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foreword Black is powerful. It possesses the authority to engulf you, deep enough to shift your mind to a superb palladium of intruging, stiffling thoughts. Yet it is classy enough to hold its head high and earn your respect over time. It is timeless as it is unique, not fitting into a vast category. Black is phenomenal and black is this edition. Exploring and highlighting the artistic movements that are setting strong foundations for a hopeful, strong future for Jamaican Arts remains supportive of the aim of the mother company House of the Arts. Persons who love and appreciate the Jamaican Arts the most, can get a glimpse of the insightful work that is conceived and implemented on a day to day basis by Jamaicans themselves. The Jamaican Arts has the potential to be the hub of our nation, impulsive and intoxicating. Will you get involved?
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dear readers What a glorious year this has been! Last year this time (well a few weeks previous to now) the team worked feverishly to ensure that the online launch of our website went well. One year later we are proud to say that it was all worth it. As this roller coaster ride comes to an end and we look at the prospects for what we hope will be another amazing year, we take the time out to thank each and everyone who has contributed to our growth and development. We would also love to say a special thank you to those who were there during the years before the website launch. This ride has been an excellent one and as tough as it has been, we would not do it any other way. As we publish this “Black Edition” we do so with the utmost pride. Look how far we have come. It gives us a great feeling and we simply could not have done it without you. Initially we intended to release this issue in February admist all the festivities associated with Black History Month as well as Reggae Month. The more we pushed for the release date, the more we realised that we too were falling prey to limiting ourselves to a particular month to ‘celebrate’ a powerful and limitless set of people. Our people. At this point the team decided to slow things down, look beyond the ‘hype’ and let the magazine speak to us. Sounds crazy, right? Call it what you may... but truth is, the Black Edition took its own form and evolved into exactly what you are seeing here today. We certainly hope you enjoy and realise that we all are a part of what will be an invigorating history.
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house on the
International Visual & Performing Arts E-Magazine
Co-ordinator & Chief Editor Creative /Art Director Contributing Writers
Contributing Editor Contributing Photographers
Interview Producer Web Developer Online Email
mag Issue 02 Visit: www.houseofthearts.org
Kimberly Everett Kori Solomon Danae Ramgolam Norma Brown-Bell Roxanne Richardson Nicholas Martin Cecelia Solomon Jason Solomon Randy Richards Rose Mountain Photos Shaneek Service Ranon Martin www.houseofthearts.org contact@houseofthearts.org support@houseofthearts.org
// Special thanks to: Jeffery Mosss-Solomon at the 2012 Rootz Underground Lions in the Garden - Hope Gardens
// Who We Are: House of the Arts is an online community which allows persons to remain up to date with the Jamaican Arts. This includes regular updates on upcoming events and artist interviews. We utilize online and social spaces for interaction and involvement in the hope to raise awareness and appreciation for our creative industries and those who fuel them. House of the Arts is a humble non-profit independent brand that will continuously aim to remain committed to the core value of keeping everyone involved and informed.
On the House Mag. is accepting enteries for our upcoming magazine to be released in June 2013. p.6
// What’s Inside: Black This, Black That
Creative Director Graphic Design Kori Solomon
Photography Kimberly Everett Kori Solomon Randy Richardson Rose Mountain Photos
Proof-Reader Cecelia Solomon
Copyright 2013 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. p.7
House of the Arts is an online community that aims to capture the natural ebbs and flows of the Jamaican artistic culture. This includes regular updates on upcoming events and artist interviews. We utilize online and social spaces for interaction and involvement in the hope to raise awareness and appreciation for our creative industries and those who fuel them. House of the Arts is a humble non-profit independent brand that will continuously aim to remain committed to the core value of keeping everyone involved and informed.
