By Michael Jordan
Art enthusiasts will get the opportunity to view a wide spectrum of high-quality art and craft during a two-day exhibition this month in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
This is credited to the recently-formed Berbice Art &Craft Collective, which will be hosting their first exhibition on February 28 and 29 at the Little Rock Suites.
Artist and writer Cosmatie Lindie, who is one of the group’s founding members, has said the exhibition is a blend of veterans and new talents. At least 14 creatives will be displaying their work. The exhibits range from oil paintings to sculpture to photography and digital art.
“I’m a painter, and my pieces will all be oil on canvas paintings,” Lindie told Guyana Times.
Kaieteur Falls by Cosmata Lindie
“In addition to oil paintings, there will be several acrylic paintings, and we will have some very interesting mixed media pieces. These will incorporate leather, oil and acrylic paint, clay, seeds, jute, and other such diverse materials.
“The sculptured pieces are primarily mahogany carvings. There will also be some pieces of digital art, and well-known photographer and radio personality Andy (‘East Wise’) Henry will have photography on display.
“We have a diverse mix of participants. Some are still in their teens, while others are much older. Most of the participants will be showing their work in a public exhibition for the first time, but some are seasoned artists who have participated in many national and international events. It’s a very interesting mix.
“I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. There is a lot of hidden and not-so-hidden talent in Berbice. There is going to be an eclectic mix of styles and ideas on view at this exhibition. I know for a fact that this will not be the first time an exhibition has been held here…but I think what we are planning is going to be different.
Saqr et-tair by Tasha D. Jailall
“We are encouraging the public to view it as something different from what they are used to, and to see it as both an enjoyable and educational event.”
Greatest creatives
Lindie noted that Berbice has produced some of the nation’s greatest creatives, such as Edgar Mittelholzer, Wilson Harris, David Dabydeen, the late internationally recognized sculptor Phillip Moore (creator of the famous 1763 Monument) and multi-talented artist Winston Strick, who passed away a few years ago.
She’s hoping that this venture of artistic minds leads to the nurturing and discovery of other similar talents.
“We are hoping that students will visit our exhibition, so they can get a firsthand experience of viewing and appreciating art right here in Berbice. Who knows how many potentially great future artists are lying dormant within our children, waiting for something to inspire them into waking up? This may prove to be that catalyst for them.
“There is also this false notion that if you want to experience art, you have to travel all the way to Georgetown, because everything is pretty much centred there; and we are hoping to show, with this exhibition, that we can bring that experience here to Berbice for the public to enjoy.”
Lindie has said that members of the Berbice Art & Craft Collective have realized that they “needed to do something to solidify us, something that would serve to both introduce us and provide an opportunity to engage with the wider community.”
An exhibition seemed the perfect way to accomplish this.
“We also decided that the end of February was the best time to hold an exhibition, since this would coincide with Mash. Once it was voiced, everyone was immediately receptive to the idea. Most of our artists have never exhibited before, and they were delighted to finally be given that opportunity. The realization that, ‘Hey, we can do this!’ was a really big motivation for all of us.
“We are also putting a lot of effort into publicising it, so people are aware that an exhibition is coming up.
The response has been great. People are interested and supportive of the initiative.”
Challenges
“We faced two main challenges at the beginning. One was getting enough artists, since we were still in the process of forming the Collective and literally had to go looking for artists in some instances.
“The second big challenge was finding a suitable venue. Note that we went into this without any external financing or sponsorship, so securing a venue that was in a good location, secure and spacious enough to hold such an event, was a big challenge. But thank the Universe for people like Mrs. Pearl Christie, owner of the Little Rock Suites in New Amsterdam. Mrs. Christie has always been a community-minded individual, and she agreed to let us use the hotel’s conference room for two days on very generous terms. It is the perfect venue for such an event.”
Retrospect One by Michael Hooper
Expectative from exhibition?
“For my part, greater recognition and appreciation for artists in Berbice. For the artists who are new to this, to gain confidence and experience; and to possibly open new doors for all of us. If, coming off from this exhibition, we can continue to provide a platform to lift our artists up, provide new avenues for them to take their art to higher places, motivate them to continue to grow and become better, then I will be very happy that we are achieving our aim.
“We are hoping that, for the next one, we will be in a position to seek support from the Berbice business community and other interested parties.”
Lindie and other participants have said that local artists are in dire need of financial support.
“We are constantly made to feel that art is more like a hobby, and there is need to pursue a ‘serious’ career to live. However, there has recently been talk of giving the visual arts more visibility via new galleries, etc., and that is good news.
