MASCULINITIES EXHIBITION TO OPEN AT NATIONAL GALLERY WEST IN MONTEGO BAY ON MAY 1

Isaac Mendez Belisario – Koo-Koo, or Actor Boy, Sketches of Character (1837-38), Collection: Hon. Maurice and Valerie Facey

National Gallery West

The National Gallery of Jamaica is pleased to present a new exhibition, titled Masculinities, at National Gallery West, its branch at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay. The exhibition will be on view at National Gallery West from May 1 to July 17, 2016. The opening reception will be on Sunday, May 1 at 4 pm, with entertainment by Joshua Clarke.

Masculinities explores how masculinities – and the use of the plural is deliberate – have been represented in Jamaican art and visual culture. In doing so, the exhibition also explores how various masculine roles and identities, and the perceptions that surround them, have evolved in the Jamaican context. The exhibition includes work by artists from the nineteenth century to the present, such as Isaac Mendes Belisario, Albert Huie, Osmond Watson, Barrington Watson, Rose Murray, Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds, Ebony G. Patterson, Leasho Johnson, Wade Rhoden…

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Special Sunday Programme on April 3, 2016

Since the last Sunday of March 2016 is Easter, and a public holiday, there will be no Last Sundays on that day. We will instead offer a special Sunday programme on April 3, the first Sunday in April. The programme for April 3 features a musical performance by Sherieta and four exhibitions. This includes Selections from the Permanent Collection, Recent Acquisitions and a small tribute exhibition to Barrington Watson. April 3 will also be the last chance to view the critically acclaimed Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition, which has been held over and closes on that day.

A passionate performer with a powerhouse voice, Sherieta was a semi-finalist in the BBC’s 2007 The Next Big Thing competition. Sherieta tells vivid and deep stories through her songs. This she attributes to, “trying to figure out the answers to life’s most challenging questions.” Sherieta is a proficient songwriter who not only writes her own songs, but has penned lyrics for a number of Jamaican artistes including Etana (Warrior Love, Trigger), Tarrus Riley (Let Peace Reign), Marcia Griffiths (Beer and a Girl), and Romain Virgo (Beautiful).

Panel Discussion on Masculinities @March 17, 1:30 pm

The National Gallery of Jamaica is staging a panel discussion to accompany its Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition. This panel discussion will take place on Thursday, March 17, starting at 1:30 pm, at the National Gallery of Jamaica, and will be followed by a curatorial tour of the exhibition.

Moderated by Senior Curator O’Neil Lawrence, the panel will include Lecturer in Sociology, Psychology and Social Work, Dr Moji Anderson; Gender and Social Research Specialist, Suzanne Charles-Watson; Lecturer in Anthropology (Qualitative research), Dr Herbert Gayle; and dancer and choreographer Kevin Ormsby. Using the various themes presented in the Masculinities exhibition as their contextual framework, the panellists will engage with the social and cultural issues explored within the exhibition, particularly with how masculinities are understood, enacted and contested in Jamaican society.

The Masculinities exhibition is part of the National Gallery’s Explorations series, which explores major themes in Jamaican art and the critical issues in Jamaican society these themes represent. The series also creates a dialogue between contemporary, modern and historical art produced in and about Jamaica, yielding new insights about Jamaican art and society in the process. Its current edition Explorations IV: Masculinities looks at the varied ways in which the concept of Jamaican masculinities have been represented, and at times challenged, within the visual arts.

The Masculinities panel discussion on March 17 is free and open to the public, as is the curatorial tour which follows after. The Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition was originally scheduled to close on March 5 but has been extended until March 26.

Last Sundays of February 28 to Feature Tribe Sankofa

The National Gallery’s programme for Last Sundays on February 28, 2016 will feature Tribe Sankofa with Black Bodies and two exhibitions, Explorations IV: Masculinities and Tribute to Barrington Watson.

Black Bodies is a performance ritual that tells the stories and honours the memories of four Jamaicans (Vanessa Kirkland, Jhaneel Goulbourne, Michael Gayle and Mario Deane) killed by the Police or while in Police custody, combined with a tribute to several African-Americans who have died under similar circumstances in the US. The second half of Black Bodies will be a staged interpretation of an excerpt from Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved.

Tribe Sankofa performs Black Bodies

Black Bodies, the brainchild of Fabian Thomas, who also directed it, features Tribe Sankofa. Tribe Sankofa is a performing arts collective comprised of a vibrant and eclectic cadre of multi-talented performers who are combining their artistry to add an exciting new dimension to the performing arts landscape of Jamaica and the rest of the world. Thomas, who is the Founder/Artistic Director of the collective, describes their niche as “spoken word/poetry, soulful song-styling uniquely blended with other visual and performing arts”.