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Battling Your Identity “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined appear no one in the world has that answer. effort of everyone I have ever known.� I do know that I am very much a human, worthy Chuck Palahniuk. and blessed with all the attributes the Holy One Who am I? I am that which society has molded above created my specie with. I know I am not and sculpted into a masterpiece of definitions, all history presents me to be. I belonged to a rules, ideologies and patterns that illustrate civilization, not a random geographical space that which I am. I have been mounted on a inhabited by beasts and savages. I am not wall; I have been placed on a pedestal – not below any man as I disregard class, colour to be praised but rather to be ridiculed of how and stereotypes. I am not more of a human unworthy I am of being me. As I battle with my by making my skin lighter, nor am I more important by being in the latest trends. I do inner-self I wonder who I am. not feel compelled to follow a crowd because Who am I? Am I the colour of my skin? Am I there is always the option to lead, to inspire my hair, my social class, my culture or am I my and to make a difference. ethnicity? Is there such thing as an individual? Do I exist outside an ethnicity? Do I exist I am human. I am bold, ambitious, loving, outside of a bloodline or a culture? Do I exist caring, strong, courageous, enthusiastic, outside a stereotype? Is my gender of any respectful and respected. I embody significance to my identity? How am I living? righteousness, love for life, and equality Am I an alien, another crab in the barrel or am amongst man regardless of colour, race, class I a star bound to shine and stand my rightful and religious beliefs. Who am I? I am human position in this dark world? Who am I? It would and I am phenomenal. I am beautiful, me.
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five
QUOTES
from influential black people
1
Dutty Book”
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” Marcus Garvey said to read. Knowledge is the key.I know this is true from my own ilife experience.I am not afraid to admit to anyone I’m coming from a state of complete ignorance. My ignorance exists in many ways today , but each time I pick up a book, complete it and put it down, I feel more powerful. Knowledge is power.”
2
Muhammad
“A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he’ll never crow. I have seen the light and I’m crowing.”
5
Bob Marley
“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!”
4
Marcus Garvey
“Any leadership that teaches you to depend upon another race is a leadership that will enslave you.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
“Men often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they can not communicate; they can not communicate because they are separated.”
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for equality and justice that black people have endured for centuries. They focus on our growth or lack of, in so many areas. They focus on those who went before us and the things they achieved. All of that is good and admirable because we need to see the stock we came from and remember that through their strength and dogged determination we have indeed progressed a long way. Black people have endured and continue to endure because racism and bigotry unfortunately still live. On the other hand, I look around sometimes at the other black people who share the world with me and wonder if the struggles of our ancestors meant nothing; if we learnt nothing. Yes, racism still lives and while it is bad when it comes from someone not of our colour or lineage, it is particularly heinous when it does come from one of our own. We still continue to discriminate against the different shades of our own blackness and have created such loathing of our own colour that so many of us will go to drastic lengths to lighten and brighten it in order to be more appealing. One can always argue that all races do unhealthy things to change themselves
Embracing Our Identity Disjointed, ramblings as I sip my morning coffee.
Black History Month is upon us again and to tell you the truth, I’m not really sure that a lot of people really know what that means; the significance of having a month dedicated to us, our collective histories, struggles, triumphs, cultures. Black people spread all over the globe and our hues vary from “passing� for white to the deepest blueblack. During Black History Month, so many articles, documentaries and magazines focus on the struggles and fights
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into something else in order to be deemed beautiful…. After all, don’t white people bake in the sun for hours and risk melanoma to be darker? But I am not white and that is not something that concerns me directly. Brown-ness does, and it seems to be a global problem. I read an article the other day that said that bleaching creams and skin lighteners are some of the most commonly sold beauty products in India and Pakistan where the lighter your skin is, the more beautiful you are perceived to be. Funny, isn’t it, that here is a group of people seen the world over as being one of the most beautiful with their dark seductive eyes and glorious long hair, yet that little issue of skin tone is a problem. If the whole world was blind, would we all then be beautiful? What would happen if every single black person decided to judge each other on merit as opposed to our particular shade? What would happen if each of us tried our hardest to be our best self and stop hiding behind our particular hue “Mi never get di job because mi too dark.” Maybe you didn’t get the job because the employer really was opposed to your skin tone and chose to judge you on that; or, maybe you didn’t get the job because you really didn’t try; choosing instead to fall back on the “black” excuse because it is easier. Who the hell knows? We do that a lot, I find… We use our blackness to stop ourselves before we really
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try; to keep each other firmly in their place; to belittle and humiliate each other. What would happen if we really, really decided to stop and reflect. Remember those that set the pace, those who embraced all the different shades of our skin, those who succeeded when all the odds said that they couldn’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t… Black History Month isn’t supposed to make you spend 28 days looking at old sepia toned photographs of Marcus Garvey, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and dozens of others. Simply lauding them and their achievements and then moving on with your life at the end of February, is similar to falling back into obscurity and possibly embracing mediocrity because you think that’s all you’re worth. Black History Month is meant to light a fire in your heart and act as a cattle prod to your pride, so that you look upon these people not just as people you’ve heard about who’ve done great things on your behalf, but as people who you know and can be like. Nobody is asking you to start a civil rights movement or organize a million man march… although that would be pretty amazing. How about starting from within, with self acceptance?
