Janet Cook-Rutnik's "in the garden", a 126 page book produced by the artist to commemorate over 50 years of art made in the Virgin Islands is on sale in St. John at Bajo el Sol, Mongoose Junction, and Papaya Book Store, Marketplace and from the artist (cookrutnik@gmail.com).  Of the 126 pages 112 are of images. There are brief biographical notes by the artist along with essays and reflections by several well known curators and art writers. Included is St. John's David Knight, Jr.'s article on Cook-Rutnik for ARC magazine, entitled, "Every Era All at Once: On the Set of Janet Cook-Rutnik's "Crime Seen" which illuminates the artists' long trajectory in art on St. John.
The artist was prompted to do the book by fellow artists and curator, Priscilla Hintz Knight, who felt it was time for her to have a retrospective of her work. The book was a good alternative to this process and a grant from the VI Council on the Arts was the support and catalyst for the project which necessitated sorting through decades of slides and photos from as far back as 1970. Fortunately Hurricane Irma spared the destruction of hundreds of slides from this period. It was a huge undertaking as it was an emotionally charged journey through the artists' life and experiences as well as the transformation of the islands over the last half century.
   Special thanks go out to all those participating and supporting the project: designer William Stelzer, writer David Knight Jr. and Priscilla Hintz Knight of Bajo el Sol as well as the VI Council on the Arts and St. John Hardware.



--