrella of Liburd Group of Companies.
During the handover ceremony, The Anguillian had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Devonish: “I have retired,” he said, “but I am certainly not tired. For 53 years I have been running an art gallery, but right now I want to get back into the studio to do more production work. Handing the gallery over to Doreen will enable me to do just that. Now everything, as far as the gallery here is concerned, is up to Doreen.”
Speaking with Doreen, she said: “First, I want to thank God for leading me to Devonish Art Gallery to negotiate with Mr. Devonish. As the new Managing Director, I thank Mr. Devonish for the confidence he has placed in me, and for giving me this golden opportunity to work along with him in this art gallery venture. It is my hope that this would be the leading art gallery in Anguilla. We want to promote local art, and whether the artist is young or senior, we want to promote local authentic art once we get the opportunity to do so.”
When asked how she felt to be taking over from such a great legend as Courtney Devonish, Doreen responded: “I don’t want to take anything away from Mr. Devonish at all. I want this gallery to continue representing him and growing from strength to strength. He has been here for over 30 years, and I am determined to have his legacy and his work exist with the company. I know that he and Aunt Carrolle will always be willing to give me the kind of assistance that I need as I manage Devonish Art Gallery. Their experience has enabled me to make the transition very easy.”
There is a special corner at the gallery assigned to art professional Ms. Karen Venditti. In speaking to Ms. Venditti, The Anguillian learnt that she is a mobile art coach who goes around the island to tutor artistic skills. She said: “I love to express myself through doing art on all the themes of Anguilla. Under the Anguilla Arts banner, I go around doing paint parties for persons who are interested in learning art.”
“I am mobile,” Karen continued, “and I go around to various restaurants, resorts and villa establishments to teach people how to paint. Even if a person does not have artistic ability, or even if they do not think they can paint, I open up that art potential that is within them.” “Everyone has talent,” she said, “and is just a matter of learning the principles of painting.”
During the transition ceremony, a work of art was raffled for the visiting guests. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards the work of the DOVE 2 Centre of Education in the Quarter.
