Book Review - Jamaican artists on show

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  Title: The Art of Jamaica, A Prelude
  
  
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  Written by: Wayne Lawrence
  

Wayne Lawrence, artist and writer, has prepared a book that looks at Jamaican artists from their own perspective and examines the motivation and inspiration for their creations. While most of the previous publications like this one have focused on Jamaican creators from an academic point of view, this book has given the artist themselves a voice and we are allowed into their private world.
In this writer’s opinion, the value of that unique perspective awakens a new appreciation for the works that adorn the wall of offices, homes and public spaces.
The suffix ‘A Prelude’ is a welcomed additive, since the focus of the book is on living Jamaican artists, whose works are gathering popularity and gaining value during their lifetime. The implication that there is more to come from this perspective makes this first publication a much-needed and must-have reference for Jamaican art and collectors.
While the book includes most of the standard bearers of Jamaican art, such as David Boxer, recently deceased Seya Parboosingh, and Barrington Watson, it also reveals more of the contemporary masters like Alexander Cooper (culture master), Howard Moo-Young (Silver Musgrave awardee and photography guru), Kay Sullivan (sculptor) and Viv Logan ( portrait artist extraordinaire). The images of the art add a delightful hint into the artists’ world as they have chosen to share with the reader their personal creations and those pieces dearest to their hearts.
Most interestingly, Alexander Cooper reveals emphatically, “I like to paint something that others can identify with. I mostly do representational paintings because that pleases me. I like to portray what is in front of me.” This response may go against the grain of many contemporary artists, and he, in using this medium, has conjured for us many aspects of our culture that may have eluded our population. ‘The March’ created in 2003, ‘Life in the 17th Century’ 2003, give us a glimpse into historical Jamaica and are prominently featured as two of his personal favourites.
Dorothy Henriques Wells, Jamaica’s master floral painter and water colourist is well known for her “brilliant transparent hues and overall lyricism”. Dorothy’s inclusion here marks a well deserved right of passage and recognition for her achievements and dedication to portraying the effervescent florals and landscapes of Jamaica.
Kay Sullivan’s work adorns many Jamaican public spaces, and though we see and admire them daily, we rarely meet this private, creative spirit. She reflects on ‘The Sam Sharpe Monument’ 1984. “The trust had a single figure of Sam Sharpe in mind, probably a pedestal. I wanted to break with tradition and have a work at ground level so that the people could interact with it. I also wanted a group. You could not have a man who was a public speaker without an audience”.
Art lovers worldwide will enjoy and learn from this publication. It is available from Trafford.com and published by The Jamaica Guild of Artists.