Katrina Coombs with Stefan Clark – Complicated Encounters (Photo: Veerle Poupeye) Hybridization, which opened on February 12, is the inaugural exhibition at CreativSpace’s new location in downtown Kingston, on the corner of Laws street and Mark Lane, just off Parade. CreativSpace, an exhibition and work space for creatives which is available for rental, was previously... Continue Reading →
The Art of Reggae Exhibition at the National Gallery of Jamaica
Visitors at the Art of Reggae exhibition opening, February 19, 2023. Pat Chin, of VP records, is the third person from right. (Photo: Veerle Poupeye) This post was published in its original form in the Monitor Tribune of February 26 and March 5, 2023. Part 1 The Art of Reggae exhibition, which features the top... Continue Reading →
Provocations: The NGJ As a Politicized Venue?
I had initially posted this to my Facebook timeline yesterday, where an interesting discussion ensued. Given the import of the matter, I am reposting it here in this more permanent forum. I was just at the National Gallery of Jamaica for a panel discussion related to the current Reggae Poster exhibition. If I counted correctly... Continue Reading →
The Art Year in Review – Governance and Leadership in the Public Cultural Sector
At the CAG[e] gallery, circa 2008, Edna Manley College (Photo: Veerle Poupeye) In this second installment of my critical reflections on developments in the art world in 2022, I continue to focus on critical issues of governance, leadership and performance in the public cultural sector. At the core of this is the relentless politicization, in... Continue Reading →
The Art Year in Review: The National Gallery of Jamaica
At the opening of the Jamaica Jamaica! exhibition in February 2022 This post was initially published in two parts in the Monitor Tribune of January 15 and 22, 2023. It is published here with a few minor changes. Internationally, 2022 has been a fantastic year for the artists of the Global Caribbean, with an unprecedented... Continue Reading →
“Fons et Origo”: The 2022 School of Visual Arts Final Year Exhibition
Installation view, Jahmani Council (photographed by Robert Ayre, courtesy of the EMC) This post was first published in the Monitor Tribune (then the Jamaica Monitor) in two parts, on August 21 and August 28, 2022. It is reproduced here with minor changes and more images. Every year in June, the School of Visual Arts (SVA)... Continue Reading →