Three Moko Jumbies 13 Feet Tall Now Reside in Christiansted Town

After two years of tireless work, the unveiling of The Guardians — three 13-foot tall moko jumbies sculpted out of clay and cast in bronze —took place on Sunday at the old Armory Building on Hospital Street, across from the Savant Restaurant. They were created by artist Ward Tomlinson Elicker.

The Guardians were first sculpted in oil clay over a wire framework armature. When the pieces were finished in the clay, rubber mold and plaster casting were added to them. From there, the pieces were scanned digitally and cast in bronze in a foundry and brought back to St. Croix.

Mr. Elicker was in awe of his own creation during the unveiling Sunday. “It’s a wonderful feeling to have the pieces finally settled on St. Croix soil," he told the Consortium. "It’s been a long journey. This has been a two-year project, however I really began my work with the Mocko Jumbies before the hurricanes in 2017. To have them come to fruition in a real-life form has been amazing."

Honored guests present at the unveiling were Legendary Moko Jumbies Willard John, Johnny McCleverty, and Allen Yisrael Petersen.

Mr. John is also the founder of the Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies. “I was called about the project and they invited me to come and be a part of it since I am a major figure as it relates to Mocko Jumbies on St.Croix," he said. "I realized the vision that they had and the fact that they see our Virgin Islands culture as an important part of what they are doing."