Left: Tom and Rose Tavares-Finson and Dr. David Boxer (left) at the birthday party they hosted for Colin Garland. Right: Tom Tavares-Finson (left) and Colin Garland in a memorable moment at the latter's belated birthday party hosted at Stony Hill last weekend. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
HE BELONGS to the ranks of those 'Jamaican' artists, whose cross-cultural fertilisation has set them apart from the emerging painters of the early era of the Jamaican art movement.
Now, theirs has been a most important contribution. For the most part, these expatriates not only adopted Jamaica as their homeland, but also took up the challenge as early forebears of its evolving art scene. In the process, they created a fusion from their varying experiences that took on a contemporary identity to become synonymous with the emerging Jamaican art movement.
One such artist is the esteemed Colin Garland.
An Australian national, Garland first came to Jamaica in the early 1960s. He was so completely at home here. With as little fuss as possible, the art community adopted him as one of its own. That gave Garland the peace of mind needed to facilitate his creative outpouring of sculpting and painting as his preferred media.
Garland is reputed to be equally 'proficient' as a sculptor and a painter, but the truth is, 'proficient' is a word one would use to describe the work of one less talented than he. Garland's works are not to be classified and/or graded, and force you to think 'outside the box'.
His creativity is way beyond the scope occasioned by conventional wisdom. Those who would quantify and/or seek to define this artist and his body of work in conventional ways would be missing the essence of the man and his work. And herein would be the tragedy (not unlike the subjects he frequented), as Garland never sought or desired anyone's approval or recognition as he set about his journey of creativity. If the boundaries which he ignored are to ultimately be his judge then not unlike the greats before him, Garland may well have to wait for another generation to be fully appreciated by art lovers with that discriminating sense of the avant-garde and/or surreal.
A GENIUS AND HIS FRIENDS
Garland has, through his genius, managed to garner an ardent core of admirers and hard-core collectors of his work. And if, as they say, his work is not readily accessible at first glance, or even after a period of studious absorption by would-be self-styled experts, then pity the would-be, but economically challenged, art lover.
My dears, Colin Garland's works are definitely not the stuff you find in your local cash and carry. They do, however, grace the walls of some homes here in Jamaica and across the globe.
Now, one of those homes in upper St. Andrew that the works of Colin Garland can be found, and in abundance, is that of noted criminal defence attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson and his wife, former model and actress, Rose Costantini. Luvs, theirs is an enviable collection of fab renaissance style artists in which Garland commands star billing.
Dears, Tom Tavares-Finson has been one formidable art collector for many years now, and so naturally has developed a fine eye and appreciation for the best of the best. In his years, not only has he mastered a fabulous collection, but he and his wife have come to call a number of these artists friends.
So, when Garland celebrated his 72nd birthday a few weeks ago, with the artist's actual birthday falling over the Easter holiday period, there was not much hoopla to mark the occasion. The Tavares-Finsons had, however, committed themselves to throwing a little do in his honour and all partying was placed on hold, pending the expected do by them.
Well, my dears, last Friday evening, with the city in the throes of some fabulous parties and outings, Tom and Rose Tavares-Finson opened up their beautifully-appointed Stony Hill home and hosted what was decidedly a fabulous little number, dubbed a belated birthday party celebration for Colin Garland.
MEMORABLE OCCASION
And dears, it was quite a charmer. In fact, it was more like a love fest, and then some!
The whole affair began tentatively enough with guests arriving shortly after 7:00 p.m. for what was clearly intended to be a memorable occasion. And memorable it was, as for the most part, the art society came out to celebrate one of their own, and in fabulous style.
Luvs, the Tavares-Finsons' home is not only well-appointed, it is fabulously decorated to accommodate fine partying, as its driveway takes guests to the entrance to a charming little courtyard that serves as the entertainment nucleus around which all activity revolves, and so it was here that guests gathered for the most part, sipping on premium libations, with the house drink being rossinis, and my dears, how!
Dinner, my dears, was a gem and then some, as Rose Tavares-Finson cooked up an Italian fare of the finest order, only topped by the chocolate mousse of a birthday cake and the oh-so-wickedly delicious tiramisu that had some guests in rapturous appreciation.
With dinner taken, there was an interlude for testimonials, as a number of guests shared some memories of happenings "of the good old days" when Garland had first arrived and set out upon his journey of conquering his craft and fashioning a palette that would go on to not only influence many a contemporary artist of his adopted homeland, but also those beyond our shores, so much so that there are those Caribbean scholars who credit him with being the father of the Haitian contemporary art movement.
PRESENCE OF GREATNESS
My dears, talk about being in the presence of greatness! It was like that and then some, as it did get a little mushy and then downright celebratory, as visiting Australian cocktail singer Maggie Mangiavitti took to the stage and began belting out some really def tunes and fab arias, that not only got the attention of guests, but had some dancing to her rhythm, way into the night. It made for one fabulous little shindig, and a fitting way to celebrate the artistic genius of a great artist!
Those out included: The Most Hon. Glynne Manley; Robert MacMillan, his sibling, the fabulous, and oh-so-talented artist, Judy-Ann MacMillan. Also out: Dr. David Boxer; Keith and Diane Fredricks; art collector extraordinaire Wallace Campbell; the simply fabulous Maxine Walters; Harold Brady; Annabella Proudlock; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Scott; the fab Dawn Eckval; David and Elle Grinan; Colm and Paula Delves; Hugh and Ouida Dumphy; Kacey Ferguson; Yogi and Claire Fernandez; Evan and Betsy Williams and their daughter Enola Williams.
Also present were: Mr. and Mrs. Guy McIntosh; Maxine Williams; William and Rosey Thwaites; Jacquelynne Pearson; Andrew and Colleen Phillips; Donald and Norma Campbell; New York-based painter Eteri Chkadua; plus a number of others. It was one fine outing!
