News

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

The Institute of Jamaica is more of an underappreciated treasure trove than a hidden one. It is, after all, in plain sight - and attractively so - at 10-16 East Street, Kingston. But, special occasions aside, the halls are not teeming with persons eager to connect with the material the institute has been in charge of preserving since it was formed in 1879.

Recently, The Sunday Gleaner's Mel Cooke tracked his two daughters, 10-year-old Amani and eight-year-old Asmahani-Aza, as they were given an extensive tour of the institute, recording their reactions to what they were being exposed to.

The Institute of Jamaica tour starts at the Art in Schools exhibit, which is a big hit with both children. The exhibit presents the best of the art from high schools this year and is organised by the institution. It takes a little time to get to the top school, Seaforth, but there is excellent quality to see along the way.

Generation gap

A generation gap is immediately obvious: Amani asks acting deputy director at the Institute, Gillian Corrodus, who chaperones the tour, how persons doing tie and die get the colours to go where they wish on the material.

I knew the answer to that because tie and dye was part of the art and craft we were taught at Lyssons All-Age School, St Thomas, decades ago.

Corrodus gives us the papier-maché quick facts as she goes through St Hugh's.

And it is on to Denham Town. There, Leonardo Christopher's depiction of a slashed arm grabs our attention. "This is scary," Asmahani says. The inscription reads in part: "Razors and knives are now my friends. People have failed me as opposed to razor and knife that promises to cut me and they keep their promise ... ."

Corrodus explains that the artwork is "social commentary through the eyes of students a little older than you". So, very young eyes look at the viewpoint of ones which have seen much more. Amani comments that in one painting a woman's hair is the waterfall.

Pop culture carries across generations as Damian Marley by Damian Williams of Math Unlimited catches our eyes.

A notch above the rest

Seaforth High's exhibition immediately looks a few notches above the pack, and closer examination only increases the gap. Amani says: "this school won, right?" Seaforth did, but there is also an individual winning piece there.

Corrodus gets them to guess which one it is, and they try without success. Once again, pop culture pulls them in and they gravitate towards Kenneth Dawkins' work. He works extensively with newspapers, composing images around 'Mavado' and 'Sting Clash'.

The violent imagery is strong. Very strong.

Travis Williams was the winner with his Conversation, marked ink on cardboard.

Immaculate Conception High School won photography awards. Bee in a Flower intrigues both girls, and a picture of waves crashing into rocks sparks interest also.

The rest of the exhibition includes St George's College, Maggotty High, and Clarendon College. True to form, Asmahani spots some shiny stuff and her eyes glow as she says: "jewellery! wow!" In the commentary book, Amani writes "Veeerrryyy outstanding". Asmahani's impressions are "good and pretty".

• 'Our People, Other Worlds'

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

The first question Amani and Asmahani-Aza - students on tour at the Institute of Jamaica - ask at the 'Our People, Other Worlds' exhibition is the natural one: they want to know if the shrunken head is real.

They, also want to know if the crocodile, osprey and moose on display were once living, breathing creatures, and their eyebrows go up when they hear that they were. Still, they will not go close to the crocodile, despite some judicious prodding.

Jason Ramsay does the walk-through here and Asmahani questions him about the exhibition's title right away. "Other world?" she probes, and he says: "we took one part of the world and carried it here. Do you know what that place is?"

They chorus: "Africa!"

Ramsay has an ample supply of humour. One of them asks if the walls are related to Africa as well, and he says, "no, Matalon, Jamaica."

The main focus

Part of the tour is a video, and they sit happily through African Bus Video. At the end, Asmhani asks: "you guys were following the lady in the purple dress. Why?" Ramsay replies: "Because she is the main focus."

Among the displays are two artefacts which appeal to disparate sides of their personalities. A tiny bicycle catches Amani's eye (Asmhani concedes "it looks good" then quickly asks "you ride it?"). Ashanti gold weights arrest Asmahani's eye. A ceremonial sword carries some weight for them.

At the end, Asmahani writes "scary, but interesting" in the comments book, while Amani opines "unique and scary".