Art and tourism have new beginnings in Kingston

At a time when the Government of Jamaica is seeking to increase the tourism offerings of Kingston, world-renowned visual artist Bryan McFarlane makes his contribution through the exhibition titled ‘New Beginnings’.

The current exhibition is being hosted by hotelier Evan Williams as a launch of the Gene Pearson Gallery, located at the R-Hotel and named in honour of master sculptor, ceramist and teacher Gene Pearson who passed away a year ago. The R-Hotel, located on Renfrew Road in New Kingston, is operated by businessman and award-winning architect Evan Williams.

Poised to enhance the face lift of the business hub of the metropolitan area, the exhibition breathes fresh perspective on Kingston at this time of the city’s development. Art lovers have another week to view the month-long exhibition, which ends on April 13 with a ceremony to be addressed by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

International exposure

Williams explained that Professor Bryan McFarlane was chosen as “it was important to have an artist with international exposure, and Bryan is well known and exposed around the world”. Williams described the works as “Brilliant, reflecting the influences of McFarlane’s travels to Beijing, China, and other countries”.

Entering the gallery, from right to left, one can see the calculated placements of the 13 pieces by curator Dr Jonathon Greenland in realising his ambition for visual arts tourism in Jamaica’s capital. The flow of the exhibition is done through reorganising fragments of McFarlane’s series along with one or two other pieces. Yet, together they blend to bring you into a new way of thinking and can be summarised through ‘Like the Weather’ series (2019).

They also reflect how the artist has tapped into his past to face the future.