Judy-Ann MacMillan: A leading artist of the era

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Dears, it has been a concern of members, supporters, admirers and patrons of the arts that, in recent years, there has been a very serious deficiency in the appreciation of the function of art. They feel the function of the arts is helping to promote and establish Jamaica as not only an independent nation, but also in carving out its own national identity in the post-colonial era, when many emerging nation states struggled with this process.

And so it is, my dears, that now many bemoan the fact that not since Drumblair - the former residence of National Hero Norman Manley and his wife Edna, (she is dubbed by historians and critics alike as the mother of the Jamaican Art Movement), has the country seen a sustained and orchestrated movement to make our arts and culture central to our continued development and national and international identity!

Drumblair was considered the seat and driving force of the fledgling Jamaican cultural and artistic foundations, pre- and post-Independence. My dears, the records will show that Drumblair was not only pivotal, but played a crucial role in marshalling the energies and fusion of the artistic and cultural in forging national identity.

Now, the operating concern of many in the artistic community is the absence of a cohesive national policy or national framework or centre where leading thinkers, artists, playwrights, painters, etc. can meet and exchange ideas and help in shaping, guiding and presenting the agenda that will keep our artistic and cultural offerings of Jamaica intact.

Enter celebrated artist Judy-Ann MacMillan. One of the leading artists of the era, with an international reputation, who has in recent times been quite creative in offering to friends, art lovers and
aficionados the opportunity to join her at her country retreat -
Rockfield, located in the hills of St Ann.

Well, in
between her retreats, MacMillan, in her creative genius, has been
roaming the hills of St Ann, and Jamaica, being inspired by what many
take for granted or consider the mundane.

Well, last
Saturday evening, the charmingly engaging artist and chef extraordinaire
invited friends, supporters and well-wishers to her first solo
exhibition in Jamaica in quite a few years. And dears, it was truly an
enriching experience!

Hosted in the Valencia Suite of
Kingston's leading and oh-so fashionable hotel - The Spanish Court in
New Kingston, the show itself was indeed a fabulous journey,
artistically and emotionally for many, for others simply a master's
class by a painter who is truly at the very top of her
game!

Described as one of the country's foremost
academic painters, MacMillan is all that and then some. Her eye for
details has guided her to the genre of realism, where she manages to
capture the essence of her subjects - be it a landscape or a
portrait!

In viewing the portraits, one can now begin
to understand why some earlier people refused to be photographed or to
sit for a portrait. They feared that such an exercise captured the
essence of their being - their soul. And that, dear hearts, is the
mastery and brilliance of MacMillan's canvases. They are not mere
lifeless representations of subjects, but a transportation from one's
world to the next - whether that subject be a giant jacaranda; the
wizened face of a country farmer, the beauty of a nubile country girl or
the character-hardened face of a 'ginnal'.

And so,
art lovers, critics and patrons were out in fine mettle and spirits for
the one-woman show that did not disappoint. Each piece told its own
unique story of envelopment and made for an exciting
odyssey.

Dears, amid the sipping and appreciation of
vino; the artist's sibling, Robert MacMillan, was the master of
ceremonies, and he, as only he can, gave a rather witty entreaty to
those in attendance, reminding them as to just why they were invited to
the event.

Short on pomposity but heavy on dark
humour, it made for a charmingly brief interlude. But what a fabulous
exhibition it all proved!

Among those out were: Glynne
Manley; South African High Commissioner Mathu Joyini and her son,
Kemello; Charles Hanna; the regal Cheryl Mais; Peta-Gaye MacMillan and
her son Dylan Wong; the venerable Wallace Campbell; Cecil Ward and wife
Dr Elizabeth Ward; the acclaimed Maria LaYacona and Charles Matalon.
Also there were: Dr Frank Knight and his lovely daughter, Jessica
Knight; Jene and Leslie Lee; the elegant Susan Ward; Frank and Ann
Ventura; the engaging Diane Bernard; Peter and Anabella Proudlock, in
from Ocho Rios, on the occasion of her birthday; Dr Billy Lockyer and
the fab Nadine Sutherland. Also, the celebrated Sameer Tansley; Patrick
Bailey; the charming Beth Hyde-Parnell; the lovely Gilou Bauer;
Christine English; Xavier and Roma Chin; Terry Pierce and the lovely
Carol MacMillan, the charming Diana Marley; Lorraine McGilchrist;
Matthew and Vinette Ziaidie; artist Nancy Burke; businessman Heron
Thompson - looking as dapper as ever; Myrtha Desulme; siblings David and
Mary Johns; Maxine Williams; the charming Amy Laskin; Dr Jonathan
Greenland and wife Dr Rebecca Tortello Greenland and their children;
Paul and Heidi Lalor; the lovely Rachael Henriques and actor Justin
Hadeed-Awn. We also spotted the stunning Bianca Levy; the fab Pauline
Edie; with siblings Joel and Jermaine Ashbourne providing a wealth of
simply fabulous music to the evening to make the affaire the purr-fect
ensemble!

But, it was truly a charming evening, with
the exhibition set to continue until the end of
October.

Contributed Photos