Jamaica Arts Odyssey -a Review

Exchanging Realities

What is there to discover in Jamaican art? What pleasures can it hold for the "average" person, caught up in the bustle and whirl of trying to make a living? To pause even to glance at works of art may be seen as a strain, much less to discuss said works and their potential impact on our lives.

Yet that was exactly what drew a number of Jamaicans of all ages (but mainly younger persons, 30 and under), who gathered at various venues over the course of about a week in a venture dubbed Jamaica Arts Odyssey. The initiative was conceived by Dr. Paul Rhodes, who as a long- time aficionado of Jamaican art and indeed of virtually all things Jamaican, was desirous of presenting this creative bounty to a global audience.

"Jamaica's art is so rich in accomplishment and content and diversity and I wanted to foster a greater appreciation of this in the wider world." As the creator and proprietor of Great Huts, a collection of (semi) rustic, Afro-centric, arts-friendly resort dwellings on the lushly fringed, azure coast of Portland (Boston, to be exact), Dr. Paul, as he likes to be known, has a dual interest in promoting Jamaican art.

But as the event unfolded this year, it became clear that a ground work of bringing the world of Jamaican art "home" to Jamaicans first, to encourage us as a people to partake of and feel proud of the smorgasbord that is Jamaican creativity. 

The celebration opened with a Dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston that was centered on the topic "what is Art?". After opening statements from convener Dr. Paul Rhodes, a vocal discourse ensued, with a multitude of opinions on the subject. 

One of the featured speakers, Kenyan-born Mazola Mwashigadi held forth with a keenly personal missive on his own journey as artist and scion of a family of preachers and "rainmakers" - spiritual custodians, if you will, who don't actually produce rain as the name would suggest, but offer prayers for a safe rainy season without flooding or other incident so that the community will remain bountiful.

The bounty of information and discourse continued with writer Michael Williams exploring the issue of intellectual property as it relate ton arts in general and the visual arts in particular. He cited a number of cases and other developments, historical and contemporary, to illustrate the dynamism attending copyright issues in this "instant-info" era.

Jamaica Arts Odyssey, of a necessity, must include some of the places where art is publicly - and commercially - displayed (we must note here that the  Pegasus also includes a gallery). And in Kingston, that included Grosvenor  Galleries, Bolivar Galleries, and The National Gallery on the city's similarly overlooked waterfront. Art in a somewhat more private space was afforded by master ceramist Gene Pearson, who hosted the Odyssey group at his studio. 

As the pre-eminent visual arts educational institution in the English-speaking Caribbean, The School of the Visual Arts at the Edna Manley College was also one of the tour's "whistle stops." There, the School's Summer Programme for Juniors and Adults was in full swing and the team also learned of ArtbTherapy programs in trainer set to come on stream.

A cornucopia of art and other sensory treats awaited, some two- and- a-half hours' drive outside of Kingston, at Great Huts in Portland. This arts-laden, Afro-centric retreat (literally an elegant collection of huts of varying size and configurations) took the Arts voyagers out of their urban grind and immersed them in lush greenery, paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects of all types, the breezes and white capped waters of the Caribbean, and a mini-menagerie (including a few small reptilians that invited themselves into the rooms). The setting provided an ideal backdrop for continued discussions on the nature and appreciation of art.

On return to Kingston, the group was treated to an Illuminating luncheon and "mini-seminar" on Jamaican artist Isaac Mendes Belisario, whose "Sketches of Character"  offered revealing portraits of the John Canoe culture in the island during the tense last days before Emancipation. Mrs Facey, who conceptualised and published (in 2008) a marvelous biography of the artist (written by Jackie Ranston), also graciously gave the team an opportunity to see the water wheel on her property - which she comissioned herself, having also designed the property - in action.  

After a return to the National Gallery,the arts sojourn had a worthy coda at the Olympia Art  Centre, legacy of artist and arts advocate A. D. Scott. Although the subject was the same as at the previous dinner, the composition of the audience was even more eclectic than at the Pegasus and thus the discussion was even more spirited (influenced, by the participants' own admission, by the massive busts of first National Hero Marcus Garvey and his six venerated compatriots).

Having adapted and shifted gears, much like the Jamaican art it tracked, the Jamaica Arts Odyssey marks the end of it's first iteration with much expectancy, it participants having successfully exchanged realities, if only for a moment. W the first nor the only such exercise, but it is inarguably a diverse, inclusive, inspirational and instructive arts project, one which will seven as a model for Jamaicans of all walks of life and for citizens of the world

Racing to London: Jamaica Village 2012 gets out the blocks at Tracks & Records

Next year's hotly anticipated London Olympics coincide (almost literally) with Jamaica's Golden Independence celebrations.

The celebrations and hoopla began here in Kingston, appropriately at Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records in the Marketplace, Kingston with a lavish reception for media, business and government interests, that featured live music and dance as well as presentations of the Jamaica Village 2012 concept.

the large gathering heard from Danielle Cameron, Sports Minister Babsy Grange, Tourism minister Ed Bartlett (via video) and Opposition Tourism spokesman Wykeham McNeil

The formal inputs made, the audience got a welcome music break when emcee Shaggy welcomed the likes of Coco T and Barrington Levy. The latter opted to forego accompaniment by tracks, and in truth, they were hardly needed, as the "big man" thrilled a capella with hits like "Broader Than Broadway" "Teach The Youths" "Every Day I Love Her (A Little Bit More") and "My Woman"

And, as they have proven themselves since we first visited, the Tracks & records staff (bar, ushers and servers) were welcoming, efficient and tireless.