Sankofa performs Black Bodies

The National Gallery’s Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition is part of an open-ended series of exhibitions that examine major themes and issues in Jamaica’s art and visual culture. Masculinities explores how masculinities, and the use of the plural is deliberate, have been enacted and represented in works of art from the 18^th century to the present, which are presented in dialogue with each other. Masculinities will close on March 5.

Barrington Watson – Athlete’s Nightmare II (1966), A.D. Scott Collection, NGJ

Visitors will also be able to view a special tribute exhibition to Barrington Watson, who passed away on January 26. This tribute, which was recently expanded and includes masterworks from the National Gallery Collection and loans from various private collections, will be on view until March 5.

Doors will be open from 11 am to 4 pm for Last Sundays on February 28 and the performance by Tribe Sankofa will start at 1:30 pm. As is customary, admission will be free and free tours and children’s activities will be offered. The gift and coffee shop will be open for business and contributions to the donations box are gratefully accepted. Revenues from our shops and donations help to fund programmes such as the Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition and our Last Sundays events.

January 31 Last Sundays to Feature Emerging Singer Shae

The National Gallery of Jamaica’s Last Sunday programme for January 2016 is scheduled for Sunday, January 31, 2016, from 11 am to 4 pm.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view the Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition which opened in December. The exhibition explores the various ways in which concepts of masculinity have been represented and articulated in Jamaican art. The exhibition, which was curated by Senior Curator O’Neil Lawrence, features works of art from the colonial era up to the present and in a variety of media, by Isaac Mendes Belisario, Harry Johnston, Edna Manley, Barrington Watson, Archie Lindo, Marcia Biggs, Leasho Johnson, Phillip Thomas, Peter-Dean Rickards and many others. Also on view is a selection of Recent Acquisitions from the last few years and most sections of the permanent exhibitions will also be open, providing a wide-ranging overview of Jamaica’s artistic and cultural history.

The National Gallery is pleased to welcome another emerging young songstress to its Last Sundays programme. Shenae Amoye Wright, who is better known as Shae, started her musical journey at the tender age of 6 singing in church. Since then she has grown musically and since 2011, has found a creative outlet performing background vocals for reggae artists such as Junior Kelly, Cocoa Tea and now performs regularly on tour with Protoje and Indiggnation. Her very own blend of soulful reggae music can be found in her recently released a single Give Love a Try and the mix of covers and original music she will perform on January 31. Shae will soon be launching her solo career.

Admission on Sunday, January 31 will be free and free guided tours will be offered. The gift and coffee shop will be open for business and contributions to the donations box are welcomed. Revenues from our shops and donations help to fund programmes such as the Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition and our Last Sunday programming.

Last Sundays on December 27, Featuring Nexus and Masculinities

The National Gallery of Jamaica’s Last Sundays programme for December 2015 is scheduled for Sunday, December 27, from 11 am to 4 pm.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view the recently opened Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition, which explores how concepts of masculinity have been represented and articulated in Jamaican art. The exhibition, which was curated by Senior Curator O’Neil Lawrence, features works of art from the colonial era up to the present and in a variety of media, by Isaac Mendes Belisario, A. Duperley and Sons, Edna Manley, Albert Huie, Archie Lindo, Osmond Watson, Ebony G. Patterson, Phillip Thomas, Marlon James and many others. Also on view is a selection of Recent Acquisitions and most sections of the permanent exhibitions will also be open, and provide a wide-ranging overview of Jamaica’s artistic and cultural history.

In what is now an established Holiday Season tradition, the featured performance on Sunday, December 27 will be by the award-winning Nexus Performing Arts Company and will start at 1:30 pm. The Nexus Performing Arts Company was formed in 2001 by Hugh Douse, Artistic Director, voice tutor, singer, actor, conductor, songwriter, and a former Director of Culture in Education. The group has a broad musical repertoire that draws on Gospel, Negro Spirituals, Semi-classical, Popular music including Reggae and show tunes, African and Classical music of the European and African traditions. The performance by Nexus will take place in the exhibition galleries, presented as a musical tour, with selections inspired by specific works in the Masculinities exhibition.

Admission on Sunday, December 27 will be free and free guided tours will be offered. The gift and coffee shop will be open for business and contributions to the donations box are welcomed. Revenues from our shops and donations help to fund programmes such as the Explorations IV: Masculinities exhibition and our Last Sundays programming.