Art galleries exhibition spaces foundations and cultural centers Saint Martin

Gallery of Afro-Caribbean art and crafts.

Today, this beautiful historic house is an art gallery filled with paintings and prints by Roland Richardson, Saint-Martin's internationally renowned impressionist painter.

The house, one of the oldest in Marigot, is still inhabited. It's a fine example of ^{mid-19th-century} architecture. Built in 1845 by Frédérick and Georgina Baker-Hodge on Rue de la République (then known as Grand-Rue), the house comprises a first floor used as a store and an upper floor for living quarters. It was built of stone and plastered with lime. The roof is in shingles, and the rear balcony, originally in wood, is now in concrete; this is the building's only transformation. Frédérick and Georgina bequeathed their house to their nephew, Fernando Morales, who lived there until his death in 1937. Fernando, better known as Nando, was a merchant and owner of the Golden Grove plantation.

After serving as deputy mayor for thirty years, he eventually became chief magistrate himself from 1925 to 1928. His house became the town hall, a tradition. His daughter, Hortensia Morales-Fleming, inherited the house and rented it to MLC Fleming from 1938 to 1948. Vere Richardson, the current owner, set up Marigot's first café: the Majestic Bar, serving St. Kitts ice creams and sodas. Later, the house became home to one of Saint-Martin's first boutiques: Ceci et Cela.

At the top of the hill, in the Rambaud district, this art gallery hosts exhibitions by Alexandre Minguet and other Caribbean artists. For the record, Alexandre Minguet, its founder, lost the ability to speak between the ages of 18 months and 5 years following an emotional shock. From this period, he retained an independence and a sense of observation that led him to a career as a great colorist. Today, his daughter has taken over and is proudly carrying on this legacy. Beautiful paintings with French and St. Martin influences to discover.