FEBRUARY - APRIL 2019
VOL. 03 - ISSUE 01 - PAGE 1
BAC NEWSLETTER The Official Newsletter of the Barbados Arts Council
Above:"Christmas Morning" by Debra Durant
Above:"Potpourri Claws" by Susan Alleyne-Forde
Your Art Gallery Needs Help! The BAC Art Gallery at the the Pelican Craft
product, and economic decline throughout
Centre, exhibits and sells the work of the BAC
the island has led to a sIgnificant decrease
members, who are allowed to participate in any
in sales over the past 5 years. The BAC Art
BAC group show (up to 3 pieces per person)
Gallery is now in dire financial straits, and
without paying hanging fees. The Gallery has
may be forced to shut down operations if it
been, and continues to be, a nurturing ground
continues to be unable to cover operating
for new and emerging artists who get the
costs. Our major expense is rent paid to
opportunity to show their artwork and gain
the BIDC for the space used at the Pelican
valuable experience at the BAC Gallery when
Craft Centre - this amounts to $1175 per
they might not yet gain access to other
month, and the BAC is in arrears such that
commercial galleries. It is a place where young
the BIDC has threatened expulsion and
artists can mingle with more experienced artists,
legal action. The Executive Committee has
and share ideas. The BAC Gallery commission
recognised the urgent need to make
is only 30%, which is considerably less than
changes to the way the Gallery is managed,
other art galleries on the island.
in order to make it profitable.
Income is derived from membership
To this end, we have begun selling items
subscriptions, sales commissions, and rental of
other than original paintings and prints. We
gallery for shows. Original art is a luxury
believe that diversifying our inventory and cont'd...
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Your Art Gallery Needs Your Help! offering more variety would expand our market and result in increased sales. This move should also encourage our artists to explore new ways of showcasing and selling their art! We are now carrying art-related souvenir magnets and key-rings, as well as throw cushions, handbags, and other home decor and fashion items featuring local art. We will also be offering private sector partners the opportunity to work with us by sponsoring a wall at the Gallery on a monthly basis. There will be two walls up for sponsorship, which have been named in honour of two of Barbados’ most celebrated and respected artists: Karl Broodhagen and Fielding Babb. Bearing in mind that your Executive Committee is made up of artists, rather
Above: Expanded inventory at the BAC Art Gallery Left: Souvenir Magnets featuring art works
than financial and business gurus, we are inviting the BAC members to share ideas with us on how you believe we could increase the Gallery's income, and therefore keep it open for business. We not only want your ideas, we also want you to volunteer to help with the implementation of these ideas. Please email your thoughts and suggestions to the Executive Committee's Secretary Patricia Browne, at: thebarbadosartscouncil@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you and to your input! The Barbados Arts Council is a registered charity, and the BAC Art Gallery is located in the Pelican Craft Centre on the Harbour Road, in Bridgetown, and is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
FEBRUARY - APRIL 2019
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Remembering Fielding contributed by Markley Clarke
Markley Clarke with master painter Fielding Babb (right) at his retirement art exhibition at the BAC Gallery in January 2015
February 11, 2019 marked the second anniversary of
demonstrating talent and forming companionship,
the passing of our beloved artist John Fielding Carter,
enjoying life and creating laughter,
better known as Fielding Babb. Here, I pay tribute to
speaking good and moving on.
this master painter in one of two poems written on February 25, 2017, and share some memories of our
A mentor
association.
whose light up on your canvas scene glowed gloriously with endless fervor,
FIELDING BABB – THE ICON
while echoing guidance inspired tomorrow a brighter day.
An icon standing on the hilltops of our thoughts
A family man
imbuing them with marks indelible
whose art stood firm
has created a legacy along the path of time.
beside the modest St. T rose.
A maestro
You called him wonderful –
With orchestral movement of knife and brush
a loving person with generous spirit
has carved a symphony of artistic delight -
that transcended collective effort;
a confluence of melodic strokes and colours
the gem of gentlemen with fascination
which created a harmony that nestled in our minds
for us to follow;
and settled in the waiting of the walls.
an international artist with impasto beauty;
A friend
a documentary historian
whose loving care you got
capturing heritage land and symbols;
among the chatter with the paint,
a national treasure upon our history’s page.
sharing the knowledge and enlightening the mind,
Fielding Babb – the luminary legend
educating the youth and touching lives,
whose candle dimmed at eighty one.