Say after me… “This is who I am, and I can be amazing!” How about taking all the lessons thrust at you for this whole month from a slew of wonderful teachers, past and present, and running with them for the rest of your life, aiming to be one of those same teachers for those
who come after you? How about striving to be not just your best self, but your best black self, embracing your identity truly and honestly? Wouldn’t that be summ’n? Coffee finish; gotta get up… places to go, things to do. Catch ya later.
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An award winning Dub/Spoken Word Poet, Jamaica’s Youth Ambassador for Culture and Vulnerable Youth, UWI STAT Ambassador, former Head Boy and Deputy Head Boy of Excelsior High and Wolmer’s Boys’ School respectively. In the summer of 2012, Randy was a part of a touring party to the UK where he performed at events that highlighted Jamaica’s 50th year of independence including “Jamaica In the Square” at Victoria Park in Birmingham as well as the O2 Arena in London which played home to Jamaica House. We took the time to spend a day with Randy, vibe with him, dig deep and uncover who is this “Breadfruit Man” that we first saw perform at the recent Arm Chair Rebelution Concert. He caught our eyes and we hope you will find him and his work intriguing as well. p.15
// Click to see an
Exclusive Performance p.16
What is your Philosophy? The sky is no limit.
I really respect the performers who can genuinely engage their audiences. I love art with a message so I respect all performers Who is Randy as an artist? who I can learn a ‘ting’ from and you can learn As an artiste I represent for substance thus the from any and everyone. moniker “Kriativ Aktivis”. As a performer, a dub poet, a reggae dub poet, a spoken word artiste, How would you describe your I am aware of the awesome responsibility that personal artistic style? I have to empower my listeners or viewers as My personal artistic style is dub poetry, creative the case may be. I am a youth who fully holds activism. It is nothing mysterious. My style to and understands that while I create art to oftentimes blends elements of reggae music entertain and showcase cultural traditions, I and the spoken word. My approach includes am at a place where I can influence positive everything from having an idea or seeing an change and respect for all. I am a creative issue that needs to be addressed or that I activist “Kriativ Aktivis.” am passionate about to doing my research, writing, editing, work-shopping sometimes Who is your favourite performer of all and then ultimately releasing or performing the time and why? piece. I am big on substance then sometimes I You know I don’t think I have an all time love to approach things from the lighter side… favourite performer. In any case they would balance. cut across genres and creative disciplines. p.17
What is your best achievement to date? I was recently selected as one of sixteen (16) finalists in the Commonwealth Youth Award for Development work. There were nominees from thirty (30) odd countries and to have been included in the top sixteen (16) and now stand a chance of copping the Pan-Commonwealth Award, I think is quite an accomplishment. I am humbled. What inspired your current creative initiative? My current creative initiative is a new cultural event series that will be taking place at UWI every other Wednesday to begin with. It is called “TALK”. During my years at UWI, Mona I have always wanted to create a permanent space for individuals who want options to mainstream parties and a space to showcase young talents. TALK is therefore an answer to those as we invite poets, musicians, comedians, storytellers, dancers etc to come and showcase their talents. Additionally, part proceeds from each staging will be going towards charity; the IKAN Phoenix Fund for the survivors of the Armadale fire which took place in 2009. Who/what steered you in the direction of your present career? I started to perform poetry in my early years at Excelsior High School and continued when I went to Wolmer’s Boys’ School. I have always received great feedback for my work and encouraged to continue spreading positive messages that can empower young people and others. It is for this reason the “Kriativ Aktivis” exists today. To use my talents to create the world I want to see and by doing so helping to change lives while offering
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wholesome entertainment. In essence, issues, my life experience and those of others inspire me. Giving voice to the voiceless. What is the most important thing you have learnt in your time as a Kreative Activist? That I cannot give up on what I have started because people are depending on me. I have also learnt that this country does not have its priorities properly ordered and too much lip service if given year round. We as a people must play our part in our own spaces to impact others in a positive way and ofcourse, it takes money to care and to get your messages out. What is next for you? I want to begin work towards producing an album of my work perhaps with an accompanying book. I want to record more of my work as well do more videos so that more people can become acquainted with the work, the name and the face. Dub poetry is a legitimate art form and I intend to establish myself with the help of the Almighty and as much earthly support as possible to get my work out to Jamaicans at home and abroad as well as the wider world. Where do you see the future of Jamaican Art (Performing Arts)? There is so much for us to be had in the performing arts. We have such a rich cultural heritage but sadly, the right investments have not been made over the years. Again, there are talks about policies and so on but we wait and see what will come out of those discussions and committees. I hope for the sake of our local talents that we move quickly into setting a foundation from which we can really begin to earn and maximize on what is ours.
