The usual bustling harborfront market, featuring the usual display of straw baskets, wooden bowls and figurines, maracas and other trinkets is to be found on this westernmost of the three Dutch Leeward Islands.
And though these items are attractive and inexpensive, they are generic souvenirs, mostly made in factories in South America and representing nothing distinctive about the island on which they are being sold.
But Aruba has also provided its talented and creative artisans with a unique entrepreneurial opportunity: a very attractive venue in which to show and sell their unusual and appealing wares.
It`s the Bonbini Festival, a weekly celebration of Aruba`s multi-ethnic culture, held Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the interior courtyard of historic Ft. Zoutman. Built by the Dutch in 1796 to protect their colony from marauding pirates, the fort now houses Aruba`s Historical Museum and its courtyard is transformed into a showplace for the Bonbini.
Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands Antilles, but Papiamento-a combination of Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese with some African dialects, French and English mixed in-is more commonly used. And in the local patois, bonbini means welcome. For a $1 entrance fee, islanders and tourists are welcomed to a dynamic cultural event featuring entertaining non-stop performances of Aruba`s lively music and dance, samplings of native cuisine and sale of works by talented Aruban artisans.
Nine booths are set up in the fort`s courtyard, three for food and six for merchandise. Aruba`s Instituto di Cultura organizes the Bonbini and invites ceramicists, woodworkers, artists, jewelry makers and other artisans to participate, based in the individuality and inventiveness in their work.
Artisans rotate
Because of the limited space, artisans participate on a rotating basis. There is always a wide variety of merchandise on display. The work is unique, quality is high and prices are quite low. Among the participants, artist Jenny Kock, a favorite with the crowds, appears at the Bonbini almost every week. Kock is physically and mentally handicapped as a result of a spinal injury when he was an infant, but handicapped or not, he produces exquisite 8- by 11- inch oil pastel drawings.
Inspired by Aruba`s natural wonders-the rock bridge that frames a spectacular vista of blue-green sea, the oddly shaped hills that have been formed by volcanic boulders or carved from formerly submerged coral reefs, the insistent and refreshing tradewinds that constantly sweep clean the sky and sculpt Aruba`s unique almost horizontal divi divi trees, and the special glow of the island`s sunset-Kock sets down his impressions of Aruba`s landscape with extraordinary vitality and sensitivity. He is the only artist to demonstrate his work at Bonbini, and he does so because otherwise people don`t believe his drawings could have been done by someone who is handicapped. Actually, watching Kock at work is a rare and wonderful experience. Because he lost the ability to control the movement of his wrist, he moves his entire arm, sometimes his entire body when he applies the pastels to paper. As a result of his dance-like movements, the pictures contain a lot of expressive energy and movement, and everyone watching him wants to buy the drawing he was working on at that moment.
Most of the oil pastel landscapes are sold unmatted for $22. Kock takes special orders to draw landscapes or portraits from photographs (prices vary, depending on the assignment) and occasionally paints in oils (priced from $50). Kock`s fondest dream is to visit the U.S., and although he cannot read or write, he speaks enough English to communicate warmly with his patrons.
T-shirt art
Albertina Van Eldik, who is at the Bonbini every other week, moved to Aruba from Indonesia 25 years ago and traded the art of painting batik for the art of painting realistic, highly detailed portraits of Aruba`s wild life on T-shirts. Parrots, pelicans and lizards are favorite subjects for Van Eldik. Her technique is exacting and Van Eldik`s touch with a brush is delicate. The painted T-shirts are 100 percent cotton and machine washable and, at $6 or $7 a shirt, are excellent buys.
Lia Maldonado, also at the Bonbini every other week, recently returned from an eight-year stay in Bogota, where her porcelain figurines (about $300) became collectors` items. She creates a variety of charming hand-painted souvenir dolls, ranging from small, clay figures with funny, wide-eyed expressions and bright red, blue, green or yellow bases that also function as dinner bells ($3) to a charming series of 120 porcelain geisha-like figurines (from $18).
Maldonado also makes models of the cunuco houses ($15) that are typical on Aruba, as well as ashtrays, salt and pepper shakers and small vases (about $6 each) with hand-painted divi divi or coconut trees, or small seascapes.
Trudy and Kenneth Wolff participate at Bonbini about once a month. She is a ceramicist and he a woodworker, and their charming products have tremendous appeal.
Trudy`s classically shaped vases and small covered pots are decorated with rich earth colors in geometric patterns, or with representations of Aruba`s flora and fauna. They sell for $2 to $8. Kenneth uses hand-scorched and stained scotch pine to make small wall plaques with pegs to be used for hanging keys. The plaques, shaped like divi divi trees, fish, guitars, surf boards and other items reminiscent of Aruba, cost $7 to $10. Kenneth also makes automobile pull toys that sell for $5.
Danny Emmanuel, at the Bonbini on alternate weeks, makes one-of-a-kind ashtrays, clocks and other home accessories out of Aruban Kwihi tree trunks. Prices range from $4 to $10.
Marjorie Zievinger, at the Bonbini every other week, turns gold or silver-colored metal clips, faux gemstones, buttons and silken ropes into big, bright and attention-getting earrings and pendants with bold geometric forms or floral motifs. Priced from $2 to $7, these costume pieces are fun souvenirs of fun-loving Aruba.
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For more information about the Bonbini Festival, contact the Aruba Tourism Authority, 521 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10175; 800-TO-ARUBA or 212-246-3030.