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A Sad Farewell to Mrs. Maureen Ifill "It is not length of life, but depth of life." - Ralph Waldo Emerson On April 29th, 2019 the Barbados Arts Council received the sad news that Mrs. Maureen Ifill had passed away. Mrs. Ifill retired in August last year after spending 23 years as Art Gallery Attendant at the BAC Art Gallery. We are deeply thankful for her love and contribution to the BAC and to the arts in general. She will be greatly missed. We at the BAC extend our condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in peace.
Above: Mrs. Ifill with Neville 'Oluyemi' Legall Left:: Mrs. Ifill with Virgil Broodhagen Below: Mrs. Ifill with Patricia Browne Bottom left: Mrs. Ifill on her last day of work at the Barbados Arts Council, 30 August 2018.
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Which Artist Designed the Barbados National Flag? The National Flag of Barbados was designed by Mr. Grantley W. Prescod. His design was chosen from 1,029 entries in an open competition organised by the Government of Barbados. Mr. Prescod was awarded a Gold Medal, an inscribed scroll from the government, and $500 which was donated by the Advocate Company Limited. Born in 1926, Mr. Prescod attended St. Barnabas Boys School. He taught before undertaking a one year course at the West of England College of Arts for Specialist Teachers of Art from 1962 to 1963. He also attained a certificate in Education from Bristol University. Between 1967 and 1972, he studied for the Master of Education degree majoring in Art Education at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA. The National Flag of Barbados is composed of three vertical panels - the outer panels of ultramarine and the centre panel of gold. A broken trident in black is the centre of the flag. The British standard code numbers for the flag are as follows: Ultramarine - BCC148, Gold BSO/002. The flag is designed in the proportions 3:2. The description of the flag - Blue for the sea and sky of Barbados; Gold for the sand of its beaches. The symbol in the centre panel is the Trident of the Mythical Sea God Neptune. This symbol appears in the Seal of the Colony which was replaced by the Barbados Coat of Arms. The shaft of the Trident is broken indicating Barbados' break with its historical and constitutional ties. Here are some examples of how creative minds continue to use Mr Prescod's design today:
The national flag of Barbados
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Featured Artist: Susan Alleyne-Forde Susan Alleyne-Forde began her career as an illustrator in Barbados, after earning her degree from the Ontario College of Art and Design (AOCAD). After doing that for a number of years, she decided to try her hand at Fine Art painting, showing first at the now defunct Coffee and Cream Art Gallery in St Lawrence Gap. Susan also holds a Master’s degree in Creative Arts from the UWI, and has been an art educator for over 20 years and a practicing artist for over 25 years. She has shown in galleries in the Virgin Islands, Canada, England, and of course Barbados. The winner of numerous NIFCA awards, Susan also won the 1984 Artist & Art Educator, Susan Alleyne-Forde Barbados National Stadium Mural Competition, The Barbados Crop Over Poster Competition of 1989, the 2013 Best in Show, and the 2017 Incentive award in the Crop Over Fine Art When asked why she creates, Susan responded “I create because I feel empty when I am not creating.” She says she is motivated to paint, by the promise of a piece that she can feel proud of. She is a true Caribbean woman who feels inspired wherever she goes, and in the past has been inspired by a tree climbing man in Dominica, by boys getting ready to jump off a pier in Tortola, and even by men fishing by a Jamaican river. Susan takes pictures of scenes and uses the photos to create compositions. She says, “Sometimes I sketch from out of my head and colour them. I write notes beside the sketches. I have
Above: "Small Catch" Right: "Getting on Board" Below: "Beach Checkers" all artwork by artist Susan Alleyne-Forde
/cont'd...
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Featured Artist - Susan Alleyne-Forde (cont'd) recently been exploring medium like molding paste. I have used palette knives. I always use a wash of colour and allow that colour to show through. The underpainting can change according to my mood. It is rarely planned.” She says she is inspired by other artists, rather than influenced by them. The impressionists were an early inspiration for her as a student, and she found Degas especially exciting, not only because of his brush strokes, but his use of colours. She also enjoyed his rendering of the human form, which she, too, loves to paint. Later on she felt very inspired by the expressionists.
