EAST YARD - ISSUE 7 - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 by EAST TALKS

ISSUE 07 FEBRUARY-MARCH 2019

Danielle Boodoo-Fortune

WHY DO MURALS?

Murals are a bright and fun way to add a bit personality to a room, and for a business, possibili painting murals are endless.

For example, a mother might want some animals pa on the wall of her new baby’s nursery, while a loca owner needs a unique interior to entice customers. course, upscale office buildings often like their lob have that “wow!” factor that only a mural can pro

Outdoors, murals are used to get the public to en with art, to brighten up dull streets and alleys, an discourage taggers. So it can certainly be a lucr market for artists with the skills to create large, cu pieces of art. Kevin Vincent

MURAL SUCCESS STORIES

Street art is the biggest visual art movement the world has ever known and the uplifting effect that the murals have on us has been noted. As such, CFAFF has embarked on a mission to transform urban spaces through beautiful murals. Having already adorned the walls of the Arima Velodrome and soon the walls around the Maloney Football Field, we are now eager to bring the same beauty wit a message to your space.

of ities for

ainted al cafĂŠ And of bbies to ovide.

ngage nd to rative ustom

e e e th

Ken Reyes

Sarah Burrows

MURAL COST A minimum mural size starts at 50 square feet, for $3,200 TT. Each additional square foot is $50 TT. $500 TT upfront fee for a sketch sample, inclusive of one revision. Where scaffolding and ladders are required, as well as ceiling work, an additional $10 TT/sq ft will be added. Outdoor prices may vary. Kevin Vincent

ABOUT CFAFF Caribbean Fashion & Arts Feature Festival (CFAFF), is a non-profit arts education and promotion organization. CFAFF also manages the EAST YARD creative space in Arima. The organization is mandated to organize and facilitate educational initiatives related to visual arts, filmmaking, and fashion, for residents of East Trinidad that also directly address social issues. Revenue generated by CFAFF through your support goes directly into funding our various arts impact, community based programs for youth and now retirees interested in careers in the creative sector to assist with skill building, support internship opportunities and build job experience.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

at Ilki Place, the EAST YARD gift shop.

“Create your legacy, and pass the baton.” - Billie Jean King

ovement and growth are constants and we try to incorporate this into our everyday operations here at CFAFF and by extension EAST YARD. A definite labor of love, EAST YARD Magazine is near and dear to my heart, as it has stayed true to its mission of giving a platform to East Trinidad based creatives. The time has however come for me to transition into a new role, as publisher, allowing the publication to be guided by new ideas, innovation and fresh point of views. It is my absolute pleasure to pass the baton to the amazing Candace Dewsbury, who has now taken over the role of Editor-in-Chief. Candace brings with her a wealth of experience from the corporate sector as well as being an entrepreneur. Candace is Executive Director of her creative start-up, Book Things, which has recently found a home

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I can’t wait to see the direction Candace takes the publication in and know that we will be wowed!

Photo by: Bill Mortley

EDITOR’S NOTE

am excited to be writing to you for the first time from the editor’s chair for East Yard Magazine. I bet you’re wondering, what did we do to the previous editor, Kevon Foderingham? Not a thing, I promise! We decided to join hands and work together to bring you some exciting new content over the next couple of months.

First, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Candace Dewsbury and I am the Executive Director of Book Things. Book Things has been an online based company operating in Trinidad and Tobago that promotes reading as an experience. Our services include but are not limited to customized book gift boxes, book sourcing, handmade journals and book accessories. In 2019, we are adding the sale of local and Caribbean based books right here at East Yard. v

