Grenada Arts Council stages 49th annual show

Passion Driven!

That is what our artists in Grenada are. The opening of the 49th Annual Exhibit of the Grenada Arts Council (GAC) demonstrated this in a tangible way. Despite the hard times, the economic reality of expensive supplies, the disappointment of no corporate sponsorship, no government involvement by way of attendance at art functions, and sales of art being few and far between, our artists shine.

Some 39 artists brought over 112 works of art in painting, pho-tography, wood carving, sculpture, constructions, installations, and jewellery. Nine of these artists were exhibiting for the first time with
the GAC, some young, and some not so young. Volunteers worked in the night to catalogue, label, and hang the show (there were cookies, not the invisible kind found in computers). The computer keys flew and social media lit up with the news of the opening. The doors were opened on the evening of the 17th, and appreciative crowds flowed in.

If ever there was a lift for the spirit, it was there. Bright paintings displaying the flora of Grenada, easy blue and green washes of the seaside, and vibrant reds, greens, and yellows showing our people, all congregate to portray a joy beyond circumstances.

Julius, a volunteer for the hanging, stands beside ‘John’.

The ultimate scene-stealer was “John” by artist Judith Jarvis.

A bigger than life size photo realistic painting, the rasta man watched over all the proceedings. Just around the corner, “Anansi with the Fish swung”, painted on an old discarded half-door by Georgie Tuson of Carriacou.

‘Anansi with the Fish swung’, painted on an old
discarded half-door by Georgie Tuson of Carriacou.

Jessma Noel was graced with a sale for her painting, “Nutmeg-Cocoa Queen”, a mysterious rendition with African influence. The lucky person who purchased this painting is a first-time investor in the arts, another young Grenadian woman. It is indeed significant when a nation’s people start investing in their own art. It is a step forward in achieving nationalism, to believe that what we produce here in Grenada is worthy of hard-earned money. It is a source of great pride for the GAC.

‘Nutmeg-Cocoa Queen’ by Jessma Noel.

The exhibit will continue at the Young Street Gallery until the end of February. Admission is free, and donations are appreciated. The Grenada Arts Council is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation
operated by a group of volunteers, with a purpose to promote the visual arts of Grenada at home and abroad.