Savannah Gallery

I really was driving around this afternoon trying to think of a lunch destination I hadn’t tried yet, when I remembered firends telling me of a small restaurant called Half Shell, on Barnes Bay at Viceroy Resort.  What a great spot!  From the front of the hotel, I was taken by golf cart down winding roads through the villas, to this gem of a restaurant, tucked into a spot overlooking the beach.  The menu featured a lot of Mediteranean specialties, and I landed up trying the lamb gyro.  Fabulous.  Served with a quinoa salad, which is akin to tabulleh – delicious with apricots and currents.  The menu looked like it had a few things to tantalize – I’ll be back.

“Rue des Tamariniers” or “Street with Tamarind Trees”, is the newest work by the marquetry master Jean-Pierre Straub at the gallery.  It’s exquisite detailing makes it a perfect compliment to the strong rotating exhibition of Straub’s work hanging.  His section on the website has been updated, with superb new photos of all the works – please have a look!

The weekend started off very well on Saturday night………..  The Anguilla Racing Boats were heading into Road Bay at Sandy Ground for Monday’s race, at the same time that I was heading into Sandbar, also in Sandy Ground, for a very fine martini and superb chicken satay.

AARF (Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation) is a remarkable organization here on Island.  Check them out at www.aarf.ai to see the great work they do, and in the meanwhile, please think about opening your heart and home to one of the wonderful puppies or kittens at their shelter.  My Lucy was an AARF adoptee, and fills my heart with love every day.

I’m always so pleased when I’m able to locate an older Haitian metal sculpture for the gallery.  Janvier Louis-Juste, along with his brother Seresier, were seminal sculptors in the village of Croix des Bouquets, Haiti in the l970′s and 80′s.  This sculpture is 24 1/2″ high, and is remarkable for the welding done on it, and for it’s three dimensiality.   I’ve never seen a work like this before, and I think it’s superb example of this art form of this period.

I think many of my readers know that the Gallery has a companion business on Anguilla, Windsong Villa.  Located in the east end of the Island, Windsong will start it’s tenth season next year.  Tempus fugit…

I was truly touched by some of the comments this year in the villa guest book.  I’d like to share some excerpts from those pages with you, along with some pics of the villa.

“We are grateful you and David created this “haven”!  It has become funny how many people in NJ ‘know’ where we go in January – “Oh, you’re going back to that place”.  I start dreaming Anguilla dreams in November and only relax when we hit Blowing Point.  Then I know we are ‘home”. ”     Carol and Charlie, New Jersey

“We hope to see you again sooner rather than later.  Thanks for a perfect Spring break.”  Julia and Andrew, Virginia

“The perfect combination of simplicity and luxury, the ability to be isolated and stay connected at the same time – that is Windsong.  We loved to suddenly find Lucy sitting in the doorway, Lola, shyer but who came right in if Frank was nearby, and have Luther show up with Frank a few minutes behind.”  Laura and Dan, Massachusetts

The sun, breezes, company of friends, long walks on deserted beaches, Mimi Bay and sunsets – have restored and uplifted me- healed me”    Gail, New Jersey

“The sounds of nature and the tides as you rest at Windsong are permanently placed in our minds in the tenderest of memories.  You have a beautiful home, and we wish you and Luther and the girls peace and love”  Jane and Denise, NYC

“As I end this note we are soaking up the last bit of sun, listening to the sweet birds and watching the palm trees sway!  Until next time…”  Jack and Sarah, Rhode Island

Francis Eck, born in the Alsace region of France,  has been living and working in St. Martin for many years now.  He’s new to the gallery; I’ve only had the work hanging since November.  He was on Anguilla yesterday, and I’m delighted to have a small exhibition of recent paintings in the front room gallery.  All his works can be seen by clicking on the artists tab, then again on his name.  The works are beautiful, lush and evocative seascapes, done in pallete knife.  Superb…

The St. Martin-based marquetry master, Jean-Pierre Straub came to visit yesterday.  Two new works of his strike as particularly fine; “A la Campagne”, for his treatment of detail in Caribbean country life, and “Grand Case”, for the way he manges to capture West Indian architecture with this astounding art form.  All his work at the gallery can be seen on his section of this site – just click on “Artists”, then on his section.

I absolutely love Veya Restaurant for dinner here on Anguilla.  The food is beautifully prepared, and the service is elegant and understated.  I went last night with my great pal,  Dr. Gail, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We split the legendary “Moroccan Spiced Shrimp Cigars”, then I had the “Vanilla Cured Duck Breast with a Guavaberry Sauce”.  Gail had the fabulous “Tamarind Glazed Roast Chicken”, which I’ve had before, loved it, and recommended she try it.  Although a frequent traveller to Anguilla, Dr. G has never been to Veya, for some unknown reason….

Desserts and wines there are all superb, and Jerry and our server steered us in the right direction for all choices.  We had live music during dinner – great playing by British Dependency.  All in all, a rather lovely night out!

I was down at the villa last night, heading out to dinner at Veya (see next post), when my Lucy strolled up, looking particularly pretty, as did my desert rose!