When asked about her favourite medium, Susan demonstrated her flexibility. “I have a love affair with oils; they were what I learned to paint with at OCAD. However, when I was introduced to acrylics, I appreciated the speed with which they dried and their versatility. I enjoy chalk pastels as well, to create portraits.” She wishes that she had the time to be working on several pieces simultaneously; something she was able to do when working on group or solo shows. However, of late she has been producing one piece at a time. She hopes that her work has grown better during her journey as an artist over the years, and asserts, “I am far bolder with my use of colour and I believe that the brush strokes are livelier. Experience has allowed me to let down my guard.” Susan described the art scene in Barbados as
Above: "Waiting" Left: "Early Morning Fetch" Below: "Fishing Buddies"
/cont'd...
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Featured Artist: Susan Alleyne-Forde (cont'd) exciting. However, she feels that the main challenge that local artists face is a lack of exposure. She believes that the World Wide Web is the key to a louder voice on the international art scene. She says the best advice she’s ever been given concerning art is that, “we as artists are not entitled to a single thing. We must work at our craft to get where we want it to be. Never stop exploring and learning.” Recently Susan has been exploring womanist themes. She explained that they are very personal and certainly not commercial, but they have been an emotional outlet for her. Susan intends to work on more womanist themes in the future, and on larger canvases. However, this exploration does not mean that she won’t still create pieces with figures in Barbadian scenes, for which she has become known.
Top right: "Precious Treasures" Middle right: "Throw a Lash" Bottom right: "Choppy" Bottom left: Abstract Sea piece All artwork by Susan Alleyne-Forde
/cont d...
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Now You Can Rent an Entire Wall!!! Calling all artists... ever wanted to have a solo exhibition but didn't have enough artwork to fill the Gallery? Well, now you can rent a wall! Yes, you read that correctly! Now you can rent a wall at the BAC Art Gallery to host your own mini-exhibition, and enjoy all the benefits of having your exhibition at an art gallery with a full-time attendant, without having to fill the Gallery. It's such an easy solution! We offer very attractive rental fees of Bds $150 per week for a wall, or Bds $250 per week for the entire Gallery.
Interested persons should telephone the Gallery at 426-4385 or send an email to our Honourary Secretary, Patricia Browne at thebarbadosartscouncil@gmail.com to make arrangements for your exhibition today!
BAC Member Benefits The BAC’s primary purpose is to nurture the artistic expression of creatives in Barbados. If you are an artist who wants to learn, share ideas, and contribute to the growth of Arts as a viable sector in Barbados, then you should join the Arts Council. We also welcome persons who appreciate art but who may not be artistically inclined, and who want to add their other talents and time to Apart from the satisfaction of assisting the Council in achieving its goals, here are some of the benefits that BAC members enjoy: 1. Members can participate in any BAC group show without paying hanging fees! (up to 3 pieces per person) 2. New and emerging artists get the opportunity to show their artwork and gain experience at the BAC gallery when they might not yet gain access to other galleries 3. The BAC gallery commission is only 30%! (considerably less than other galleries) 4. Members get a 5% discount when they purchase art supplies from Laurie Dash & Sons 5. Get a 5% - 10% discount on selected items from The Art Hub Visit the Gallery and apply for membership today. An annual fee of Bds $100 is applicable. Art Students (secondary school and BCC) are eligible for a student membership fee of Bds $50 per year.
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The Last Laugh...
One more... An art thief in Paris almost got away with stealing famous paintings from the Louvre. However, after escaping with the goods, he was captured only two blocks away when his get-away vehicle ran out of gas. The Police were confused and asked how he could mastermind an almost perfect crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied: “I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh.�
BAC Art Gallery hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 5pm, and Sat 10am to 1pm #20 Pelican Craft Centre, Harbour Road, Bridgetown Tel: (246) 426-4385
Email: thebarbadosartscouncil@gmail.com
www.thebarbadosartscouncil.com