Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources is pleased to announce the debut of “Tides of Freedom,” a multidisciplinary visual arts exhibition opening at the historic Fort Frederik Museum. 

Curated by Monica Marin, Territorial Curator of the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, the exhibition explores the enduring journey of Virgin Islanders’ self-identity — from emancipation to the present-day drafting of a people-centered constitution.

Opening to the public on Friday, at 5:30 p.m. the exhibit will run through October. Admission is $10 per person, and guests will enjoy a cash bar throughout the evening.

Opening Weekend Highlights:

The launch will feature historical reflections by George Tyson, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Historian, offering context on the significance of Fort Frederik and the legacy of General Buddhoe in the 1848 Emancipation Uprising. A keynote address will be delivered by Devin Carrington, Esq., delegate to the U.S. Virgin Islands’ 6th Constitutional Convention, drawing connections between historic and ongoing efforts toward self-governance. Cultural performances will include Olu and the Ay Ay Rhythm Ensemble, Music in Motion, and the We Dah Ya Cultural Dancers.

About the Exhibition:

Tides of Freedom commemorates two pivotal moments in Black liberation history: the July 3, 1848, Emancipation Uprising in St. Croix and Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) in Texas. 

Despite the ocean between them, these events are linked through a shared legacy of resistance, migration, and cultural continuity. The exhibition delves into how Virgin Islanders have influenced and been shaped by broader civil rights movements, navigating cycles of forced and voluntary migration while contributing to the Black experience in the Americas.