It’s Show and Sell Time in Aruba

The usual, bustling Caribbean harbor-front market, featuring the usual display of straw baskets, wooden bowls, maracas and other trinkets, is to be found on this westernmost of the three Dutch Leeward Islands.

And although these items are attractive to some and inexpensive, they are generic souvenirs, mostly made in factories in South America and representing nothing distinctive about the island on which they are 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 multiethnic culture, held Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 in the interior courtyard of historic Ft. Zoutman. Built by the Dutch in 1796 to protect their colony against 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 cultural event featuring nonstop performances of Aruba’s lively music and dance, samplings of typical native cuisine and an exhibition 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 ceramists, woodworkers, visual artists, jewelry makers and other artisans to participate, based on the individuality and inventiveness of their work.

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 incredibly low.

Among the participants, visual artist Jenny Kock, a favorite with the crowds, appears 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 8 x 11-inch oil pastel drawings that are exquisite.

Inspired by Aruba’s natural wonders--the rock bridge that frames a spectacular vista of blue-green sea, the oddly shaped hills of volcanic boulders or coral, the insistent, refreshing trade winds that sweep the sky clean and sculpt Aruba’s divi-divi trees, the island’s special sunset--Kock captures these impressions with vitality and sensitivity.

He is the only artist who personally demonstrates his work at Bonbini. Otherwise people don’t believe his drawings could have been done by someone who is handicapped. Watching Kock work is a moving experience. Unable to control his wrist, he moves his entire arm, sometimes his entire body, in applying the pastels to paper. As a result of his dance-like technique, the pictures contain a lot of expressive energy, and it seems everyone watching him wants to buy the drawing he is working on at that moment.

Most of the oil pastel landscapes are sold unmatted for $22. Kock will also take special orders to draw landscapes or portraits from photographs (prices vary, depending upon the assignment) and occasionally paints in oils (priced from $50). The artist’s fondest dream is to visit the United States and though he cannot read or write, he speaks enough English to communicate warmly with his patrons.

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 wildlife on T-shirts. Parrots, pelicans and lizards are favorite subjects. Her technique is exacting and delicate. The painted T-shirts are 100% cotton, machine-washable and priced at $6 or $7 each.

Lia Maldonado, at the Bonbini every other week, learned to work with clay and porcelain through a U.N. educational and economic development project in the Caribbean. She recently returned from an 8-year stay in Bogota, Colombia, where her Lladro-style porcelain figurines (about $300) became collectors items.

She now works in clay and porcelain creating a wide variety of charming hand-painted souvenir dolls. The collection ranges from small, simply decorated 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 collectible porcelain geisha-like figurines (from $18), each with a different pose, expression, kimono and name.

Maldonado also makes small clay models of the cunuco island houses ($15) 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 ceramist and he a woodworker.

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 little 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 native 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.

Although not represented at the Bonbini, Artesania Arubano is also on the Instituto di Cultura’s list of important local handicrafters. Located outside the center of town at L.G. Smith Boulevard (tel. 25311 or 27479), in the Eagle Complex, which was formerly Shell Oil’s Aruba headquarters, this atelier and shop produces and sells silk-screened cotton fabrics sewn up into attractive casual attire and home accessories. Skirts, shorts and shirts are about $12 each, caftans $24, barbecue aprons $6, kids’ clothes about $8, tote bags $6, beach towels $8 and wall hangings $18. They are made from decorative fabrics designed and printed by Aruban women, most of whom were taught their art at the Artesania Arubano. The fabrics feature floral designs, pelicans, sea shells and other island motifs. In addition, Artesania Arubano sells Carla Schenkel’s charming magnetized match boxes ($3) with tiny hand-painted Aruban landscapes.

For more information on the Bonbini Festival, contact the Aruba Tourism Authority, 521 Fifth Ave., New York 10175, (800) 862-7822 or (212) 246-3030. For a complete list and further information about individual artisans, contact Freddie Martijn at the Instituto di Cultura, J.E. Trausquinplein 2-A, Oranjestad, Aruba.

Prices are subject to change due to currency fluctuation .