Mo Money

There is lots of great artwork at Ladera most of which has been produced by local artists or depicts island history, locations and maps. As I have featured there are wood carvers, tile masters, ceramic artists and furniture builders but there is traditional art as well paintings on canvas, wood and walls. Many of the paintings at Ladera are the work(s) of one woman, a self taught artist with a degree in psychology (like myself) and a former rehabilitation worker (like myself) who has lived on island for about a dozen years. Her name is Maureen, her maiden name is Money, and she goes by Mo, although she signs her work MoJean. I really liked calling her Mo Money and I had the pleasure of spending several days together as she worked on art and I on landscaping.

Mo was a great person to spend the evenings with as we shared a bottle of wine and learned about each other. We had several things in common which made for a quick bond. We are similar in age, education and wanderlust. She visited St. Lucia about 12 years ago on vacation and surprised her family back in England when she announced she was selling all her possessions and moving to the island. She not only did that but she embarked on a totally new career direction, art. She has always been creative and talented in that direction and felt she needed a change.

Acclimating to St. Lucia is not difficult and Mo found a niche in painting local scenes, flora and fauna selling her creations to hotels, restaurants and people building new homes on the island. Since canvas is hard to obtain and expensive Mo often paints on smooth wood and even does murals on walls.

She is gregarious and bubbly with a warm personality and a positive attitude. One of those people who is easy to get to know and you are glad to have met. I hope when I get back to St. Lucia Mo and I get to spend some time together beyond working.