The highly anticipated Edna Manley College's 2009 School of Visual Arts (SVA) Final-Year Exhibition opened on Saturday, June 6, at the College's amphitheatre. The annual ceremony enjoyed the usual dedicated patronage as the show is known for its creative appeal and powerful social commentary. This year's edition is a creative evolution of diverse works by 36 final-year students in the degree and diploma visual arts programmes, specifically in painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, art education, textiles and visual communication - otherwise known as graphic designing.

Guest speaker Patricia Ramsay, cultural director at the University of Technology and member of the college board, spoke to the diverse population at the college and urged them to continue to produce work that inspires. She also encouraged patrons to support the young artists in whatever way they can so that our legacy of creativity can be sustained.

spirited affair

Still image captured from Visual Communication final-year student Crystal Paul's 'Road Rage' short animated film. - Contributed photos

The exhibition was a spirited affair that engaged and enlightened the eager audience with eye-catching displays.

Issues such as crime and violence against children, the bleaching phenomenon and the importance of buying local produce were examined. Memorable pieces included Kemoy Morgan's 'mirror, mirror' collection of jewellery which celebrates the natural beauty of Jamaicans, Warren Buckle's metal sculptures, portraying the dangers of improving organic life through artificial means, and superb textile pieces - handwoven chrysalis - by Lakesha Wilks, which reflected her precise and colourful personality.

The exhibition also showcased remarkable paintings by Dwayne Scott and Kristina Rowe, who presented an individual's struggle to differentiate between reality and fantasy, and explored the black female body through the agencies of popular culture respectively. Diandra Davis from the Art Education Department used her pieces to reflect art as a visual language that merges the eyes, hands and mind to express thoughts and feelings. She states, "My aim is to possess superb aptitude and the requisite attitude as an educator to facilitate productive learning experiences for all my students, so that they grow in understanding, acquire new knowledge and develop artistic skills."

visual communication

Guest speaker Patricia Ramsey addresses the audience at the opening ceremony of the SVA Final-Year Exhibition 2009 at the College's amphitheatre last Saturday.

The exhibition is curated by Veerle Poupeye, who selected from the work of qualified students who presented their final exams last week. This year's final-year show also features visual communication students, who previously had minimal representation in the main body of the exhibition. This has resulted in a larger exhibition with several ambitious site-specific projects that shed new light on the high quality and innovative work that is done in that department.

Captivating visual communication displays were mounted by Crystal J. Paul, Kori Thompson, Leasho Johnson and Marlon Dixon just to name a few. Paul's 'Cool Nuh' Campaign targets children and addresses anger issues, using cartoon simulation and Thompson's animated pieces which kept the audience intrigued with their playful and vibrant overtones. Johnson used his art to demonstrate how fashion and branding can be enhanced through graphic designing, while Dixon showcased an intricate combination of graphic designing, product design and automotive art.

While most of the exhibition was set up in the studio spaces of the SVA, other areas such as the College's Art Gallery (CAG[e]) and the courtyard of the library building were used to display paintings and outdoor ceramic pieces respectively. The CAG[e] hosted Monique Lofters' unique collection of paintings that commented on obesity, and were representative of the autonomic structures formed within an over-weight individual. The library's courtyard outdoor setting created the ideal backdrop for Andranique Morgan's flawless ceramic collection, which depicted the effects of human activity on the depleting environment.

The SVA final-year art exhibition 2009 illuminates creativity and diversity through various art forms that reflect the beauty of digital art, brass jewellery, textiles, dry leaf arrangements, still life photography, art education, scrap metal sculpture, among many others.

The exhibition will remain open until June 22. Daily opening hours are: Mondays to Thursdays: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Kemoy Morgan's intriguing jewellery piece, titled 'Written Beauty', at the School of Visual Arts Final-Year Exhibition.

Masterpiece titled 'Bad Cabbage' from sculpture student Warren Buckle's 'The Art of Technological Waste' scrap metal collection.

One of Marlon Dixon's (visual communication student) pieces, titled 'sniper camouflage', demonstrates the seamless fusion of product design, autographics and graphic designing.

Art education student Diandra Davis' drawings from her collection of motivational pieces, titled 'Drawings - exploring lines, colours and movement'.