GREAT BAY/MARIGOT (April 12, 2000) — A book is in the making about St. Martin’s most favorite painters, writers, singers, bands and other cultural artists and entertainers.
The book will be another House of Nehesi commission, says the publisher’s projects director Lasana M. Sekou. “To avoid the expected claims of favoritism by the publisher or the writers, we had an independent company conduct a survey in the North and the South of St. Martin.
“There are going to be a lot of surprises. There still will be disagreements, even some bawling, not only because of whom the people picked but when the artists and public see where the different artists ended up on the popularity chart. We expect to get the craziest response from the music bands and their fans.”
The serious part of the planned book is that, based on a scientific survey, it will profile the most popular and productive artists at the end of the 20th century and at the beginning of the new century.
“For sure some of the artists will change up and down the chart in short order. Some will drop out and others will come on board as the people’s choice. But we are looking for a historical record of examples of creative excellence or productivity for others to be inspired by; and to chart the development of St. Martin’s culture and the entertainment industry not on hear-say but on informed comments, primary source interviews, and factual data.”
The book will include short profiles on the artists life and work, and probably the best listing any one will find on St. Martin’s artists for a long time on their CDs, books, art exhibits, performances, awards, and selected articles on their work from national and international media.
Seriousness aside, House of Nehesi vp Jacqueline Sample says that while the book’s content is balance between fun information and a record of hardworking artists that people are paying attention to, the design will have a strictly pop culture, celebrity approach.
Who was voted the nation’s number one artist? Who made the top 5 or top 10? We’ll just have to wait. The title is scheduled to appear later in 2000.