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With Main Street looking especially beautiful beneath the palm trees and twinkle lights, we wandered along to the grand opening of Space 21 Playa, ArtisA’s newest creative space in downtown Oranjestad.

Artist Jean Cherouny welcomed us with a glass of bubbly. I first met Jean on one of our first Kukoo Kunuku Taste of San Nicolas preview tours, where she explored the murals, had dinner with us at Astoria and gave us wonderful feedback. It was lovely to see her again, this time surrounded by her own colorful artwork alongside other artists.

Our host, ArtisA founder Tito Bolívar, welcomed everyone to the new space. Aruba’s “Wine Artist,” Clive Faustin, represented Astoria Wines, adding his own special touch to the celebration. We raised our glasses as Tito and Minister Geoffrey Wever cut the ribbon.

MISO means Made Inside, Sold Outside, one of Tito’s most meaningful projects, helping incarcerated women create and sell their work. Their beautiful jewelry was displayed for sale in the gallery. Beautiful work with an even more beautiful purpose.

Outside, colorful murals surround the courtyard where art classes are planned. Jean invited me to one of hers and introduced me to Mont Marte wooden painting boards, perfect for my mixed-media work because they won’t wrinkle. She had me at “no wrinkles.” I bought two.

Murals are part of how our paths first crossed. Tito and the ArtisA team have spent nearly a decade helping transform San Nicolas through art, founding the Aruba Art Fair and sharing the murals through their popular guided tours. Kukoo Kunuku’s Taste of San Nicolas brings its own experience to those same colorful streets, with an evening of art, stories and dinner at Astoria.

Two different ways of sharing a part of San Nicolas we all love.