On the House Magazine

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House of the Arts | Keeping Us Involved www.houseofthearts.org

House of the Arts aims to strategically build an intimate relationship between the audience and art. With specifically a designed programme that “comes to the viewer,� that intimate relationship is established and nurtured. Presently manifesting itself as a small online based community, the House of the Arts will over time blossom and bloom into an energetic symbiotic relationship between members of the community and art practitioners. Ultimately the desire is to attain international recognition for Jamaican art forms, thus continuing to provide that catalyst for opportunity as well as change.

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Greetings // Editor-in-Chief.

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to our free electronic PDF Magazine dedicated to the Arts in Jamaica.

On the House Magazine aims to focus on the stunning, sensational, high-impact culture of the Jamaican Arts. Our intention is mainly to allow On the House Magazine readers to always be in the know of what Jamaica’s art world is up to and to reflect and experience the arts through photojournalism, video interviews and personal interviews.

One month after the Emancipendence weekend we can only hope you had half as much fun as we did. From the Cultural Jubilee Village to the Olympic excitement, to bursting with pride at cultural ceremonies; it was an absolute joy to be able to celebrate Jamaica 50 right here at home.

This unique opportunity is one that has left a permanent scar on our memories and we simply could not resist the urge to share some of that goodness with you. So on behalf of the House of the Arts Team we would love to welcome you to our Cultural Edition of On the House Mag. We are proud to offer you a glimpse of a very festive time amongst our people, which we hope you will most certainly enjoy.

// Special thanks to:

Layout //House of the Arts Team Interactive // House of the Arts Team Cover Photograph By // Kori Solomon

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The ability to capture a moment in time you will never experience quiet the same again and freeze it for eternity is what makes a photograph simply magical. Your baby’s smile. Tossing the bouquet.

Rafting on the Rio Grande. These are the unique moments that we encourage you to share with us.

Capture is a unique vehicle through which we can all share the amazing moments in our lives with those who can appreciate them most. This is another product of House of the Arts that was designed to Keep everyone Involved.

Celebrating Jamaica through Photography Submit your best photograph today!

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contents

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about On the House Magazine On the House Magazine is a creative branch of House of the Arts. Just as the main tree aims to strategically build an intimate relationship between the audience and art, so does this branch. This is an initiative to bring about the change our team wants to see in the world. Ultimately the desire is to attain international recognition for Jamaican art forms, thus continuing to provide that catalyst for opportunity as well as change.

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How Jamaica spent her Birthday

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16 Independence Park comes Alive

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20Gungo Walk Festival 2012

Issue 1. // September. 2012 www.houseofthearts.org On the House Mag. is accepting enteries for our upcoming magazine to be released in October.

Copyright 2012 House of the Arts House of the Arts. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine should or may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means printed for duplication without prior written permission from the publisher.

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If you know a Jamaican well enough, you know that they absolutely love any given opportunity to celebrate, and do so in high style. So in the event that our independent nation turns fifty (50) years old, it is certainly expected that we would generate much excitement.

We took to the streets to document this once in a lifetime activity. This is what we captured from how Jamaica celebrated her Golden Jubilee! Enjoy!

Redemption Song Jamaican Artist, Laura Facey Cooper

The Year of Jubilee Jamaica; a great nation with vast amount of promise.

Many Jamaicans both home and within the diaspora, will join hands and hearts in celebration of 50 years of Independence in 2012.

This year to Jamaica is known as the year of Jubilee, and even though many persons are familiar with the term, they may not have in depth detail of what this is, nor the vast importance of such throughout history. The following is an overview of what is known as the year of Jubilee.

The English word Jubilee is derived from the Hebrew word ‘yobel‘ which means ram’s horn or trumpet. This occurs every fifty years and so many persons would only experience this event but once in their lifetime. Research shows us the origin of the Jubilee stems from a promise which the God of Moses

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made to the Israelites. It was a year of reconcilliation and renewal where all slaves would be set free, all debts forgiven and inheritances reclaimed. The Israelites were to calculate seven sabbatical years (7 years of 7 years which is 49 years) and during the 50th year, the Jubilee was to be observed. This was commerated with the blast of a trumpet (ram’s horn) throughout the land of Isreal.

Ironically 2012 is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, to mark sixty years of the Queen of Englands’ reign.

With the Jamaican government’s decision to become a republic and break all major colonial ties from England; what does this mean for us as a country? Is it ironical that both the historical powerhouse and the small island we love are

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International youth group performing for an engaging audience at The Emancipation Park on August 1.

both celebrating these commemorative, major ‘achievements’ in the year 2012? Or is it a sign of better or worst things to come for Jamaica? This we believe is a topic for debate now and for many years to come.