East Yard is managed by CFAFF, a non-profit organization which by no means has been a quiet bystander. CFAFF ILLUSTRATE Arts Impact Initiative to End Violence was a massive success as a culmination to the 2018 CFAFF Fashion Film and Street Arts Festival. In addition, CFAFF had a successful partnership with Ministry of Community Development, Culture the Arts for a six week technical art camp. East Yard is home to so many other small and creative entrepreneurs and artists. In addition to providing a physical space for sale of their handmade products, East Yard has been used to host numerous entrepreneurial courses for small businesses. We intend to

introduce you, our reader, to each and everyone one of them. Every one of our partnerships, artists and our students. We intend to take you to every event we host or are honoured to be a part of. We hope that you are just as excited as we are for the coming months. We are now only two months deep into 2019 and are smack in the middle of the carnival season. Nonetheless, we offer you an exciting issue featuring Carline Gumbs, an extraordinary all-round creative entrepreneur as she takes us through her creative journey and process. In addition, we will look at the Black Queer World Building workshop hosted by revolutionary artist/activist Jacob V Joyce. So sit back, find your comfy spot and relax with East Yard.

PUBLISHER : Kevon Foderingham. EDITOR: Candace Dewsbury. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR : Leah Laing. Cover photo by: Leah Laing. Caribbean Fashion and Arts Feature Festival EAST YARD, 27 Prince Street, Arima, Trinidad and Tobago. 868-748-8674 | caribbeanfaff@gmail.com @caribbeanfaff EAST YARD www.caribbeanfaff.com/east-yard FB: @eastyardbycfaff IG: @_eastyard EAST YARD is published monthly by Caribbean Fashion and Arts Feature Festival. All rights reserved (c) Caribbean Fashion and Arts Feature Festival 2019. No part of this magazine shall be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Photo by: Carline Gumbs

CONTENTS TIZIK - 3 Read more about the founder of Tizik, Carline Gumbs, as she talks about education, crafts and the future.

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BLACK QUEER WORLDBUILDING - 7 Find out more about this workshop hosted by artist Jacob V. Joyce, and their mission to spread awareness.

CFAFF 2018 DIGEST - 17 A summary of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival and what you can look forward to this year.

Photo by: Brandon Kalyan

ABOUT EASTYARD MAGAZINE EAST YARD Magazine is published online by Caribbean Fashion and Arts Feature Festival. The publication focuses on highlighting East Trinidad-based creative entrepreneurs, arts initiatives, and stories of social good. With a trial run of four issues from the end of 2017 to present, the magazine has already amassed a following with hundreds of readers and well over 2,000 impressions, and will be published monthly in 2019. ADVERTISING RATES Back page Inside cover (front or back) Full spread Full page Half page Quarter page Banner

$200 $150 $150 $100 $75 $50 $25

Cost to build artwork (if required)

$500

ADVERTISING SIZES Full spread: 16” x 11“ Full page: 8” x 11” Half page: 8” x 5.5”

Quarter page: 4” x 5.5” Banner: 8” x 2”

COMMIT TO 6 months - 1 year of monthly advertising for a 20% discount Issue 1 - January 2019 Issue 2 - February 2019 Issue 3 - March 2019 Issue 4 - April 2019 Issue 5 - May 2019 Issue 6 - June 2019 Issue 7 - July 2019 Issue 8 - August 2019 Issue 9 - September 2019 Issue 10 - October 2019 Issue 11 - November 2019 Issue 12 - December 2019

Third World Armerica an exhibition by

Gary Martin Ti

ck e sa ts le on $5 , 0!

Performance by: Gary Martin 1 complimentary drink at the door

EAST YARD Friday, May 3rd, 2019 27 Prince Street, Arima 8 PM - 11 PM

TIZIK

his month we caught up with Carline Gumbs, the creative force behind accessories and jewelry brand, Tizik. Carline describes Tizik as a brand that brings awareness to the transformative nature of upcycling and believes that Tizik’s mission is to help people to realize that there is still value in things we consider to be trash.

the mother of all invention. I saw the most beautiful things being made from discarded items like plastic bags, soda cans and other items. It made me see the beauty in upcycling and that the possibilities were limitless. EY: What is your vision for Tizik? Carline: I want this to be more than just about selling jewelry and accessories. I want Tizik to be a social enterprise. I plan to have more classes, host more workshops and give people the skills

