It appears that sometime in June this year, there were two major staff appointments at the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ): O'Neil Lawrence, who previously served as Senior Curator, was promoted to Chief Curator, and Dr Jonathan Greenland, who had been acting as Executive Director since shortly after I left, became Senior Director. This first... Continue Reading →
Parochialism or Inclusiveness? The Inaugural NGJ Summer Exhibition – Part II
Katrina Coombs - Golden Flow This is part two of a two-part post. The first part can be found here. Taking a closer look at the NGJ Summer Exhibition reveals a few pleasant surprises but also pulls the exhibition’s weaknesses and failings into sharper perspective. Perhaps the most outstanding work in the exhibition is Lucille... Continue Reading →
Parochialism or Inclusiveness? The Inaugural NGJ Summer Exhibition – Part I
This is the first of a two-part post on the National Gallery of Jamaica Summer Exhibition. Part 2, which takes a closer look at the exhibition itself, can be found here. Having worked in curatorial positions in a museum context, at the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ), for the better part of my thirty-five years... Continue Reading →
Ivanhoe Martin and the Hotel
I had lunch with a friend at the new AC Marriott Hotel today, because I wanted to see the art that was acquired for and installed in the lobby, which has received enthusiastic coverage in the local press. I had initially planned to write about it in the context of a more general post about... Continue Reading →
The End of an Era
This is a sad moment in Jamaica's cultural and artistic history. I understand that the house of David Boxer, the late art historian, artist and collector, is slated for demolition, to make way for what will probably be another run-of-the-mill apartment complex, of which Kingston hardly needs any more. For those who did not know... Continue Reading →
The Wheels of History: Museums, Restitution and the Caribbean – Part 2
This is the second of a two-part post on the restitution debate and its significance to the Caribbean. The first part explores the general context and this second part explores the implications for the Caribbean. The Caribbean was one of the first world areas to be colonized by Europe, and was completely transformed in the... Continue Reading →