Dear Editor,
Guyana is nearing the celebration of the 44th anniversary of its independence from Britain. And as a result of never having been a part of this milestone, on the evening of May 20, paintings brought in from the United States of America by the author were mounted in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art (Castellani House) to acknowledge the country’s present status.

This exhibition was recommended many years ago (1997) by the late Mrs Janet Jagan, and represents the changing face of Guyana and its folk-lore. Primarily, however, it documents a scenic aesthetic which has given way to development in the years following May 26, 1966. These paintings therefore carry a historical significance and value to the nation. The opening was attended by a few art lovers and patrons, but noticeably absent was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and other wheelmen in the machinery of the country’s management. The author therefore assessed this to be a blatant disregard for the artistic and cultural needs of the nation. Maybe fine art is not thought to be of any major importance to the country’s cultural heritage.

If so, it is an obvious oversight. Other countries in the past have tried it and have failed, and Guyana will not be the first to succeed by progressively shunning the inclusion of an artistic heritage in its culture. It becomes obvious to me now why all the important artistic cultural assets departed the country for places where they were better appreciated.

No one has yet thought of documenting the pioneering efforts of Guyana’s painters; even the names of such individuals are not known. A school had to be opened to remember Burrowes. How many know of Guy Sharples, Reginald Phang, Claude Hoyte, Sam Cummings,   Basil DeFreitas, Patrick Barrington, Vivian Antrobus, Hubert Moshett, Albert Singh – all better artists than ER Burrowes. An artistic culture is just as important to a nation as is the climate change phenomenon, agriculture, road projects, race and human rights practices, etc, and certainly should be placed on a higher level than the physicality of athletics. Those in authority should open their eyes and address the totality of what is necessary to generate cooperative growth, and balance all things important to the nation’s development.

Should this artist ever mount another exhibition locally… Quién sabe?

Yours faithfully,
Jorge Bowenforbes
Artist/Poet