The Exchange

Description

Kenisha is “blade up” as they say in Kreole, dressed “to the nines” as we also say. By contrast, Marla, who owns the market stall, is intent on the transaction at hand, the exchange of a few coins for a mango. Her attire is practical and manicured nails would not allow her to man-handle heavy bags of fruit or rotting papaya that is a part of the fruit marketing job.

Hand to hand interaction is part of what is so delightful about an open market. This simple moment in time is the basis of world commerce. Mr. Ceriaco is watching the event and probably hoping someone soon comes to his stall to buy.

Most of the produce is grown locally but a good part of it is trucked in from Mexico, usually arriving very early on Monday or Tuesday morning. Vendors are at the mercy of the weather, the seasons, the economy and the political climate of the day. You may ask what all this has to do with buying a mango but when buyers are disgruntle or broke, they don’t spend money.

After I had finished this painting and it was in my gallery, a pretty Belizean lady in her mid-twenties, I would say, studied the piece of art and lunched into a personal opinion about the lady buying the mango. “She may de con from states. Then gal like blade up an flaunt thenself” Then she pressed on to declare that Belizeans who go to America for a time, earn big money and then return, disgust the local Belizeans with their behavior and mannerisms. I did not have that in mind when I did the painting but I will admit, it is an interesting spin on what otherwise, might be a dull story.