Art college in Jamaica holds first graphic design exhibition

At the Edna Manley College’s “CAG(e) gallery recently, graphic design students, teachers had the chance to host their own Arrival.

The Arrival is the first graphic-design exhibition hosted by the college’s art gallery, a stark evidence of how much the art expression has taken off in Jamaica.

Expressive graphic tees, glossy magazines, vibrant party posters – graphic design is widely and well accepted and appreciated in Jamaica. The air was thick with anticipation as the crowd was testimony to the appreciation of local talent, at the opening ceremony of The Arrival: the Art of Graphic Design, held at the Edna Manley College’s art gallery, CAG(e).

There was much animated discussions about the mesmirising pieces, mostly 3-dimensional, among students, staff, board members, the media and members of the general public viewing piece after piece. The exhibitors were Jermaine Wellington, David Sykes, Kadir Martin and Richard Whyte, who are all Edna Manley College alumni.

The local newspaper, The Jamaica Gleaner, reports that during his opening speech, curator of CAG(e), Winston Campbell, relayed to the public that the exhibition relied heavily on the process of research that began a year ago, shortly after the exhibitors approached him about the idea of hosting at the CAG(e). He also implored patrons to have an open mind about the showcase and the general area of visual communication.

“The works of art don’t have a fixed way of being presented. As you walk through the room, you will experience four different ways of presenting this area called graphic arts.”

One of the exhibitors, Jermaine Wellington, who represented the group, also underscored Campbell’s point by noting “the exhibition was based on more research than execution, which resulted in a lot of sleepless nights which was worth it”. Campbell also congratulated the exhibitors for their successful solicitation of funding from sponsors Courts, Dunlop Corbin Communications, RD Studios, Print Big, Coorpak, Signs Jamaica, Dee Licious pastries and Montcrieffe’s Patio Shop who helped to make the exhibition possible.

Richard Whyte showcased impressive illustrated t-shirts under the line Rage Apparel. The shirts were complemented by posters in the form of a campaign for concept art. Whyte noted that his works “were done to challenge and break away from a common trend in Jamaican T-shirt lines which usually have no substance behind them”.

‘The exhibition was based on more research than execution.

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