“It is what it is and it ain’t what it ain’t.” EY: Why did you decide to launch a jewelry and accessories brand? Carline: Jewelry is one of my creative outlets. Tizik has been around for almost four years and stemmed from my travels and experiences. My visit to South Africa was especially eye-opening as the people there are extremely innovative. It is a clear example of necessity being 3

they need to use everyday materials to create something beautiful that can use for themselves or sell to others. EY: Apart from your creative endeavours you are also an educator in the more formal sense. Tell us about that. Carline: It runs the gamut of being a life skills trainer, life coach, adult educator

and doing youth work with various organizations. I see myself as being a natural teacher. It is something I enjoy and it informs everything I do. EY: What do you want out of life? Carline: I want to leave a legacy and ensure that people are learning or have learnt from what I have offered. On a more personal note, I want to travel more. The travel bug is itching. I feel travel is so important as it informs your growth, gives you more ideas and allows you be more compassionate. It builds you as a person and makes you more three-dimensional. EY: How has your journey as a female entrepreneur been thus far? Carline: It has been great even with the challenges. It is important to have clear boundaries and set clear goals and understand that challenges bring opportunities. It has been a balancing act. EY: What would you tell a young person getting into business?

Carline: My advice would be to develop a sense of resilience and tenacity. So many things come at you from so many angles and you to be able to bounce from the pit falls. You have to be able to dust yourself off. Learn from the failures as it so easy to fall apart. I urge everyone to find the lesson. EY: What do you believe in? Carline: One of my favorite sayings is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fortune favors the brave.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; That has been my mantra for a while now. It is what it is Photo by: Leah Laing

and it ain’t what it ain’t. It is about putting your best foot forward and but also knowing when to release. EY: What do you want to be remembered for? Carline: I want to be remembered for being an innovator and seeing things people don’t see and helping people realize their creativity. Not all of us ever realize our full creative potential and I want to be remembered for helping people access that part of themselves and making us all see how much better the world would be if we allowed our collective creativity to shine through. Photos by: Carline Gumbs

-- AMENITIES OFFERED: -Outdoor courtyard Indoor meeting/events space 10 ft x 15 ft outdoor projection screen 10 ft x 14 ft outdoor stage area Kitchenette Airbnb - furnished one bedroom apartment listed on Airbnb (18USD/night)

Perfect for all kinds of events, such as: - art exhibitions - birthday parties - bridal showers - baby showers - brunches/lunches/dinners - family reunions - forums/events - office parties - movie screenings - intimate weddings and more!

Meetings are $80 per hour, and includes tea station! Rental for the entire day is $800.

-- ABOUT CFAFF --- CONTACT US -1-868-748-8674 caribbeanfaff@gmail.com caribbeanfaff.com

Caribbean Fashion & Arts Feature Festival (CFAFF), is a non-profit arts education and promotion organization. CFAFF also manages the EAST YARD creative space in Arima. The organization is mandated to organize and facilitate educational initiatives related to visual arts, filmmaking, and fashion, for residents of East Trinidad that also directly address social issues. Revenue generated by CFAFF through your support goes directly into funding our various arts impact, community based programs for youth and now retirees interested in careers in the creative sector to assist with skill building, support internship opportunities and build job experience.

BLACK QUEER WORLDBUILDING BUILDING A BLACK QUEER WORLD

lack queerness has always been under the microscope of heterosexual conformity. Humans who identify themselves as part of the Black Afrocentric queer culture have more often than not found themselves in spaces that uphold queer-phobic violence and judgement above their safety and well-being. These are the spaces that Jacob V Joyce are trying to change using workshops to assist queer folks to disconnect from and heal. On Saturday 23rd February 2019, Jacob conducted one such workshop in conjunction with I Am ONE TnT, a Community-Based organization advocating the needs of Gender and Sexual Minorities, at our very own East Yard. The workshop, entitled Black Queer 7

