Divi Links opening with H.S.H. Prins Albert of Monaco
November 10, 2004 - 11:23
Victory, Presented To His Serene Highness Prince Albert Of Monaco
Aruba’s glamour factor just moved up a couple of notches with the arrival of His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco and His Highness Prince Pieter Christiaans van Oranje, a member of the Dutch royalty.
The two princes will be on the island as spokespersons for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and will help inaugurate Divi Links, a nine-hole golf course in the low rise area.
It is a significant PR coup for Divi’s management to have been able to add such luster and glitz to their ribbon cutting ceremonies of the DIVIne Nine.
On the occasion of the royal visit, the muses were singing. An exposition featuring thirteen of Aruba’s top artist was immediately put together when the news broke. The expo is curated by Gilbert Senchi, an Aruban-born entrepreneur, who happens to be a Boston-trained lawyer by profession, and a consummate artist by calling.
Gilbert, a resident of San Nicolas, has recently assumed the responsibility for the South End Gallery on the oil town’s main street. It is now his goal to make Aruba synonymous with art and creativity in the Caribbean. “ Aruba,” he says, “will benefit from the association with artists and their work, enriching the lives of locals and enhancing the tourist experience, at the same time.”
I took a trip down to Starcom, San Nicolas, a steel workshop located behind the refinery wall to see the two of the works, both by Gilbert Senchi. One will be donate by the artist to the international philanthropist, Prince Albert, son of the late Princess Grace, the American-born Hollywood movie star who married HSH Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The other will participate in the exhibition, organized in honor of the visit.
I met three much-inspired men at the workshop. Gilbert Senchi, the Artist, Patrick Neville the Engineer and Greg Allen the Welder. Gilbert had in mind a kind of vaulting, dynamic figure inspired by Nike, the goddess, gracing the Louver in Paris, main staircase. Only his Lady of Victory is made of steel plates. The piece offers three or four different views and perspectives of the female figure, her arms raised, celebrating the triumphant crossing of a virtual finish line, and the exuberance of sports. Gilbert cut and pasted cardboard for the model statue. Then Patrick who works for Valero Refinery translated his vision into a perfectly balanced soaring lady of steel. Greg a master welder for the refinery put it together with perfectly rippled seams, adding to the aesthetic aspect of the work. Gilbert is thankful to the American-born experts, who have donated their own time, after hours, to an artistic project.
Victory will be presented tonight on Divi Links to the Prince after the Tee-Off, just before the fireworks.
The second work, made of leftover steel pipes, perhaps from an old turbine will be viewed by the royals tonight at a private function in the Marriott’s new Ballroom. At the time when I visited the welding shop the second work had no name. It depicted two abstract wrestlers locked in a low embrace, perfectly entwined, at a one hair-distance from each other. The work when finished and polished will also echo the foundation’s vision of bringing people together through peaceful activities such as sports. Or in the words of the Laureus Vision: “Sport moves us, even if we don't practice it, because the visible strength, courage and determination it takes to succeed represents the endeavor of the whole human race."
writen by: Ronna Coster for The News
