BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH the perception that most criminal activities in St. Kitts and Nevis are being perpetrated by the nation’s youth, two local artists believe that through their field of work young people could put away the guns and stay out of trouble.
This is the view expressed by Mervin Chapman and Calvin Delpleche, who are of the view that that many young people in the Federation have too much idle time on their hands.
Chapman, a veteran sculpture who uses rocks to create his pieces, told media operatives that his line of work could help youths to keep away from trouble.
“It is something that you can find pleasure in doing. Rather than taking up a gun, you can take up a piece of rock and do something with it,” Chapman said while presenting his work at a recently held exhibition for local craftsmen and craftswomen at Christophe Harbour.
He opined that there are many facets of the field in which they could get involved, including painting, drawing and sculpting.
Chapman, who has been an artist for some 24 years, stated that it has created a whole new world for him as he was afforded opportunities to travel to Canada, China and Jamaica, where on some occasions he was involved in sharing his work at various forums.
To this end, he wants the youths to open themselves to the same opportunities that are available to him.
“I could have easily killed it in the early stages. I had realized from an early stage that something is in it when I started working with my hands. I would encourage these young guys to stay away from drugs, violence and crime” he said.
Delpleche explained that despite the fact that only now art is resonating with most locals, there is a career to be had from it as tourists are opened to purchasing their products.
“I would tell the youths that art is part of life and you can make a living from it. You have to be very focused if you want to make that your full career. Youths must first make it a hobby and then try to see where the market is from there.”
He indicated that he would want to see more youths channel their energy in the right direction, away from the daily violence that is being reported in the media.
