Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
LEFT: 'Ceremonial Basket' by Paula Daley on show at the Super Plus Under 40 Exhibition at the Mutual Life Gallery, on Wednesday, August 16, 2007.
RIGHT: Pastel work, 'Transition', symbolising change from one year to the next.

Anthea McGibbon, Gleaner Writer

The year 2007 has come to past, but, art-filled memories linger. It was a year of undeniable excitement for the lot and barrel of art aficionados. A significant number of Jamaicans reacquainted with their own passions, while others discovered their talent for art.

Jamaicans turned out in increasing numbers to attend the over 150 exhibitions and art events at popular spots including existing galleries, restaurants turned galleries, hotels, and private homes. Even more, they demonstrated a better understanding of art beyond painting to include textiles, architecture, jewellery, craft, fashion, graphics, ceramics and technical design. This was borne out at the Liguanea Arts Festival, annual ceramics show, Jewish Heritage Centre, Potters' Fair, Antiques and Collectibles Fair, Mandeville Arts Festival, and auctions to carnival revelry and theatrical designs.

Whether costumes, craft items, ceramics, architecture, graphic posters or billboards, the love of arts shared across the island was infectious, attracting more players into the changing perception of art.

Revolutionising the presentation

At both airports, steps were taken to radically revolutionise the presentation of our culture to visitors. At Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay, Gilou Bauer, contracted by Jim Walters, attempted to provide a historical review of Jamaican art through a series of glass panel booths, while at the Norman Manley International Airport, in Kingston, the Joseph Matalon - led team installed portraits of iconic Jamaicans. Henry Eccleston, Bernard Hoyes, and Byran McFarlane are three Jamaican artists residing abroad who shone as cultural ambassadors. Henry Eccleston, received awards from the Poetry Society, plus state recognition for his strides as an artist.

More opportunities to travel and show Jamaican talent abroad were seized by local residents soaring on the wings of our national carrier, Air Jamaica, and backed by a few sponsors, mostly from the banking industry.

The journey to secure Jamaica's rightful place at the pinnacle of international fame seemed a bit closer, especially with the determined efforts of the Jamaica guild of Artists.

Headed by Sharon Fox Mould, members secured at least three historic international exhibitions.

Attracting a wide range of skills, media and talent, the guild inched its way into the hearts of a few seasoned collectors such as Wain Iton.

Gone, but not forgotten are three prolific artists - Colin Garland, David Pottinger and Anthony Wilson. Dorothea Whiteborne, renowned collector will also be missed.

In the first quarter, the infectious cricket fever pushed artists beyond their usual boundaries. Photographer Dellmar Samuels launched his second book of cricket photographs, while Alisia Lawson and Book Merchants both delivered fast-paced books for children and women. Patrick Kitson's pen and inks, and Richard Blackford's oils were the more impressive of the lot of kaleidoscope of World Cup cricket history.

A new talent, Derryck Campbell (oil on vinyl), came out flowering at Harmony Hall with his intuitive contemporaries, while the National Gallery exposed over 90 artists, most with new philosophies. The controversial Rene Cox copped the Biennial's best exhibiting artist spot.

By the second quarter, other galleries, with Wallace Campbell's Seaview Gallery, improved the monthly offerings of the Mutual Gallery, with a wider canvas of expressions by new artists. At Seaview Gallery, Peter Ferguson launched his published photography collection of 101 noted Jamaicans. Master photographer Howard Moo Young's Going Bananas is still to be overcome.

Meantime, the graduates of Edna Manley College led by Kima Francis (jeweller) and Nevina Salmon (ceramicist) and Ainsworth Case (painter) were unleashing limitless art power, as Spanish artists crossed Jamaica's boundaries. Aside from the contemporaries mounted along the north coast, the Colombians had a 'Big' celebration of renowned artist, Fernando Botero's birthday in Kingston.

In the third quarter, a few artists and aficionados went on a daring trail.

At Mutual Gallery, Nosbourne Lee combined passion and metal into masterful forms, while Deek's design materialised Jamaica's well-needed annual art magazine, though not without controversy.

In the last quarter, art pulses were again quickened with the hosting of the 'Super plus Under 40 Artist of the Year Competition', brainchild of long-time art buff turned prima, Wayne Chen, and the redeeming 'Materialising Slavery' exhibition downtown. Milton George recovered from a bout of illness to don Mutual Gallery's walls and there was much ado about 'Barrington Watson's return to Richmond Hill after 20 years'.

'Art and Tourism' competition winners

During the last quarter, two winners, Melissa Lawrence (St. Ann) and Sharon Hare (Kingston), emerged from The Sunday Gleaner's 'Art and Tourism' competition.

Other memorable events include 'Monique Binns' at Red Bones, the Cuban fashion show, the uncovering of Jamaica's master jeweller, Garth Sanguinetti, and an Order of Distinction for Christopher Gonzalez.

From Kingston to Negril, up along the south coast and down the north coast, the many concerns over the existing conditions of our artists and artisans were revealed in the Sunday Arts special art and tourism feature. Concerns included the struggle especially with taxation on raw materials, and exploitation by a few art dealers ranked high.

Meantime, buyers posed questions as to whether local artists would ever qualify to be sold for millions in Sotherby's or Christies. Much consternation was also expressed regarding the the imposition of cheaply produced craft imported from other countries such as China and Haiti to the island.

In a Gleaner-hosted forum participants included Ambassador Jesus Silva; master painters, Barrington Watson and Alexander Cooper. Representing the Jamaica hotel industry was Camille Needham, while Jamaica Guild president Sharon Fox Mould, Mutual Gallery's Gilou Bauer, and Jonathon Greenland represented the art industry.

Garth Sanguinetti, master jeweller, spoke from different angles including fashion and jewellery and made the presence of the Caribbean's leading art college (Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts) felt.

Minister's commitment to art

The forum which underlined issues related to art in tourism has put the wheels of a new Jamaican product on track for rolling in 2008 and beyond. Newly installed Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, expressed his commitment to be on-board in steering the train internationally. A vision yet to be shared and executed in partnership with Minister of Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange. Senator Johnson also committed to forging new opportunities as ambassador to Washington D.C..

This, along with expressed interests by new hotel heads, seems a good foundation upon which the art industry can be built more securely in the future.

'Super Plus Under 40 Artist of the Year', Kereina Chang Fatt, (print and installation), Melhanie Spencer (painting), Monique Binns (ceramics) are a few women who seem determined to chart a new course for Jamaican art.

At the end of the 2007, there was enough cause to attend Scotia's

'Celebration of Art' at The Devonshire. There is much anticipation as more art players have joined the quest to secure statutes and entities to protect their identity, rights and privileges, especially with more exposure abroad.

Beginning with Lennie Little White's Outameni Experience, in Trelawny, much thrill awaits those who indulge in Jamaica's visual culture.

Anthea McGibbon, a graduate of Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, has over 10 years experience in the fields of journalism and the arts. Contact her at islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk, or anthea.mcgibbon@gleanerjm.com.

Upcoming art beats for 2008