Norman Grindley/ Staff Photographer
'Serving Two Masters', by Christopher Gonzalez, one of 33 invited artists whose works are on show in the 2001 Annual National Exhibition organised by the National Gallery of Jamaica.Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
Works by over 90 artists are expected to highlight the 2001 Annual National Exhibition, organised by the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ), which is scheduled to open today in the Kingston Mall at 11:00 a.m.
Guest speaker will be Patrick Lynch, director of finance and planning at Sandals Resorts International. An avid art collector, Mr. Lynch is a former member of the board of directors of the National Gallery.
Mounted annually since 1977, the premier exhibition in art circles is expected to highlight trends in Jamaica art over the current year in all visual media, including paintings, photography, ceramics, fibre arts, works on paper (drawing, collage, watercolour, original print or pastel) and sculpture/assemblages/installations.
One hundred and twenty works will be on show this year by a mix of artists - established, upcoming and recent graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA).
According to a gallery spokesperson, the show will feature a wide cross-section of approaches - from hyper-realism and traditional realism to surrealism, expressionism, and cutting-edge conceptual art.
Works by intuitive artists will also be featured, including pieces by the late Allan "Zion" Johnson.
The spokesperson told The Sunday Gleaner, that a total of 193 entries by 101 artists were submitted for selection in the juried artists section.
Of this, 87 pieces by 62 artists were selected for the exhibition. The selections were made by a judging panel comprised of artist Alexander Cooper; photographer Maria La Yacona; art tutors Eugenio D'Melon and Margaret Chen (both of the EMCVPA); artist/tutor Petrona Morrison (who is also a member of the NGJ's board of directors); gallery owner Annabella Proudlock; and chief curator/director of the National Gallery, Dr. David Boxer.
The other 33 artists in the show are 'recognised' professionals, with a national reputation and sound exhibition record, who have been specially invited to show their works in the invited artists section.
As is customary, the exhibition is expected to feature a 'mini-exhibition' honouring those artists who have received Musgrave Medals in the year under review. This year, the sole honouree is artist Alexander Cooper, recipient of the 2001 Silver Musgrave Medal for excellence in art.
The Annual National Exhibition is scheduled to run through to March 2002. Visiting hours at the gallery are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays; Fridays between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The gallery is closed to the public on Mondays and public holidays.