This is a very important time for the arts in Jamaica and unity among the artists, whether visual, spoken word, musical or otherwise. Let us use each other to spread the message.� - Protoje
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Share & discuss ideas that could be implemented to develop our Country.
We’re Coming Very Soon... LET US BUILD JAMAICA. p.24
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Jamaican Theatre
over the years
Jamaica is home to a very dynamic and eclectic theater scene. The performances are very unique as they pay close attention to culture, which sprouts forth decorative aspects of dance, music and fashion. Jamaican theater has evolved dramatically since its inception and demands celebration as well as exaltation. The involvement of the number of writers, producers and actors may still be in a developmental stage; but Modern Jamaican plays remain high in quality and entertainment value. Especially growing in popularity, are Roots plays and plays with social or political commentary. Many of us are aware of Theater for what it is today but very few know the background of this integral part of our p.26
lives and it’s beginning. It is believed that it was in Spanish Town the year 1682 that Jamaica’s first theater was hosted. The following century gave way to two additional theaters within the same region and one was opened in Kingston shortly after as well. In 1840, Kingston’s Theater Royal opened its doors. The form of entertainment caught on so well that plays were also hosted all over the island in private homes, courthouses and even stores.
got the worst seats in the house. In 1815, rebels were prosecuted and jailed as black protesters denounced both segregation and racial slurs. There after segregation no longer had a place in the theater.
In the 1820’s Kingston’s Jewish population became more influential and so theaters tended to cater more to this social group as it relates to content. Jamaican’s were exposed to operas, comedy shows, marionettes, ventriloquists, magic The beauty of our island attracted professional acts, acrobats, circuses, and blackface minstrels touring companies and groups, which comprised as these and other influential persons brought of British, American and European entertainers. their culture to the platform. Shakespeare’s There were local amateur groups who were daring productions were also very popular among this enough to compete with the elite groups. However group regardless of the clear gap between such and portrayals of our own island life. Craving for their success was not as impacting. more cultural relevance, black Jamaicans took The audiences were primarily members of the this as an opportunity to produce material to which white-upper class residents and so segregation in they could relate more easily, incorporating our this circle was high and rampant. Class became local dialect rather than ‘Standard English’. This more important than colour and as you can act was highly frowned upon however and theater imagine this was not well tolerated by those who remained largely westernized. p.27
In 1898 a massive turning point developed for Jamaican Theatre with the introduction of Christmas Pantomimes. Although Pantomimes were an English import and came to us in the 1700s, this product was taken and crafted so intricately to reflect our native traditions of song, dance and fashion, it is almost as if it were our own creation. They quickly took on a unique form of their own and at one point Pantomimes were the highlight of the Jamaican Theatre place, especially during the Christmas season. However there was more to come. Jamaicans said goodbye to Kingston’s Theatre Royal after a devastating earthquake and hello to a more majestic queen, the Ward Theatre in 1912. By the 1920’s, she had acquired a very prestigious reputation, which lasted well into the 20th century. In the 1960s and 70s Jamaican theatre exploded with the rise of various independent groups and theatres. Familiar faces began appearing in these productions, some being branded as household names. And by the 90’s Jamaican Theatre was in a place not many would have imagined. As we continue to bask in the ambiance of our cultural strides, we have a lot to celebrate in Theatre Arts. It is an integral part of our lives whether or not we know it. Hats off to the pioneers of Jamaican Theatre and all the best to the future builders. We are a strong and proud nation, that is as equally talented as we are inspirational.
Photograph taken at the NDTC 50th Anniversary Launch.
