Exhibiting Art Fresh 2012 artists in brief

Thirteen artists with less than 10 years exhibiting experience show at Mutual Gallery’s Art Fresh 2012

ALICIA BROWN
Bio
Alicia Brown studied fine arts at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, where she received a diploma in Art Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting.
Artist Statement
Black identity is multidimensional……… Through my works my intension is to reveal double consciousness of black identity, both self imposed and externally constructed.

ANDRAE GREEN
Bio
Andrae Green attended the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts where he obtained a Diploma in Painting in 2004. He pursued his studies at the New York Academy of Art, where he earned a MFA in 2008.
Artist Statement
I am interested in how legacies of colonialism and slavery inform how people of color are represented today.

CAVEL JOHNSON
Bio
Cavel Johnson started doing drawings from as early as basic school. With the encouragement from his teacher, he studied art at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. He graduated with a diploma in Art Education in 2008.
Artist Statement
My artworks are imaginative and seek to enlighten specific life situations. I like to play with space and dimensions, which is the reason for my surrealistic expression. My inspiration as an artist comes from almost anything a smell, song, environment and even dreams. At times I incorporate different textures on the surface of my paintings as relief.

KIMANI BECKFORD
Bio
Kimani Beckford is a 2011 graduated from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
His admiration of Marcus Garvey, Mutabaruka and local and international artists such as Phillip Thomas, Salvador Dalli, M. C. Escher and Rembrandt has added to his personal and professional growth.
Artist Statement
Through his work Kimani Beckford demonstrates the unique ability to transform ordinary objects and occurrences consisting of cultural curiosities into noteworthy works of art. He makes collages with these creations which form a dynamic collection of narratives about the contemporary world he is creating. His creativity is fuelled by his environment, his experiences and the experiences of others.

KRYSTAL DADAG
Bio
Krystal Dadag is a Jamaican-based photographer. Her background includes experience with graphic design, and an honours degree in Computing and Information Technology. Her journey with photography began back in 2000 when she took an assistant job with a photographer in Montego Bay.
Artist Statement
I try to use my camera to tell stories I cannot necessarily form with words. There are times when I fail, and there are times when I succeed. But the excitement lies in just being out there.
This currently has me leaning towards the art of abstract photography. Abstract photography can tell a story in so many different ways, and it is up to us as individuals to interpret the image and see the story for ourselves.

LEON F. DINGWALL
Bio
Since his youth, Leon Dingwall has had a passion for art. He received his formal education at the Mico Teacher’s College and the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts. He is currently Head of the Department of Visual Arts at Mona High School and lives in Spanish Town.
Artist Statement
My artwork takes a critical view of social, political, economic and cultural issues. In my work I deconstructed the Caribbean diaspora mix with European culture, and part of my personal surreal quality. Often times these issues are organized or employed according to their ability to create mood, and express emotions.

OLIVER MYRIE
Bio
Oliver Myrie is a 2005 graduate of the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, Kingston, Jamaica. Lives and works in Old Harbour Bay, Jamaica
Artist Statement
My paintings are said to be intuitive. Painting to me is a cathartic function. My expressions are responses to various intakes absorbed over time: observing, listening, thinking, talking and feeling. To the point where there is an overwhelming need to release what has build up inside.

OLIVIA MC GILCHRIST
Bio
Born in Kingston, Jamaica Olivia Mc Gilchrist was educated in France and the U.K. She received a French Baccalaureat, specialising in Literature and Philosophy (1997) and holds a B.A. In Fine Art from Middlesex University, London 2000-2003) and an M.A. in Photography from the London College of Communication (2009-2010). She lives and works in Kingston, Jamaica dividing her time as Assistant Curator at the National Gallery of Jamaica and teaching at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.
Artist Statement
The image of the lost parent continually becomes Other until it finally ceases to exist at all; a disturbing
scenario for the child seeking refuge in the scarce relics of said parent’s life.
My Jamaican father, Francois McGilchrist, died twenty five years ago. He was forty two, I was six, yet I have always felt strongly connected to his memory. As his image was starting to fade, I was suddenly required to move back to his home land, (also my birth-land) living at ‘Wilmar’, an empty house which lingers with traces of a Jamaican heritage that I am struggling to make my own.

RAYMOND GRAHAM
Bio
A teacher by profession and an artist by way of life Raymond Graham was educated at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts where received a certificate in Painting in 2003 and a BA in Art Education in 2010.
Artist Statement
The ongoing process of developing my technique has always been a struggle between abstraction and more traditional painting methods. I like taking my work beyond the impression of a brush stroke by pouring, scrapping, splashing, dripping and manipulating the paint in any way reflective of my mood or state of mind.

ROBERT A JOYETTE
Bio
Robert A Joyette was born in Kingstown, St.Vincent and the Grenadines. He studied art at the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts from where he graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts in 2004 He lives and works in Kingstown, St. Vincent.
Artist Statement
As I examine the history of the Caribbean and its dynamic and diverse culture, it is quite clear that all Europe competed for sovereign control.
ThIs recent painting was motivated by the words and lyrics of the Hon Bob Marley, a Jamaican reggae icon and his son Damion ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, who I had seen in concert recently.

ROBERT “TOBY” GRANT
Bio
Robert “Toby” Grant received a Diploma in Fine Art from the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts IN 2008.
Artist Statement
I use environmental art as an approach to addressing social issues and political concerns.
The Bug shown in the exhibition is a representation of technology being used in a so called Third World country such as Jamaica, to help in the interception of conversations by “Criminals Elements”. The sculpture, made from old police bike parts depicts the reality of the May 23, 2011West Kingston Excursion, where over 70 civilians were killed as a result. The work explores the advanced technological help given to the Jamaica Defence Force by the United State.

TOOREL ASHER
Bio
Toorel Asher is a Sculptor, working primarily with clay. She studied for a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, with a concentration in Ceramic Sculpture. Artist Statement
This body of work was inspired by my story which I believe reflects the story of women and their perception, primarily by their male counterparts. Throughout the process of creating works under the theme of, Butcher Shop, these works were done to reflect the slaughter and debasement of women from my perspective, which turns out to be, in some regard, the glorification of women by men. It is my inference that women are considered as merely sexual objects

VILYA THOMAS
Bio
While pursuing a career as a communications practitioner in the corporate world Vilya Thomas enrolled in a pottery class in the Continuing Education Programme offered at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. She holds a BA in Mass Communication from the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) Caribbean Institute of (CARIMAC), 1984. She left her job in the corporate world to pursue her new found passion in ceramics. This led to her receiving a Diploma in Ceramics (First Class Honours (Upper) in 2004 which she upgraded to Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ceramics) in 2010.
Artist Statement
“Curves” is part of a body of work that represented the progression of people, circumstance, time and things. The shape and form represented in the work is influenced by geometry.
Through line and movement the piece attempts to portray order, strength, resilience, love, fragility, unity, life and the aesthetics. Design techniques used include undulating clay slabs with line movement that move the viewer’s eyes up and down the form, glazes add depth, texture and unique colour through layering, firing and re-firing.
For me, the fascination is with creating a fresh relationship with each individual piece and firing. This experience creates an awareness of the artist as a channel and in so doing, new forms, design ideas and firings becomes another chapter in my experience as a ceramic artist.

Author Profile

Anthea

... qualified & experienced in journalism, creative writing, editing, the arts, art critique, paralegal, photography, teaching, research, event planning, motivational speaking, workshops for children and adults, visual arts etc. Click here for contact form. ...or email me here