World Building, provided a safe space for participants to think about and share their representation of a shared, safe future for members of the LGBTQ community. Inspired by the works of afrofuturists such as composer Sun Ra and author, Octavia Butler, the workshop utilizes writing and poetry-making exercises as well as mural and image making exercises. Participants were invited to create and share their depiction of a future in service of black queer healing, safety, happiness and unity. We got to sit in on an interview conducted with both Jacob and Arnaldo James of I Am ONE. Arnaldo: I met Jacob in London in 2015 and since then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve kept in contact. I think from that point I was really mesmerised, honestly, by their work

Photo by: Brandon Kalyan

and the ways that they advocate for themselves and their community, and challenge everyone who comes into contact with them to be better in a number of aspects, including how they interact with persons. Jacob: That’s beautiful, that’s so nice of you to say. My name is Jacob V. Joyce and I am an artist and, I guess, activist as well; a lot of my work centers around political issues and amplifying activist groups or amplifying decolonial, queer, historical, blossoming narratives. I’m so

grateful to I Am ONE because, as an artist of Trinidadian parentage who makes a lot of work about LGBTQ issues, I’m really advocating from a distance and trying to find ways to support LGBTQ struggles in Trinidad, because it’s very close to home. But I feel a big disconnect and a big kind of like ‘how could I possibly connect to this community that I feel is like a part of my DNA and a part of my own struggles’, so I’m really grateful to have been supported in organising this workshop and supported through I Am ONE, which has been reaching out 8

to people and helping me connect to people and do this workshop. I really hope that this is the start of a lot of things in terms of a future relationship, not just with I Am ONE but other organisations in Trinidad and in the Caribbean in this wake of this change to the law which has, to my understanding, negative and positive aspects to it, in terms of what it means for queer people living here, so it was really a privilege to be able to come here and do a workshop that gives people a space to think about a collective future. Arnaldo: Adding to that is how great it’s been to get support from EAST YARD. I did an exhibition at EAST YARD back in 2017 called Mission Black Satellite which I think in many ways echoes and resonates positively with the work that Jacob is doing. I see EAST YARD as a space that continues to facilitate collaboration and community amongst folks across diasporas. Jacob: Yeah EAST YARD seems like a great space, the kind of 9

space where these kinds of things should be happening in terms of decentralising them, taking them out of Port of Spain. From what I’ve heard, it’s a similar thing of things always happening in London, everyone always has to travel to London, it’s as if these communities don’t live everywhere and everybody doesn’t deserve access to creative spaces, so I’m really really happy to have done it in EAST YARD. Photo by: Brandon Kalyan

Interviewer: Walk us through the workshop that happened today.

calling Black Queer Worldbuilding Workshops, the first of which took place in London with a group called OPAL, which Jacob: So the workshop is inspired by stands for Out Proud African LGBTQI, the work of afro-futurists like Sun Ra and which is a group of refugees and asylum Octavia Butler and it’s basically using seekers predominantly from Uganda, writing, poetry making, mural making and Nigeria and Cameroon and from African lots of other little image making exercises countries in general. They’re all people to create representations of a black who are fleeing from repressive anti-gay queer future, or a future that’s in service laws that have been put in place in of black queer joy, healing, grief, solidarity, England. So there is a big connection unity. This is the 4th workshop which I’m to Trinidad in the sense that the buggery laws that are here are similar to the buggery laws that are in Nigeria, Uganda and other Commonwealth countries. They are a colonial legacy. I see this workshop as a direct response to the violence of colonialism and homophobia and how these two things are combined. It’s a healing response in the sense that it’s trying to connect all those people who are surviving and resisting those energies and just be like “I am one, we are one” so I think it really resonates with the goals and the work I want to do. Arnaldo: I think it’s critical for 10

