Visitors discuss Owen Beckford's painting, 'The Family'.
Sana Rose, Contributor
IT IS always the hope of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) National Visual Arts Committee to have travelling showcases of the winners of its annual art competition across the island.
Lack of funds and appropriate venues over the years have prevented the staging of such exhibitions. But, while the challenges in this regard persist, it was with great eagerness that organisers welcomed the opportunity to exhibit once again at the Montego Bay Civic Centre in Sam Sharpe Square, St. James. The first exhibition opportunity presented itself four years ago in 2001 when the old courthouse and parish council building was restored, renamed, reopened and dedicated. Interestingly, it was in May earlier this year, that the National Visual Arts Committee hosted a workshop in painting and drawing techniques in the hall on the first floor of the centre so it was indeed a timely return to the Second City to share the fruits of such training and development.
A PRESENTATION OF WINNERS
This time around, the Institute of Jamaica - that has responsibility for the museum space on the
centre's ground floor - through the St. James Parish Council agreed to display the works in one of two galleries of yet another group of talented Jamaican artists who excelled in the recently staged National Visual Arts Competition. This exhibition, which opened on Tuesday, September 13, is a medallists' showcase which, as the name suggests, is a presentation of those artists in the competition who won gold, silver and bronze medals. The show comprises the works of over 100 artists in eight categories - painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, sculpture, fibre arts, collage and printmaking. This is the second exhibition of winners, the first being the display of all the awardees including those who received merit certificates at the Shortwood Teachers' College in Kingston.
The opening reception was attended by teachers, students, artists, art lovers and civic representatives such as Custos Rotulorum, the Hon. Clarence Nelson; principal of Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, Dr. Cecile Walden and Miss St. James Festival Queen, Narda Malcolm. The evening consisted of winning cultural speech and music items from the JCDC Festival of the Arts this year, a Powerpoint presentation of winners in the photography slide category, an overview of the JCDC's visual arts programme and the cutting of the ribbon to officially declare the exhibition open, which was done by two students from Supreme Preparatory and Sam Sharpe Teachers' College.
When the doors were opened, visitors were visibly awed by the overwhelming array of talent on show. Most persons lingered in the space for over three hours, allowing themselves to be transported by the artists' works on imaginative and stimulating journeys. All top performers in this year's competition, the artists did not fail to make strong impressions on viewers even at their second showing.
Guests were first greeted by professional painter, Owen Beckford's gold-medal winning entry 'The Family', a large composition of three superimposed faces of different sizes combined with a warm palette and a tactile surface that beckoned closeness to touch as well as the requisite distance to sufficiently 'see' and appreciate the image.
The piece was surrounded by other gold-medal winning entries including 'Hyde and Seek' by Stacy-Ann Hyde who copped not only one gold and two silver medals, but also the HEART Trust/NTA's trophy and studio art prize for the most outstanding amateur entrant, which gives her the opportunity to stage a solo exhibition next year.
PERSONAL IDENTITY
Hyde made sure to be present at this opening reception as she missed the first in Kingston where her mother accepted her awards on her behalf as she was off the island. As viewers continued to move through the labyrinthine passages of display boards and pedestals, they encountered works by student artists from ages seven to 17 as well as amateurs and professionals that explored form, tone and colour, tackled issues of personal identity and expression and those of national importance, recalled daily life even the seemingly mundane activities and objects; celebrated the human spirit and the splendour of our natural and man-made environments.
The Medallists' Showcase of the National Visual Arts Competition will continue at the Montego Bay Civic Centre until Friday, October 7. Viewing hours are Tuesdays to Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some pieces as well as a full-colour catalogue are available for sale.
Sana Rose is the Visual Arts Administrator at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission
