Last Sundays, January 29, 2017, feat. Spiritual Yards and Javada

The National Gallery of Jamaica’s Last Sundays programme for January 29, 2017, will be the last chance to see the Spiritual Yards Home Ground of Jamaica’s Intuitives Selections from the Wayne and Myrene Cox exhibition, which closes on that day.  There will also be a musical performance by emerging artiste Javada.

Consisting entirely of works from the collection of Wayne and Myrene Cox Collection, the Spiritual Yards exhibition explores the work of Intuitive artists who produced sacred images and objects which are rooted in Revival religions, Rastafari or their individual spiritual beliefs, and are representative of the “spiritual yard” tradition in Jamaica, which is an important yet insufficiently documented part of Jamaica’s popular cultural heritage. Spiritual Yards features the work of ten such artists, namely Errol Lloyd “Powah” Atherton, Vincent Atherton, Everald Brown, Pastor Winston Brown, Leonard Daley, Reginald English, Elijah (Geneva Mais Jarrett), William “Woody” Joseph, Errol McKenzie, and Sylvester Stephens, along with rare photographs and video material on their life, work and spiritual yards from the Wayne and Myrene Cox archives. The exhibition has achieved significant visitor acclaim and is a must-see before it closes.

Born Nevada Myrie, the deejay, lyricist and performer Javada grew up in East Kingston where he spent much of his time listening to and emulating his favourite deejays Bounty Killa, Shabba Ranks, Terror Fabulous and Buju Banton. Javada is a former member of dancehall star, Konshens’ Subkonshus Music Group label, and has performed on major stages in Europe, Africa, USA, and the Caribbean, as Konshens’ opening act. He has also recorded and released a number of songs with Konshens, most notably, Say Di Word (ZJ Liquid, H2O Records), and Gyal Dem Ready.  His big voice, commanding stage presence, and a warm personality brought this dynamic deejay and songwriter to the attention of Spanish superstar singer, Enrique Iglesias, who featured Javada on the 2016 Billboard charting, ‘Spanglish’ remix of his song, Duele El Corazón (The Heart Aches). Javada’s music in 2016 also reached the international airwaves with the single Wake Up Beside You, on the Cold Heart Riddim (Robert Livingston, Scikron Entertainment) and the song has quickly become a regular choice on radio, club and sound systems playlists in several African countries and in the African Diaspora. Javada’s most recent single, In Deh (Dre Day Productions) is on the same trajectory, receiving regular air and club play within the African Music market and also on local stations.

The National Gallery of Jamaica’s doors will be open from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2017 and the musical programme will start at 1:30 pm. As is customary, admission will be free and there will also be free tours of the National Collection, but contributions to the National Gallery’s donations box are always appreciated. The National Gallery gift and coffee shops will be open for business and proceeds from these ventures help to fund programmes such as Last Sundays as well as our exhibitions.