Photo by: Brandon Kalyan

salvation is tied up in your salvation. There’s a quote from a really prolific indigenee activist who says, “If you’re going to come into my community to save me, you might as well just stay where you are. Because if people it’s not coming from a place of pursuing to your own liberation - if you’re not entering appreciate that to pursue your own liberation, then you safety and health are really don’t understand what this is about. essential for life and for Your liberation is tied up in our liberation. everyone to survive, and that’s We’re not looking for any more foreign where the work that we do comes from. saviours.” We as LGBTQ people do face types of oppression that bars and prohibits us from Jacob: That’s really the nail on the head surviving and in doing this work, it benefits for me. I can’t talk with any confidence everyone to have a healthy, peaceful, about what Trinidad should or shouldn’t prosperous future. I think it’s critical do in terms of LGBTQ people and to appreciate that our work and our legislation and how these kinds of things 11

should change. But what I do understand is that the struggle that you face and that people face in terms of having their protections from my understanding, people can be evicted from their homes, they can lose their jobs, these kinds of things-

thing that black people in the diaspora and the UK are facing, so it doesn’t seem like it’s an alien problem, it just feels like a problem that’s been chopped up into little pieces so we can’t see that were fighting the same monster.

Arnaldo: Yeah as a law, homosexual people, along with the ‘mentally feeble’ I think is how it was described, can be barred entry from the country.

Interviewer: This being a type of affirmative, safe space for people to have an outlet to express themselves, what are some similarities with the people you’ve worked with in the UK and here, based on the work produced here today?

Jacob: For me, that is the same thing that is happening in Uganda, Nigeria and it’s also the same as the homophobic, transphobic attitudes, queerphobic in general attitudes that’s happening in the Western society, and I think this problem is always painted as a black problem. People like to try to pretend that African countries are homophobic and that it’s the job of the West to go and fix it but no, you put those laws in place, it’s your problem and it’s still prevalent in your society, in the way that the UK treats black people and queer people, so it feels like it’s part and parcel of the same

Jacob: We are all incredibly observant and talented and beautiful and important assets to the world. Black queer people really just have got such a - I feel like just by virtue of being black and queer and having to navigate those violences that exist against us in the world, a lot of people who inhabit those types of bodies and lives they have to become more observant, critical, empathetic and understanding of how oppression and how inner qualities manifest, and as a result tend to be more aware of things going on. I think if I tried to do this workshop with a group of white straight 12

people, I would not expect them to come up with as many beautiful, affirmative reflections of a collective future. I couldn’t really summarise the similarities; I noticed that everyone is incredibly different but everybody is also very powerful, beautiful and important. The things that people bring into the space are things that are urgent, and as Arnaldo said, are things that everyone needs. We all need space to heal, we all need safety, we all need spaces where our children and future generations will not be persecuted for things that they can’t help. So I think the work that black queer people do just by existing is work that everyone can benefit from. Interviewer: Why art?

Britain by starting Notting Hill Carnival and bringing that energy of Carnival over to Britain, so I always thought of her as someone to pay attention to. She was onto something there. Arnaldo: Art is like a type of accessible medium that people can express themselves and find legitimacy and develop their articulation. Something that I believe comes about through the arts is the ability to communicate how you feel, what you’re thinking, where you’re at, what you think they’re at, position your assumptions, your biases, your optimism, and in the arts that’s honed, but as I said I think in many minds of people it’s a space of accessibility and many people can access the arts, and I think that is

“A PEOPLE’S ART IS THE GENESIS OF THEIR FREEDOM.” Jacob: Well, Claudia Jones said “A people’s art is the genesis of their freedom”, and she came and she completely changed the landscape of 13

its usefulness. We welcome people into this workshop to figure out their liberation through different activities that you’ve done. They could grasp it through

