CURRENT ISSUE
The big question was - could we fill an entire issue on ceramics? Truthfully, we had our doubts, but always up for a challenge we plunged right in…and so began our visual journey.
We started by seeking out Jamaica’s contemporary potters: David Pinto we found deep in the heart of Trelawny, where he has a massive space on the Good Hope Estate; en route to Negril, Sylvester Stephens’ colourful roadside gallery and studio beckoned us to a screeching halt; on the other side of the island, we walked up Titchfield Hill in Port Antonio to talk with Michael Layne; and we chatted with Jean Taylor-Bushay in the cool hills of Moneague in St. Ann. Gene Pearson’s studio borders on ‘country ‘ way up in Red Hills – we found his sculpture garden filled with ceramic surprises.
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Then we visited the city potters: Phillip Supersad’s workshop is housed in an old red-brick residential property on Little North Street downtown - he was finishing the firing of a large, graceful statue of the Virgin Mary for St. Richard’s church; Norma Harrack was ever-busy in her Liguanea studio, completing work for her solo exhibition – we got a sneak preview of works in progress - what a delight it was to see all 40 on exhibit three short weeks later; with Margaret McGhie’s dog Tina snapping at our heels, we took a walk through her home studio in Mona – we observed her able assistant Richard Ball delicately hand-painting flowers onto some vases, and we stood and watched fellow potter Patrick Hall, throw pot after perfect pot on the wheel….
NEW TALENT
We went in search of young new talent - several names kept coming up including Leonia McKoy, Andranique Morgan, Aretha Facey and Wazari all producing impressive new works.
THE TRAVELLING CLAYS OF THE TAINO
Jamaica’s primeval pottery tradition was influenced by several waves of migrants who travelled up from South America. They brought with them skills in pottery making…
PORT ROYAL
The Port Royal ceramic collection dates back to the mid 1600s. Undisturbed, almost in a time capsule for over 300 years, it is the best representation, at one site, of a 17th century town in the New World.
ARTSCAPE
We journey through the century – looking at milestones and pottery trivia along the way. We retell the story of Jamaica’s master potter, Cecil Baugh; look at the work of the
Two Todds, the American couple who played an important role in the development of local ceramics in 1950s; and feature the work Island Worcester which produced a line dinnerware designed by well-known New York designer Vera Neumann.
COLLECTING CERAMICS
In search of collectors we were directed to attorney Ossie Harding –“Some people buy a boat and others go bird shooting. My hobby is collecting ceramics.” He has not only the largest, but most comprehensive collection of ceramics in Jamaica.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The Bank of Nova Scotia’s corporate art collection
The Magic Lantern – Inside the National Collection of the Institute of Jamaica lurks this unassuming object – many of us have never heard of it, let alone seen it. But strange as it may seem this now obscure object showed the world, through its ‘magic’ lens, photo images of Jamaica.
Travel with us as we take in the exhibitions, events, gallery shows and art happenings across the island.