Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Girl Power on Curaçao: The Women of Willemstad

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On the afternoon of our first day in colorful Curaçao, SVV and I found ourselves on an estate surrounded by dolls, some teey-tiny and others life-sized.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Yes, you read that right.

And no, we did not step into a Stephen King-inspired nightmare; rather, we found our way to Serena’s Art Factory, just 10 minutes outside of Willemstad.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

I knew nothing of these Chichi dolls, as they’re called, prior to that day. Our guide, Cecil, tried to explain them, but it wasn’t until I arrived on Serena’s compound that I really grasped what it is she is doing.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Nearly a decade ago, artist Serena Israel moved over to Curaçao from Germany. As she began to get the lay of the land, a couple things became clear to her: 1) There was a dearth of jobs, particularly among women, and 2) the island needed a souvenir that was distinctly Curaçao.

So Serena decided to kill two birds with one stone.

A seasoned mold maker, Serena dreamed up the idea for the buxom Chichi dolls based on the women of Curaçao; the name itself means “first-born” sister in the local language, Papiamento. But rather than make them herself, Serena aimed to give the islanders something of their own: to teach them how to make the plaster dolls they inspired through an extensive trainee program with the artist herself at the helm.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

She started with a handful of women, none of whom had any experience at all, and nowadays, employs 54 painters with another five in the training program. As the women prove themselves over time, Serena raises their responsibilities and increases their pay as a form of empowerment.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

The coolest thing about the Chichi dolls? No two are the same.

Each painter is assigned a number, and each doll is emblazoned with the number of its maker, which is also meant to bolster morale and confidence among the women.
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

“It’s all about training the next generation,” she told me. “Making extra income doesn’t mean that you have to be a waitress. I want these girls to know they have options.”
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

On top of being open for tours, the art factory hosts frequent workshops and paint nights, so you can not only take home a souvenir of your own, but one that you created.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Oh, and did I mention, she’s an animal lover with a posse of fur friends and reptile residents?

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

But Serena isn’t the only female entrepreneur on Curaçao who has made a name for herself. For decades now, native islander Dinah Veeris has been a local legend thanks to a very different form of art.

Dinah Veeris: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

The former teacher became interested in the healing properties of herbs at a young age and fused her two passions by becoming a sought after speaker and expert on the subject, educating anyone who would listen about ancient herbal traditions, many of which were threatened to become obsolete thanks to progress and modern medicine.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Since the early 1980s, Dinah has been dedicated to the cause of bringing herbal remedies back to the people of Curaçao, a process she started by interviewing the elders of the island to preserve their knowledge of the generations before them. She then went to California to study and traveled all over the world to spread the herb gospel, but lives in her own little green oasis right in the heart of Curaçao, not far from Willemstad.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Over the past few years, SVV and I have become a lot more conscious of what we put into our bodies, trying to eat clean as best we can when home and using natural remedies and essential oils. Yes, I know this may seem like a fad to some, so it was fascinating to hear Dinah speak about how she’s been dabbling in such a study for my entire lifetime!

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Dinah took us on a walk through her one-acre garden, Den Paradera, which was full of herbs and fruits that I’d never even heard of. She’s collected many plants that played vital roles in Curaçao’s old herbal remedies, and what she couldn’t find locally, she’d source from the neighboring Netherlands Antilles isles of Aruba and Bonaire.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

She even let us nibble on some as we strolled. It’s surprising to see how much can grow on a desert isle like Curaçao.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

Dinah has a very well-stocked shop full of oils, ointments, soaps and more for those traveling through, and she also opens her garden up to public tours.

Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves

As a small business owner myself, I left both Serena and Dinah’s homes feeling very inspired to see what they’ve accomplished with limited resources on a small island just north of South America.

Not a bad first couple days on the island, indeed.

Everything You Need to Know About Willemstad, Curacao

In Curaçao, they have this saying “dushi,” a catch-all Papiamento phrase meaning something is great, beautiful or just all-around good. That’s exactly how I would describe Curaçao and its people: dushi. Dushi, squared.


