Toves passed away on Feb. 15, 2009, at 59.
On Friday, during the opening of the 28th Flame Tree Arts Festival, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial recognized seven notable local artist, including Toves.
His family received a certificate lauding the master sand painter’s artistic achievements and for encouraging the preservation of the CNMI’s rich and varied heritage art.
Awards were also handed to the families of educator and traditional art work demonstrator Juan Q. Kapileo, local coconut carver and artist Danny D. Babauta, local musician Francisco M. Pangelinan, wood carver Manuel L. Dela Cruz, traditional dance demonstrator Hal Basilio O. Taitano, and local healer Monica Cruz Lizama.
Toves’s widow, Carmen, said she is thankful that the people continue to appreciate the work of her husband.
“My heart is in pain but I am happy our sons are continuing his work. I hope the people will always remember him,” said Carmen Toves, a well-known herbalist and advocate of traditional medicine on Rota.
Her sons, Albert S. Toves III and Barrie Toves, are also sand painters like their father.
Toves III and his son Albert Toves IV are scheduled to hold a sand painting and handicraft exhibit on Saipan next month.
Toves III said since high school he has been interested in the arts and was one of the CNMI’s representatives to a art fair in Japan in 1990.
“Like my father, I’m trying to keep our culture and tradition alive,” he told Variety.
His father’s paintings were on display during this year’s Flame Tree Arts Festival.
He said their family has no plan to sell these paintings which they want to display in their own gallery on Rota for tourists and local residents alike.
