Burchell Duhaney, right, newly-appointed principal of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA), in animated discussion with, from left, Librarian Juliet Lawson, Hope Brooks, dean of the School of Visual Arts, and E. Junior Myers, registrar. The occasion was the opening of a recent exhibition of works from the Vivian Virtue collection donated to the college by members of the Vivian Virtue Memorial Trust. Over 500 books and 17 paintings from the late writer/poet's collection were handed over the EMCVPA. At right, viewers look through some of the books currently on display at the College Art Gallery (CAG[E]) at the EMCVPA.
Winston Sill photoGeorgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
VALUABLE paintings, sculpture and rare books from the collection of the late poet/writer Vivian Lancaster Virtue were handed over recently to the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) by some of his friends.
Among the artwork are paintings by artists Albert Huie, Osmond Watson, Ralph Campbell, Alexander Cooper and some intuitives. The 500-book collection focuses on Caribbean, North American and European literature, and includes some rare historical publications.
The gifts, presented by the Vivian Virtue Memorial Trust, are on display in the college's art gallery located in the multi-media library.
Vivian Virtue was one of Jamaica's pioneer poets, a contemporary of distinguished writers such as Claude McKay, J.E. Clare McFarlane, W. Adolphe Roberts and Una Marson. He published one volume of poetry 'Wings of the Morning' but his works have appeared in several anthologies and literary journals.
His contribution to the development of Caribbean literature was acknowledged by newly-appointed EMCVPA principal, Burchell Duhaney, who stated that "This gift is more than just the passing on of material goods. It is an act of putting national interest over self-interest, as hundreds of students across Jamaica and the Caribbean will now have an opportunity to read, research and view fine works of art because of the unselfish deeds of a man who valued education and the arts. It is from these books and paintings that inspiration for music, dance, art and drama will find fertile ground for perpetuity."
OTHER ENDOWMENTS
In congratulating members of the trust for the donation, Mr. Duhaney stated that the college would welcome similar endowments as the institution seeks to re-position itself for the future and expand its range of services.
"As we seek to forge a path for the college in this new dispensation, alumni and friends and well-wishers should not hesitate to follow this example and make their endowments, bequests and gifts where the benefits can spread widely to advance our mission at Edna Manley."
This was underscored by EMCVPA board chairman, Jeffrey Cobham, who stated that the institution could no longer rely solely on Government assistance.
"Assistance from the Government is always welcomed but, increasingly, we have to depend on benefactors and well-wishers at home and abroad," he told his audience of students, staff, and well-known literary figures. "Our plans for the future will have to take this phenomenon into account. So this why we are thankful for this donation from the late Vivian Virtue. The gifts will be of worth to students and the wider community."
Leslie Scafe, chairman of the Vivian Virtue Memorial Trust, provided details about the late poet during his address.
Born in St. Andrew in 1911, Virtue was a graduate of Kingston College where he came under the influence of the first headmaster, Dr. Percival Gibson, the Classics scholar who became the Lord Bishop of Jamaica. It was here that a fondness of language was instilled in him, which was later reflected in his poetry and translation of classical texts.
After graduating, he joined the Jamaican Civil Service and worked with the Ministry of
Labour as a senior officer. He retired from the Government service in 1962 and went to live in England.
His poetic life began at an early age and a collection of his poems was first published in 1938. It was titled Wings of the Morning and was to be followed by other publications containing sonnets, villanelles, nocturnes and other poetic forms all written in his elegant, literary style.
Virtue was an active member of the Jamaican Poetry League, serving as one of its vice-presidents. He was also a founder-member and later vice-president of the Jamaican Centre of the International Pen Club. He was honoured for his work in literature in 1960 when he received the Silver Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica.
He died in England in December 1998, and his friends established a trust in his name to promote Caribbean literature, art, music and architecture. The trust's aims also include public education on the life and works of the poet.
Other belongings, such as manuscripts, correspondence and photographs, were donated to Pennslyvania State University in the United States by his friend, Professor Alan McLeod. That institution hosted an exhibition in 2002, titled A Jamaican Voice: The Life and Poetry of Vivian Virtue.
In that same year, Professor McLeod published Wings of the Evening: Selected Poems of Vivian Virtue, with some of the poet's previously unpublished works.
