SPIRITUAL AND gripping are words to describe two art exhibitions which opened in Kingston last week. These are the creative life-work of painter/sculptor Lawrence Edwards, spanning 1960 to 2000, opened at Mutual Life Gallery on Oxford Road and 'Pulling Back The Curtains' a joint exhibition by artists Dawn Vaz and Viv Logan at the Terra Nova Hotel, on Waterloo Road. This latter exhibition also opened simultaneously on the internet.
Friends, families and art lovers turned up to give moral support to the artists.
Mr. Edwards, whose works have been described as "spiritual", "honest" and "detailed", has been an artist for 50 years. He told The Gleaner he was mostly self taught, although he went to art school for two short periods.
He said he felt a great sense of satisfaction from people appreciative of his works. Mr. Edwards reminded his audience that "the greatest construction project is to build the human mind and the greatest form of destruction is to destroy the human mind."
Ainsley Henriques, chairman of the Norman Manley Foundation and friend of the artist for 40 years, said "there is an honesty of expression that stands out in his work, which is mainly expressed on such woods as guango and cedar that can stand the test of time."
At this event were Colombian Ambassador Alfonso Munera; Professor Barry Chavannes; Lloyd Reckord; Gilliam Rowlands; Ted Williams and Lenny Ruddock.
Over at the Terra Nova Hotel, Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga, officially declared the exhibition opened. He said the artists, Vivian Logan and Dawn Vaz, have used their art as therapy.
Miss Logan, who battled with cancer, had feelings which she was better able to express through surrealism. And according to Mr. Seaga, using that medium of expression allows for the juxtaposition of things which are not normally seen together in normal life.
He described Miss Vaz as a "restless spirit", who had "magnificent creativity".
The two artists started painting seriously just over five years ago. For this, their major exhibition, both painters decided not to see each other's pieces until all were completed, but many who viewed the display spoke of similarities in the themes, the expressions and the use of surrealism.
Mr. Seaga also commended them for their plans to market art online and said he felt there was no reason why Jamaican art should not impact on the world as so many other facets of the Jamaican culture have done. Among the art lovers in the crowd were Gloria Moodie, Patrick Bailey, Carol Campbell, Joan Russell and Carla Seaga.