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// Click to view an
interview with Greg Bailey Above “Untitled” Oil on Canvas
Right “Mask” Acrylic on Canvas
Greg Bailey Greg Bailey is a 25 year old Jamaican-born artist that is based in the parish of St. Catherine. Having discovered art at an early age, Bailey made the decision to pursue this craft full-time after he left high school and that quest took him to the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts where he completed a BFA in Painting in 2010. Bailey has exhibited in galleries in the United Kingdom and Germany, flying the Jamaican flag high for all to see. You can keep up with this artist and the strides he continues to make. Feel free to view his pieces online and contact him. //Web: www.gregbaileyart.carbonmade.com //Email: greg.gb.bailey@gmail.com
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SVA SHOW
FACULTY
To those who are familiar with the space, the CAG[e] Gallery is one that appears tricky and from the looks of things, curators may sometimes face difficulties planning and co-ordinating an exhibition in the area. This particular collection of pieces that were selected for the SVA Faculty Exhibition 2013 must have been particularly tricky and in the same breath it is only reasonable that we offer our hats off to Winston Campbell, Curator for this year’s exhibition. Many persons tend to overlook the hard work that is channeled into an exhibition by the curator and his/her team and we wish to break that mould, here and now. Having seen and known artists, especially lecturers for a number of years, student artists and recent graduates will admit that it’s often anxiety that permeates their minds
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when anticipating the work from their tutors in an upcoming exhibition. And truth be told, oftentimes this anxiety is met with disappointment and in some special cases, shock! “The masters have failed us” is more than often the talk of the town when “the masters” present the world with their work. In this year’s staging of the SVA Faculty Exhibition however, the conversations were more inclined towards the direction of relief and investigation. This exhibition hosted a few new-comers and when balanced with the right dose of old schoolers, we were treated with what was a refreshing display. New media subtly and intricately challenged the status quo, churning out something special. Something the students of the Edna Manley College of Visual Arts may have desperately been searching for.
ollege Principal, Nicholeen DeGrasse Johnson views the artwork of Miriam Hinds.
Katrina Coombs - Sew Me, Mixed Fabric and Mannequin
Photography Lecturer Donette Zacca stands proudly beside her tryptych “Brethrems�
Jewellery Lecturer Garth Sanguinetti - Bag It - Mixed Media Sculpture Lecturer Jeff Menzies - Ostinato - Coconut and Lacquer
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To view more images of the exhibition Click Here!
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Conviction, energy and fire are the initial words that come to mind thinking about Newlands delivery onstage. Do not take the fact that he calls himself lightning lighly because he is in fact a force to reckon with. However, his feisty, pulsating persona seems to be activated by the sound of his band. When you meet Newland off stage you cannot help but wonder if this is the same person you just saw ‘chaw fya’ on stage a few minutes ago. His smile is what you notice first followed by how warm and welcoming he is. Most persons know him as the lead singer/ performer for the Rootz Underground Band however Stephen ‘Lightning’ Newland’s talents spans far beyond that which we often see. Newland has released an album entitled “ The Lost Tracks” which is a collective of independent recordings over the years. If you like conscious, insightful music then you need to check it out for yourself. Newland produces music from his heart and soul, addressing the issues such as Revolution, Love and Change. Another one of his projects is the Lasco Rootz REAP project which is a national environmental awareness programme consisting of a school tour and competition, dubbed the Lasco- Rootz Releaf Environmental Awareness Program (R.E.A.P). This will engage 50 schools across Jamaica while increasing awareness of the lifestyle/environment correlation among Primary School age children. They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice, but we do solemnly promise to give you guys much more on Stephen “Lighning” Newland in the near future. Stay tuned to see.
“Black this &Black that” Is it that we have entrapped ourselves in making reference to ‘black this and black that’, rather than just stating what the item or who the individual is, without using the word ‘BLACK?’ Have we enslaved ourselves? In following through on our heritage, including a wide range of discussions looking at our culture, ancestry, food, music, traditions, do we tend to put ourselves on a platform, so elevated we often stick out like a sore thumb, in good or bad circumstances, then wish we had not? It is in times of reflection that I often think we may have given far too much prominence to ourselves, putting ourselves out front, and regretting it, in so many instances, such a decision. Yes, we have to focus on our many achievements from way back when; bestow the accolades where and when due, wear the pride on our sleeves with great dignity and by much fanfare - but I ask the question again... Must the word BLACK be used?
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Your Guide to the best of Jamaican Arts! Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual & Literary. p.39
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