Lancelot Bryan, Jamaican master carver, will receive a Bronze Musgrave Medal during a ceremony to be held tomorrow at the Institute of Jamaica, 10-16 East Street, Kingston. FROM THE tiny capital of the tiniest parish he came, first breaking the colour barrier at the elite Royal College of Art in London before painting a broad stroke on the world stage.
Tomorrow, Barrington Watson, born in Lucea, Hanover, and father of contemporary Jamaican art, wins further applause when he steps up to receive a Gold Musgrave Medal for his outstanding contribution to local art.
Mr. Watson, 13 other individuals, and one group, will be bestowed the century-old Musgrave Medal during a ceremony to be held at 10-16 East Street in downtown Kingston.
In addition to Mr. Watson, gold medals, conferred for distinguished eminence, will be awarded to internationally renowned pianist Monty Alexander for his exploration of Jamaican music idioms, and to the University Singers for their commitment to music in Jamaica and the region.
Silver Musgrave Medals, for outstanding merit, will be given to:
Hope Wheeler for art education and her capacity to explore related idioms to further the education of her students; Lennie Little-White for promoting the film industry and for innovation as a writer/producer; Petrona Morrison, described as a creative and innovative art educator; Earl McKenzie, a University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, lecturer and author of many poems and short stories; Vilma McClenan, who has authored a science textbook for every grade level from pre-primary to secondary school and Dale F. Webber, PhD., coastal ecologist and UWI lecturer, for his work in supporting the preservation of the island's wetlands and environment.
Bronze Medals for merit will go to:
Muriel Whynn, whose knowledge of the Maroons spans their music and dance forms, food, rites language and traditional herbal medicines; Lancelot Bryan, who has used creative ways of involving young people in art and sculpture; Sydney Morris, who introduced music to Wolmer's Boys' School; Lloyd Parkes, a self-taught musician who recently celebrated 25 years in the industry; Shelley Robinson, who specialises in working with children and young adults, has published children's stories and has achieved acclaim as a career librarian; and John 'Doc' Williamson, who specialises in alabaster and has participated in numerous exhibitions across Jamaica.
The Musgrave Medals were first awarded in memory and recognition of the work of Sir Anthony Musgrave, who became Governor of Jamaica in 1877. He founded the Institute of Jamaica in 1879, "for the encouragement of Art, Literature and Science." In 1889, the year after his death, the Board of Governors of the Institute commissioned a medal bearing his name to be awarded annually.
The Musgrave Medal was designed by the well-known British Sculptor, Alfred Toft. Prior to 1952, the Bronze was reserved primarily for competitions and the Gold Medal was not considered before 1941. The Silver Medal therefore became the main vehicle for awarding 'distinguished merit' in Literature and Art.
The first Gold Musgrave Medal was awarded to Edna Manley in 1943. She had previously received the Silver Medal in 1929 for sculpture. Forty-two Gold medals have been awarded since 1941, six of them being 'Special Gold', as they were awarded to non-Jamaicans.
Tomorrow's ceremony begins at 3:00 p.m. and will be staged outdoors for the first time. There will be an added feature, an exhibition "Kingston 2000", reflective of aspects of city life in the capital city.
The intersections of East and Tower Streets will be closed from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. due to the event.