The Jamaica Village 2012, a private venture is set to take over Finsbury Park in Central London from August 3 through 12. In addition to live performances (a must), the Village will showcase cuisine, art and crafts,  and of course personalities from the sporting world (Bolt & Co.) as well as music, film.

Jamaica Village 2012 will be operated by Live Nation, the world-leading events and concert producer, famous for its mega-deals with the likes of Jay-Z and Madonna

photos: a view of Finsbury Park, London, site of Jamaica Village 2012;

inside Usain Bolt's Tracks and Records, Kingston

VIVA Argentina - 201 Years strong

Last year's disturbances put an immovable wrinkle in the grand Bicentennial, but this year it was all systems go for the Argentine Embassy here in Jamaica, and with the city traffic snarling its way home 17 stories below, The Talk of the Town at the Jamaica Pegasus was the perfect spot to reflect on the country's achievements and also the relationship with Jamaica, at present largely confined - on  a trade/cultural basis at least - to wines, music (they love reggae; tango has a cult following here) and football(soccer), where of course, the balance lies heavily in favour of the "River Plate" boys.

Greeting arrivals was Ambassador Mario Pino (shown at right), who was trying out his reggae singing skills before anyone arrived. Sadly, after a five-year tenure, Senor Pino is returning home directly to serve in the Foreign Ministry, a fact also rued by Jamaica's Foreign minister Ken Baugh, who also noted that Pino's Mexican counterpart, the effervescent Leonora Rueda is also departing as her tenure has come to an end.

Those announcements failed to dampen the spirits of the executives, colleague ambassadors and other well-wishers present, the conviviality enhanced by Argentinian-themed music, food and - of course - the legendary wines, the red-purple Malbec and the straw-gold Chardonnay.

The gnoshing and conversations continued well into the evening. maybe the impending FIFA U-17 World Cup Finals may change things, but certainly for the better.

The Natural View: Pegasus 3-man show

Its been a while - both for this blog and for exhibits of new material at the Gallery Pegasus. But a couple of weeks ago, three enterprising young artists put their collective talents on display in the gallery's customary home downstairs the hotel lobby.

The two painters focussed on realistic depictions of scenery inspired by the picturesque parish of Portland, with some minor deviations into semi-abstraction (top). While there as also sculpture on hand, it was the ceramic work of Wazari Johnson (above) that primarily caught our eye.

Johnson, a bit of a polymath - he also works as furniture designer, graphic artist and illustrator - says these pieces, with the facial representations signal a new phase emerging in his artistic development. "It's been a while since I've really experimented with these types of images" he told us at the opening "I didn't have any idea how they would turn out beforehand, I just allowed myself to be open to hat was coming up for me"

the show continues at the Gallery through February.

Eat up, Drink Up, Tweet-Up

With good weather (no rain, gentle breeze) there's hardly any venue that can compare to the unparalleled vantage point of the Pegasus hotel's Top of the World rooftop patio (18 stories above New Kingston).

And it proved the perfect location (or relocation) for the the second in the series of Tweet-Ups, dubbed the Tweetheart edition in recognition of impending Valentine's day celebrations

And since you can't say valentine's without chocolate, the Chocolate Dreams fountain was positioned right at the entry door to greet guests - with plenty of fruit, marshmallows, and doughnut holes (rounds) for dipping.

Inside the catering was copious and supplemented by the addition of a NUVO bar, Nuvo being the new rose-champagne, sparkling liqueur cooler.

Pegasus GM Eldon Bremner hada few official words as did Sales Manager Prudence Simpson, then it was emcee Paula Anne Porter's turn to guide the faithful through a series of quiz giveaways and a quick performance turn from Youth View Award-winning dancehall star Tifa.

Thereafter, DJs Alrick and Boyd resumed the party vibes and spontaneous dancing broke out amid the conversations and - of course the tweeting and FB updating.

From a "Walk-On" to "Featured Analyst": a Super Sunday

MEMORANDUM

To:       Victor McFarlane, Dwayne Anderson, Richard Nembhard, Maurice Foster, Michael Edwards, Peter John Breakenridge

Cc:      Mr. Stewart, Roger Hasfal, Sean Grant, Norman Mighty. Pat Spence

Fr:       Tony Young/Programmes

Date:   February 7, 2011

Re:      Super Bowl Coverage

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought the two teams covering the NFL Super Bowl 45, did an exceptional job on Sunday February 6, 2011.  The interaction between the two locations was great and ‘on time’ and no could tell that you were not linked by some television monitoring system.

I would like to thank in particular Mr. Michael Edwards who sat in for Alva Anderson who was unavoidably absent due to illness.  Although Mr. Edwards has some broadcasting experience, to fit in the way he did at the last moment was a fine example of professionalism.

Well done team...You all did well and let us strive to keep that standard in all the projects that we undertake.

With thanks