by Josée Thissen-Rojer
Gallery Alma Blou celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 4th and 5th 2021 with a group exhibition entitled ‘Art feeds the soul’. A group of 25 artists participated in the festive exhibition and during the weekend, the gallery was filled with art that stimulated the visitor’s soul and senses. You could experience the art by seeing, tasting, hearing, smelling, and touching it. The exhibition remained on display for another 2 weeks since then, but now, most of the pieces have been taken down and the location that housed the gallery, Landhuis Habaai, has been put up for sale. This came as a surprise to most. It was time for Amigoe to have a conversation with gallery owner Lusette Verboom-Fairbairn.
When Lusette started as an entrepreneur in 1991 with ‘Spanta Para’, it was the only store, besides ‘Obra di Man’, that offered a large collection of locally made products. Before starting her business, she and her husband Herman Verboom sailed through the Caribbean for a year. It struck her back then that on all the islands they visited, locally made, artisan products were offered as souvenirs everywhere. Because she felt that this was not the case in Curaçao, when she returned, she decided to open a shop here with local handicrafts, souvenirs, and gifts.
In 1998, Lusette moved to a new and larger location on De Rouvilleweg, where she renamed her business Kas di Alma Blou and expanded it with an art gallery, among other things. Although she had seen such a concept function well on other islands such as Jamaica and Antigua, it turned out to be a big step for Curaçao. Initially, she struggled to find artists willing to exhibit in a location that also offered souvenirs and crafts. That seems strange, but Lusette understood the friction. Although the disciplines have a lot in common to an outsider, they are very different fields. Regardless, Lusette had faith in her own vision and persevered. After a difficult start, she managed to win over more artists. The art gallery grew into an increasingly important part of her business.
In 2006, Lusette moved her company to Landhuis Habaai, and its name was changed to Gallery Alma Blou. At this new location, she had more space for the gallery and for exhibiting art. When the Verboom family bought the plantation home, it had been empty for quite some time. There were lots of defects and it had not been maintained properly. In the beginning, artists and friends spontaneously came to help and that was a huge support. Over the years, Lusette and her husband continued the restoration and care of the plantation home. The fact that the Verbooms can now put a monument up for sale that’s currently in use and has been well-maintained is an achievement she’s really proud of.
Lusette has basically grown into her role as a gallery owner over the years. She sees herself as a liaison between the artist and the art lover. What she loves about it is that she builds a bond with both parties that can be very intense and even emotional at times. “At a certain point you know what art lovers like, and you share in their enthusiasm for art. You often interact with the artist over a longer period, and you get to know them on a deeper level. You see how they progress over time, and without realizing it, you’re actually part of their creative process.”