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Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
Art & Herbs: How the Women of Curaçao Are Making a Global Name for Themselves
COMMENTS
  • January 17, 2017

    Wonderful pictures and article…

  • January 17, 2017

    I love women’s collectives and all businesses aimed at promoting art. These dolls/statutes/sculptures are just precious. I was literally looking around thinking of the perfect place to place one in my house…and it’s a purchase you can feel great about. I hope you found the perfect spot in your bright and colorful home for one 🙂

    • January 17, 2017

      i remember she did

    • January 20, 2017

      I did! We brought a pair of very small ones home with us, and they’re perched on our mantle with all our other travel trinkets =)

  • January 17, 2017

    The art is amazing.

    • January 20, 2017

      Isn’t it, though? So impressive these women who previously had no art skills can produce this!

  • January 17, 2017

    I only visited the small shop in Willemstad which sells the dolls. I spent at least an hour there trying to choose between all the cheerful colours and figures. I made the mistake I always make by buying things for friends and family and forgetting myself, that’s how I don’t own one of those gorgeous dolls.

    I did buy something for myself at Nena Sanchez’ gallery. Curacao is such an inspirational place for female artists!

    • January 17, 2017

      Many thanks for your feedback Dominique, hope we see you soon again on Curacao.

    • January 20, 2017

      I agree, it really is! And now you have an excuse to go back 😉

      I didn’t make it to any shops in Willemstad. Was there other cool art work that I missed?

  • January 17, 2017

    What an inspiring initiative! I really like that you took the time to write a post about this. Too many travel related blogs only seem to concentrate on amazing photos of their fancy accommodations, so this was a very surprising and pleasant read!

    • January 17, 2017

      I complicity agree

    • January 20, 2017

      Why thank you, Anna! One of my favorite parts of being a journalist is the people I meet while traveling. I don’t always share those stories on this blog, but I try when relevant =)

  • January 17, 2017

    nice…blog

  • January 20, 2017

    Inspired of this blog pictures and useful information.

  • January 20, 2017

    Great post! Love to see people preserving traditions, particularly folk art, which is always fascinating to me 🙂

    • January 27, 2017

      Me, too, Holly! And I loved how it was so different than the standard tourist-targeted art you find on most Caribbean isles.

  • January 21, 2017
    Casey

    Kristin!

    Thank you for the incredibly timely, colorful and inspiring article. I apologize for not being in touch (via email) as much as I’d like, but I promise I’ve been keeping up with C&C! Loving your shorter, more photo-driven posts. I truly feel immersed in all of your awesome experiences, and can’t wait to see what else you have to share with us this year.

    Keep it up – and thanks for continuing to inspire this PR travel girl!

    XX
    Casey

    • January 27, 2017

      Hey, girl! Glad you’re killing it up north. Always happy to have you drop in 😉

  • January 22, 2017

    What a lovely post! And I would be ALL OVER those painting workshops… gotta art it up whenever I can on the road. Filing this away for a future trip to Curacao!

    • January 27, 2017

      Oh, you would be ALL over those painting workshops. They’d have to force you out at the end of the night, lol! And they made a special Obama and Michelle pair of dolls, which was oh so darling and timely.

  • January 24, 2017

    Thanks again Kristin For this Lovely Post. I didn’t know about this doll when I was in this place. Thanks for bringing it up. Learned lots from this post:)

    • January 27, 2017

      Thanks for your thoughtful words, Thomas!

  • January 25, 2017

    Awesome piece of art.I would love to share it with friends. How can i share it on Facebook and Pinterest?

    • January 27, 2017

      Hi, Lisa! Thanks for wanting to share =)

      At the very bottom of the post, there’s a Share feature with each social media platform. You can just click on the applicable one and share to your heart’s content! Ditto to the PIN IT icon just above that.

  • January 27, 2017

    Wow! What a lovely idea and how inspiring for the local women.

    I’m glad that you took such great photographs as I too would have just referred to them as “dolls” but they certainly seem more than that lol!

    I don’t know anything about Curaçao except it was a Dutch island I thnk, so bravo!

    p.s. Really, really great designs.

    • January 27, 2017

      Yes, Victoria! I wouldn’t have given them a second thought either had they been on the shelves at one of the tourist shops in Willemstad—so many Caribbean trinkets are, unsurprisingly, made in China—so it was super cool to get to meet the women making them and hear about the company’s origins. Inspiring!

  • March 8, 2017

    Trying: Lo mio es la fisica: a mi me gustaria ganar el Nobel de Fisica por mi ensayo: "Chiflar y comer pinole: Como volver realidad un anhelo de la humanidad en 10 sencillos pasr;&quotsEscoibirias para mi un discurso de agradecimiento?

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