Art students strut their stuff By Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter After a gruelling three or four years learning the skills of the trade, students from the School of Art at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) are staging their annual exhibition. The show, which was scheduled to open yesterday, is part of a final year examination which requires students to submit a research paper and produce a body of work (an independent project) for assessment. These are then put up for public viewing. Art tutor and exhibition co-ordinator, Natalie Butler, told The Sunday Gleaner that this year's line-up includes three ceramics students; one in jewellery; nine in painting; four in sculpture; nine graphics students, four in textiles, and four others in art education. If the imaginative, expressive (sometimes radical) works are anything to go by, the students are coming out with a wealth of talent, and are expressing their messages and feelings in rather original ways. As Hope Wheeler, dean of studies, told The Sunday Gleaner: "These students are looking to the future - not only in terms of the work world, but the difference they can make in society, hence the theme of the exhibition 'Revelations of a Changing Generation'." Messages Socio-political or economic messages are explicitly or implicity expressed in the paintings and sculptural displays. Dave Thomas, for example, uses twisted, gnarled structures to pinpoint issues of poverty and declining values in the society. The large pieces hang from the roof, protrude from the walls, and cover the floors of the workspace in a mix of foam, found materials, tree roots and bark - conveying strongly an imagery of decay and death. Fellow-student Sheldon Blake sought to portray the "urban individual who dwells in psychological isolation, within the confines of social, political and architectural structures." His large-sized, neo-expressionist paintings use violent colours and horizontal lines, windows and compartments to depict the "struggle, pain and trauma; compressing of emotions, and total depersonalization" of an elusive subject. Both Mr. Thomas and Mr. Blake are aware that, despite originality and expression, the kind of art they are producing might not enable them to make a living from art alone. After graduation, both plan to teach art, even as they pursue options for advanced studies. But they will not give up the "integrity" of their craft for, as Mr. Blake declared: "To become a force in the 21st century, artists will have to make greater sacrifices and give of themselves totally to work, in spite of consequences or reactions." Public opinion is a secondary consideration for 21-year-old Mabusha Dennis, who's just completing the three-year certificate course in painting, as he uses his works to express convictions and beliefs as a Christian. An open Bible features prominently in his Devotion Series, depicting Christ in the ordinariness of life, while the closed book points to the "ending of a semester; the ending of the message being sent," the artist told The Sunday Gleaner. He added: "I don't know where art will take me, but I want to use my talent to spell out the message of salvation, to enlighten even while expressing." Less intense (although no less ambitious), Donald Waugh exhibits a rare sense of humour with his series of moulded heads. Five pieces express a range of emotions, while five others show varying levels of mutilation and deformity. The message? "I allow my viewers to form their own opinions," Mr. Waugh said, "And the various interpretations are amazing." While his desire to "create things" led him to sculpture, Mr. Waugh wants to enter the world of movies and special effects, so he plans to pursue further studies abroad. He said he will continue "doing expressive things in ways that people are not imagining," and will be participating in another exhibition soon. Thought-provoking Philip Thomas and Trudy-Ann Myrie are sharing exhibition space, and one of Mr. Thomas's piece is a thought-provoking abstract tilted Moonlight Sonata in tribute to 18th century classical by Ludwig Beethoven. Ms. Myrie's treatment of toilet bowls and sinks has resulted in rather interesting compositions. Toilet bowls, plumbing pipes and sinks were objects around in the studio where we worked and these served as ready models," she told The Sunday Gleaner. "The challenge was to make these objects as artistic and interesting as possible outside their intended function. I found that as I went along, that the colours and brushstroke developed a language of their own, giving an added element to the work. I'm happy with what I've accomplished and, in the process, I've learnt something about myself." In quieter ways, other students have produced interesting and original works, while expressing social messages. Antiguan teacher, Isa Francis - completing a four-year diploma major in art education - sought to express her convictions about preservation of the environment and cultural heritage. The variety of jewellery craft, sculpture, ceramic pieces, painting and textile art she produced reflected her concern even in the colours, technique, and material used. For her, the years at EMCVPA have resulted in considerable improvement in her techniques as an artist/educator which, she knows "will help me to develop my students." In Antigua, she teaches art and craft to upper grade students, (to CXC level), and operates a small craft boutique. She says it is easy to make a lucrative career as an artist in her native country as "few persons pursue this profession that it is not as competitive and stifling as in Jamaica." In addition, she said, if an artist can offer a variety of products, this can help to create demand". It is through an informal trade arrangement that she has sold paintings and craft items for fellow-students in Antigua over the years she's been studying, and plans to continue assisting where possible. In the ceramics department, Leonia McIntosh displays a variety of functional and decorative items. A member of the Association of Jamaican Potters, and bronze medal winner in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's fine arts competition (1999 and 2000) she's had experience promoting and selling her works and knows that she can "make a full-time career of my craft." Her fellow ceramicist, 21-year-old Wazari Johnson, says the the student exhibition is his first chance to expose his works. His display includes a variety of functional pieces, surface designs and sculptural pieces. His bowls, teapot set, platters and sculptural pieces are exhibited under a theme of God's Creations, reflecting nature and underwater life. Distinctive style In the Textile Department, the distinctive styles of the individual printers and weavers demonstrate the extent to which the graduates have learned about usage of materials, techniques, design, colour and harmony, while works in the Graphics Department attest to the high quality being developed by the students. Graphic student Lisa-Marie Garcia is proud of the corporate image project she's completed after three years - titled JA Vogue, along with complementary logo, stationery, posters and calendars. "Graphic design is all about communication," she stated. "Using elements of type, colour, space, and a particular medium." But, despite the prospect of quick employment after graduation, Ms. Garcia revealed that the economic environment was taking its toll on the graphic/advertising industry. "Producing works that are impacting and appealing costs a lot of money, and in today's environment, the challenge for the artist is to make the most out of the very least. That can be challenging in so many ways." Like many of her fellow students, she plans to undertake graduate studies abroad in pursuit of higher academic qualifications. Some students plan to pursue professional careers in their chosen disciplines, others are opting to become teachers, while others will pursue entrepreneurial activities.
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