Michael Robinson, Gleaner Writer

Natalie Barnes

When Natalie Barnes created 'Justice League', she knew the oil painting carried strong messages, but she was genuinely surprised by public reaction to the piece. She never expected it to lead to a meeting with Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

'Justice League' features figures from Jamaica's contemporary political landscape partially clad in costumes belonging to superheroes from the popular DC Comics comic book of the same name. The painting received a silver medal from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) in this year's staging of its National Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition. But that medal was just the beginning.

Since the exhibition's July 13 opening at the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ), 'Justice League' has drawn crowds and created much debate on various levels. Employees of the NGJ say 'Justice League' has brought the most viewers to the gallery for a single piece in recent memory. After the painting and its creator were featured in the Sunday Gleaner on August 3, Barnes says her phone started ringing off the hook. One call informed her that the prize winners needed to be at the gallery for an official viewing by the PM and other officials the following day.

Bombarded by questions

Golding arrived early, says Barnes, and congratulated her on the painting which also won the JCDC's Viewers Vote Prize. The Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange was also in attendance for the viewing, as well as such notables as Barry Chevannes, Pat Ramsey, Wallace Campbell, Vera Hyatt and Andrew Phillips. Barnes was bombarded by questions - people wanted to know what she was thinking when she did the piece. The artist fielded all such queries with the same response: 'The painting is entirely open to your interpretation.'

The words of Vera Hyatt, wife of the late Charles Hyatt, held special meaning for Barnes. Hyatt said she was particularly impressed to see such great work come out of Jamaica, according to Natalie. "Vera was very encouraging," related the artist, who said Hyatt applauded the fearlessness of the work.

"It's so important," Barnes gushed, "to grab hold of your dreams and embrace them 'til they consume you."

From left: David Boxer, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Veerle Poupeye and Minister of Information, Culture and Youth and Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange view 'Justice League' by Natalie Barnes at the National Gallery of Jamaica last Monday. - Contributed