11 days of sxm: Jharna, Zahra & CaptivArtSxm

It’s DAY 7 of 11 DAYS of SXM, and we are continuing our SXM Creatives Series with three inspiring and motivating women, Jharna, Zahra and Neha from CaptivArtSXM. I encourage everyone to check them out and support their endeavors.

I'm Jharna Chhutari and although of Indian descent, I was born and raised on the island of Saint Martin.  I moved to the Netherlands at 17 for university and I felt super lost and I felt like I wanted to just find something outside of my study. I know I'm creative I always enjoyed hands-on projects or DIYs since I was little and I remember always annoying my dad to help me make things with him that I'd find on YouTube. But as I grew older I drifted away from my creative side I was trying to get book smart and be like every other smart kid in the class and that honestly had me so drained especially since the university had me feeling like I've lost myself. 

The way I got into making jewelry is basically from my obsession of watching soooo many YouTube videos on how people make jewelry which this obsession lasted for months and months but I didn't know how to start I knew I wanted to make my own jewelry but was overwhelmed by all the different materials, tools, etc. I finally actually started in Sint Maarten during the lockdown there. I also thought it would take me a long time to get used to the material and the tools and all the different techniques but I got used to it so quickly and it all felt so natural. Making jewelry makes me feel so connected to myself I never really thought I'd love doing something this much as I always tried new hobbies and got tired of them within 2 or 3 weeks. 

My latest project will be to initiate sterling silver jewelry (mostly earrings) which I am working on. I work with gemstones, semi-precious stones, and gold-filled jewelry. Why I work with these stones because they hold meaning especially because they are so beautiful to look at and they're organic material. Gemstones make you feel grounded I'd say. 

Instagram: @jayceehandmade 
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JayCeeHandmade?ref=search_shop_redirect

Hi, my name is Dominique, but artistically I go by ‘Zahra’. Though born in the Netherlands, I have been raised and have family ties to St. Maarten dating back over five generations. I have been exposed to music for as long as I can remember, and have a very musical family (who play the steelpan, trumpet, guitar, and sing). It was after singing in the youth group choir at my church that I realized how much I loved to sing. From the age of 12 onwards, singing and music was not just something I did, but rather something tied to an experience. I went on to sing in various contexts (In the church, shows at the belvedere community center, Kids United for a St. Maarten’s day song special, and in a group representing St. Maarten’s behalf for the inauguration for king Willem Alexander), but those were situations in which I was pushed to do so.
Moving to the Netherlands to further my studies brought about a lot of developmental change in me, including being more comfortable expressing myself and letting my voice be heard. I continued to turn to music in my first years here, through highs and lows. I came about making my own music quite recently after my upstairs neighbor reached out after hearing me sing. We eventually got to making music together, and the rest is history. With his help, I came out with my first single “If you were mine” in May of 2020. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming support and feedback I received from my peers and fellow St. Maarteners. It has given me the motivation to continue my craft and to make music that others can relate to, the same way that music has always been there for me
 
Social media handles
Instagram: @itszahramusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/35fkuyCX4P20oFLC2GwTr6
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5fqt55QpsbqhGDEfrXLUjg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thezahramusic

Latest projects 
My newest song “In my head” was released in July of this year. I am currently working on songwriting for myself and for the media platform DAY10, which collaborates with various up and coming artists in achieving their music goals. Besides music, I am also pursuing a master’s degree in Work, Organizational, and Personnel psychology.

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CaptivArtSXM is an upcoming art and design business based in Saint Martin. Although a relatively new entrepreneurial venture, our art and designing services provided by the owner, Neha Soneji and volunteers, has been an ongoing initiative, where design skills and expertise have been operating as freelance, for more than 10 years. CaptivArtSXM specializes in mural art, acrylics, watercolors, and Adobe design programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Lightroom). We strive to provide our potential clients with design solutions and artistic flair to uplift any business or surrounding environment.

My social media handle is @Captivartsxm (Instagram) CaptivartSXM (Facebook)
I take questions and orders through telephone, email, and social media direct messages.

My social media shows the projects I have done in the past. My largest project was the DRIP Wall mural on Backstreet, Philipsburg. It is a tribute to the diversity of our island. It tells a story of acceptance and cohabitation of the melting pot of cultures that make up our island. 
My other projects were portraits and face studies with acrylic paint. I have done watercolor landscapes and faces before as well!

At the moment I am painting 2 murals: one for a company and one for a personal living space (A galaxy wall).
At the same time, I do commission work at request of clients.

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