An artist is best measured not necessarily by the accolades he/she gets for his/her working lifetime or thereafter, but for the thought-provoking responses he/she engenders with his/her work.

This is particularly true, if the artist in question has managed to elicit and sustain more than just the passing interest of the wider society, as against the hero worship of friends, family or relatives. As it is by far, much better as an artist to suffer public ridicule rather than to have the members of his/her coterie heralding his/her perceived genius. In this respect, the mere act of stimulating debate by their creations does more to cement the authority of the artist, than pious accolades being eschewed by those who never lead but, like chameleons, take on the colour of their surroundings.

In this respect, artist and sculptor Laura Facey Cooper is a true artist!

Staying true

She rises above the need or desire for popularity by public acclaim in her work, by staying true to her motivational forces to create and in her creation make the very bold statement: "Your approval is not sought nor required," evidenced by her cerebral approach to her craft.

On Sunday last, Facey Cooper threw open the doors to her home - a sprawling farm in the hills of St Ann, appropriately named Mt Plenty, and unveiled her new body of work, under the theme 'Where I Stand', and dears, in so doing Facey Cooper once again established her pre-eminence, as one of the more talented artists of the era.

Spirit of freedom

With Where I Stand, Facey Cooper, dismisses conventions to embrace the spirit of freedom to create; her medium here being wood, and in browsing through the near 50 pieces marvellously displayed throughout her imposing home, there was no escaping the one constant motif throughout, and that was this was an artist now in a constructionist mode.

Her pieces, cerebral and larger than life, literally and figuratively, and thus create the immediate impression that the work was, for want of a better expression, institutional in scope - meaning that one would be very comfortable walking into the Guggenheim, the Louvre and, most certainly, the National Gallery of Jamaica, and seeing any and/or all of these pieces on display. And if not in any of these esteemed galleries, then most certainly in the boardroom of Microsoft, National Commercial Bank or the collection of international collector, Francesca von Habsburg.

Pride of place

We are talking arresting here. With the beauty of the exhibition being it defies boundaries, while welcoming definition and contrasted sharply with the commissioned Redemption Song that now occupies pride of place in the very popular Emancipation Park, in the heart of New Kingston. And represented such a divergence, noted artist Jag Mehta, commented, after viewing the exhibition, "Laura Facey is easily one of the most versatile artists I have ever met!"

And then there was the backdrop to the exhibition, my daahlings, a simply marvellous outing! We are talking a family styled barbecue and outing here, punctuated by an open spit with a roasting steer, jonkunno dancers, drummers, mento, fruits, flowing bars and simply august society, all making for a faultless soiree.

My dears, we are talking style perfect here, and monumentally so!

Among those were: parents of the artist, chairman of Pan Jamaican Investment Trust, Hon Maurice and wife Valerie Facey; the artist's husband Gordon Cooper and their sons, Sam Cooper and wife Sabrina Deleon Cooper, and his sibling Lee Cooper; their uncles, Jeremy Cooper, Stephen Facey and wife Wendy Facey (CEO Pan Jamaican Investment Trust); Phyllis Ward (sister to Maurice Facey); Cecil and Dr Elizabeth Ward; the erudite Winston Stona, and Susan Ward.

Other guests

Also out were: Custos of St Ann, Radcliffe Walters and Norma; Hon Oliver Clarke and Monica Ladd; Hon Barry Watson and wife Doreen; Alex Hamilton and his betrothed, the charming Erica Downer; head of the EU Delegation Ambassador Marco and wife, Fiela Mazzocchi-Alemanni; Dr Ralph and Dodi Thompson; Robert MacMillan; Georgina Cooke; Trevor and Margaret DeLeon; Basil Watson; the fab Suzie Benjamin and her sister Diana McCaulay; Pat Ramsey; Peter and Annabella Proudlock.

Also out were: PJ Stewart; Senator Tom and Rose Tavares-Finson and their children, Capri and Roman; Peter Junor; Greg and Susan Shirley; Mark and Julie Jones; Jerry and Carmen Craig; the acclaimed Clive Thompson; Cookie Kinkead; Larry Watson; Sue Henzell; David and Ellie Grennan; the elegant Gloria Palomino; Randy Mair and wife Nicola Croswell-Mair, her sister, the charming Felicity Croswell-Brandt, Carlyle and Diane Hudson; James Samuels; Myrtha Désulmé; Cecil Cooper; Barbara Blake-Hanna and her son Makonnen; Amber Vicens Stewart; Justine Henzell; Gilou Bauer; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr Rebecca Tortello Greenland; Kolly Moses and Dr Petrine Archer Straw; Vikram and Additi Dhiman and their son; Scott and Sheila Graham; Richard Jones; Virginia Burke; Roger and Claire Turner; Dennis and Jackie Ranston; Tamara Scott Williams; Ian and Suzy Banks and Anne Hopwood.