Arnaldo: My suggestion is to surround yourself with people who are healthy. When I talk about health, I’m talking about people who are seeking out Interviewer: As an artist practicing your and maintaining their own mental health, work, reaching out and trying to heal, because only people who are securing what would you tell the young people? and seeking out wellness can support you in the ways that you may need Jacob: I would say to young queer support. I think that includes physical people out there: find people who don’t health, like a friend that is getting out and ask you to shrink yourself. Find people who doing things to stimulate and nourish their don’t ask you to be somebody else. Find bodies and minds, those are the kinds friends who are comfortable around you, of people I want to encourage you to and if you can’t find them in your social surround yourself with. People who are circles, go online and find groups and invested in the environment too, people chat to people and go on forums and who are always seeking out knowledge stuff because I think this world tries to and prosperity. That’s my advice to make you feel that you don’t belong in young queer people. Just like in any other it and that there’s something wrong with community, there are unhealthy people you, but we are here. We’ve always been who will make you worse. So just seek out here, we will inherit the earth and we are the people who are bringing positivity everything, we build everything. Black to your life, and once you’re surrounding queer people and our allies, brown queer yourself with those people, you’re good people, we’re out here and we have the to go. That’s your squad. best jokes and the best fashion and the best time and we’re all waiting for you, Jacob: Be patient with yourself as well. you just have to find your gang and even It takes time to do loads of things you if they are on the other side of the world, want to do but if you’re a young person, there are people who are rooting for you you’ve got time. and they want you to win and survive. language, they could try to grasp it through movement, they could try to grasp it through spacial awareness.

Photos by: Brandon Kalyan

CFAFF 2018 DIGEST

FAFF Fashion-film and Street Art Festival 2018 came and went in a whirlwind of community and

activity.

The festival took place over the course of two days: Friday, 12th October and Saturday, 13th October, 2018. On Friday, we invited students from Arima North Secondary to come in to preview the exhibition done by the CFAFF Illustrate class. In an interactive session with the artists, the students had the opportunity to learn more about the art process and even got some useful art tips. Friday night saw our film-screening and gala award ceremony. It was the official opening of the CFAFF Illustrate exhibition, and the new artists were excited. Guests were asked to wear something purple in support of ending Gender-Based Violence, which was the theme of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival. After a short program, the films were shown and winners 17

were announced. The categories and winners are as follows: Best African Fashion Film: Picha Marangi, directed by Nathan Collett. Best Caribbean Fashion Film: Sankofa Art on Purpose, directed by Jamie Philbert. Best Caribbean Student Fashion Film: Inside the Outside, directed by Argent. Best International Fashion Film: Versace Valentine, directed by Luca Finotti.

Photo by: Leah Laing

In addition to these awards, founder of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Asa Market and creative powerhouse, Arlene Singh, also won the CFAFF Award for Creative Excellence for her decades worth of work in fashion and art in Arima. On Saturday, we were down at the Holly Betaudier Promenade for day two of CFAFF 2018. We had live mural paintings on the walls outside the Arima Velodrome, which resulted in nine completed murals by the end of the event. The artists included are: Bruce Cayonne, Ken Reyes, Turunesh Raymond, Kevin Vincent, Gary Martin, Danielle Boodoo-Fortune, AJ Rogers, Sarah Burrows and the CFAFF Illustrate class.

defence workshop from SOHKC Reality Based Combatives, a dance session with Jamie Philbert, and wire bending & stone painting with Ruth Felix. There was also a workshop done by Yonited TT, which focused on holistic health and wellness, positive energy and female sexual and reproductive health. CFAFF 2018 may be over but CFAFF 2019 is coming up quickly! Stay tuned to see what we have in store for you!

Our artisan market was up and running simultaneously to the murals. A number of local, mostly East-based artisans all had the opportunity to showcase their craft and build a new clientele. There were also workshops happening at the same time: we hosted an art activity for children facilitated by the Anti-bullying Association, a self18

Photo by: Mario Sargeant

Photo by: Leah Laing

Photos by: Leah Laing

TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES

PACKAGES OFFERED

Art therapy Art sessions (drawing & painting) Jewelry making Movement & dance Fabric Design Chocolate making demonstration Soap making Candle making Craft sessions (papier-mache, wire bending, soft furnishing)

1 - 4 hours - $2,000 4 - 8 hours - $4,000

Each package caters for up to 20 participants. Materials are included. Sessions can be conducted on site at the workplace, or at EASTYARD.