Regardless of your feelings towards such and other national issues, there is no doubt

this is indeed a great year for Jamaica. We are a unique nation full of a vast amount of promise and potential. Why not celebrate in style and with the utmost pride? Anyone proud to be Jamaican should be able to raise their eyes to the flag and allow themselves to feel even a handful of pride that we have come thus far as one.

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The Year

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of Jubilee

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interact with and experience such commererations via televised editions.

This year, JCDC decided to do something a little different, which was a brilliant and welcomed idea. By hosting a cultural village, this year These events are normally the organizers structured all hosted at various locations the various events in one across the island, more convenient location. Here particularly Kingston and St. the general public could Andrew. Throughout this period experience all the regular many persons are only able to organized events normally

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Annually the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) organizes a number of activities during the Enacipendence period, which culminates on Emancipation Day.

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associated with our festive rang a sense of pride and hope for the future. As if we needed another celebrations in one venue. reason to be proud, winners of the A wide variety of vendors to suite the Global battle of the Bands- BluPrint needs of almost every consumer, a greeted us upon entry. Taking us kiddies village and a wide range, on a solid musical journey the band of exhibitors form a part of this treated the receiving audience to excitement. The National Arena, old classics from all genres that left National Stadium Parking Lot and every foot tapping and every waist it’s immediate environs all came gyrating to the melodic beats. alive and together was known as They acquired their present title fairly as was evident and they the Independence Park. should do us extremely prod as Approaching the Park, one could they go off to represent Jamaica in not feel anything but excitement, as London in December. the energy was amazing. Everyone was highly pumped up and ready to What a great feeling it was to feel take on this unfamiliar adventure. It the warmth of the Caribbean sun was a great representation of the from above being radiated by the diversity of our culture in various people around. In spite of all the unique forms. There was a lot to struggles we have witnessed and see and also ample time to do so. continue to face, this experience was a strong testament that we From the National Arena to the are indeed amongst the happiest Main Stage to each craft vendor people on the planet!

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faces of Jamaica 50

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INAUGURAL GUNGO WALK World Music & Arts Festival 2012

After having been postponed for a week due to Tropical Storm Issacc “Gungo Walk World Music Alternative Festival� rose from the ashes like a phoenix. The concept is new to the Jamaican art community and it was a quiet and interesting one indeed.

A decent amount of persons turned out at the Edna Manley College on Saturday September 1, 2012 to see what the rave was all about.

they utilized regular areas persons seem to ignore on a regular basis and turn it into something special.

As the day transitioned into late evening, the tempo slowed down a bit and persons made their way to the main stage that would host the main event for the evening.

Arm Chair Rebelution is an initiative of Micheal Sean Harris that has blossomed over the years into a The college seemed to be an product that is vibrant and exceptionally appropriate and convenient location entertaining. Only a few minutes into the for the first annual staging of this event first performance proved this was not as EMC has been the largest hub for going to be like the average show one creativity for years on end. The campus would attend on a regular basis. Every was scattered with persons throughout stroke of a key was on point and with the day, who made it their duty to travel sharply tuned voices a musical journey from one stage to another that was worth a million bucks was underway. set up in different areas. This concept was a quirky and impressive one, as

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As pure talent intertwined with perfect execution, it became evident that this production will be here to stay. With entertainment shows being a dime a dozen these days it is great to receive quality infused with great production values and originality.

The Gungo Walk Alternative World Music Festival was a much-needed breath of fresh air and it is just a shame that it was not better supported judging by the turn out. We wish the organizers all the best in their future endeavors and hope they have the courage to pursue this initiative again and again for years to come.

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///Independence Exhibition at Mutual Gallery The 50th Independence exhibition at Mutual who are still practicing as well as those who Gallery stood reflective of our diversity as a have passed away also lends itself well to the people. With a total of thirty-one (31) pieces, variety and diversity of this particular exhibition. this simply curated display sought not after those who desired to be impressed, but rather those who are willing to peel away the layers surrounding our culture and read deeper into the underlying messages.

// See Interview below

Works from Mallica “Kappo� Reynolds, Albert Huie, David Pottinger and Osmond Watson, just to name a few proclaimed their message so loud and clear with simple pieces that demonstrated technique and other necessary elements.

Christopher Gonzales had two (2) particularly interesting pieces on exhibition that somewhat anchored the whole feeling of ingenuity and togetherness. The eclectic blend of both artists

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