Contemporary Visual Artist Kandy G. Lopez Along With Buju Banton, Sting, Shaggy For St. Lucia Jazz Fest

This year’s St. Lucia Jazz Fest will be unique, spotlighting not only on the music of Buju Banton and Shaggy but contemporary visual artist Kandy G. Lopez.

Lopez is an Afro-Caribbean American portrait artist who uses her art to identify, celebrate, and tell the stories of marginalized individuals and people of color. Her work showcases the cultural heritage of her people, telling nostalgic tales of immigration, vulnerability, and selfconfidence. According to Lopez, her art is meant to engage, provoke, test, and educate, and it should be included in the history of art.

Lopez’s recent creations have been laudable and distinct, as she has been experimenting with portraits using yarn and thread. Her art is constantly inspired by a person or image before the whole picture is brought to life. Her most prized pieces of art are “Orlando” and “As I See Me.” “As I See Me” was one of her first realistic selfportraits, given as an assignment during her university days. The concept was to elevate women of color, positioning them as powerful and prestigious, not from a place of arrogance or pride. Meanwhile, “Orlando” was a portrait of her brother that radiates how she saw her brother from a bird’s eye view, showing the vulnerability in men of color, the softness, and fragility of the Afro Caribbean American male.

Lopez’s journey through life and the world of art is a source of inspiration to every individual from marginalized groups or communities with a dream to succeed. Her story, grit, and passion are one of a kind and should be celebrated. She obtained a Masters degree in Fine Art (Painting) from the Florida Atlantic University in 2014 and loves teaching and grooming the next generation of artists. She has been awarded four residencies within the last two years and has recently participated in Project Row Houses in Houston, TX.

Lopez will be showcasing her work at the 2023 St. Lucia Jazz & Art Festival, joining other artists and musicians from around the world. The festival has evolved into an internationally recognized festival rooted in its Acoustic, Jazz, R&B, Southern Jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and Afrobeats elements. The art rebranding experience has made this year’s edition the 10th year since art was infused into the festival, showcasing the talents of various artists from around the world.

The St. Lucia Jazz & Art Festival has been ranked as the #1 festival by E! Entertainment, #2 in Caribbean festivals after the Trinidad & Tobago festival and named one of the top five best festivals in the world by festival mogul George Wein. The festival has been a haven of music, art, and tourist attraction for over 25 years, attracting culture lovers from around the world.

The musical line up is as follows:

Friday, May 5 – Kick-Off: Caribbean genres with some of the biggest names from the region headlined by reggae superstar Shenseea and Kes the Band.

May 6-9 – Entertainment & Community Jazz: Explore authentic Saint Lucian culture and people through an eclectic mix of local events.

Wednesday, May 10 –Kingdom Gospel Night: A riveting, inspiring showcase of praise and worship with some of the best names in Gospel Music, to be announced later.

Thursday, May 11 – Pure Jazz: Grammy winner, pianist, and composer Gustavo Casenave and a special tribute to Saint Lucia’s Luther François, the godfather of Saint Lucia jazz.

Friday, May 12 – Caribbean Fusion: Featuring Buju Banton, Bunji Garlin, and Fay Ann Lyons.

Saturday, May 13 – World Beats: Journey the globe with the best Afro beats with Rema, Ayra Starr, CKay, and Kizz Daniel.

Sunday, May 14 – The Ultimate Celebration and Culmination on Mother’s Day: The most distinctive and influential musician of the century, 17-time Grammy Award winner Sting, will headline the evening with Shaggy.