Dear Editor,
Having read the latest of Mr. Desmond Ali’s frequent criticism on the Art situation in Guyana published in Stabroek News on Wednesday April 27, 2011 under the caption `Given the poor support from the government, the artist community is shocked by the size of the budget allocation to the Culture Ministry’, we cannot help but reject and disassociate ourselves and organizations we represent from such a statement. We are duty-bound as art professionals to respond to such.
Indeed Mr. Ali has been at it for some time now and it appears that he is not only desperate in promoting his self- interest but is ill informed and seems hell-bent on creating mischief.
Mr. Ali is known to many as an artist with a unique style and someone who has been promoting his art along with a few others over the years. But to say that he is the principal organizer of visual arts in Guyana is totally misleading. Mr. Ali has never, and does not represent the majority of the leading artists in Guyana. He therefore does not have the authority to speak on their behalf.
His claim of artists being ‘often-times broke’ is insulting and degrading to us artists. We strongly condemn such a statement and demand an apology from Mr. Ali.
Mr. Ali has made mention of a number of things with respect to the way art is managed in Guyana. While some of his concerns may be valid, the picture that he has painted is totally abstract. He has used elements and principles that contradict each other. And so without embarking into a debate with Mr. Ali we wish to state that people will buy art based on the quality of work and their taste; that people will sponsor art shows depending on the quality and message of the art work and that artists like everyone else must promote themselves in constructive ways.
Over the years we have had numerous meetings with the Hon. Minister of Culture with respect to the development of art in Guyana and on a number of occasions we have collaborated on projects of national significance and importance. Let us all be honest and look at the present, and what do we see? We see:
• Five murals in various parts of the Providence Stadium done by students and staff of both University of Guyana and Burrowes School of Art. These were done in 2007 and commissioned by the Ministry of Culture.
• A Hikarana Pole standing on the lawns of The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology. This was done by Artist Telford Taylor of St. Cuthbert’s Mission in 2008. This was an undertaking by the Ministry of Culture.
• Two larger than life-size paintings done by George Simon, one in the Umana Yana, done in 2008 and a triptych in the National Cultural Centre, both commissioned by the Ministry of Culture in 2008.
• A larger than life-size painting done by Brian Clarke in 2008. This is housed in the National Cultural Centre, again commissioned by the Ministry of Culture.
• Ozzie Hussain’s sculptural gateway at the Amerindian Village in Sophia, commissioned by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in 2008.
• A mural done by George Simon in the Auditorium of the main building in the Amerindian Village in Sophia, commissioned by the Amerindian Ministry in 2008.
• A larger than life-size painting commissioned by Geology and Mines in 2008. This painting was done by Roy Feffee and is housed in the National Convention Centre.
• A mural longer than 400 meters done by children on the seawall in 2008, sponsored by UNICEF.
• A waterfall cum mural at the arrival area at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. This was sponsored by Splashmin’s and executed in 2009.
• Five Murals commissioned by Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry and The Ministry of Culture in 2010. This was a collaborated effort by some of Guyana’s leading artists and students of art and are on display in the National Museum.
• Five murals inside of the National Museum done by the same group of artists during this year, again commissioned by the Ministry of Culture.
• Three large relief and five small free standing sculptures done by Michael Khan. They are on display in The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology and were executed in 2010 and commissioned by the Ministry of Culture.
• A total of four murals at the University of Guyana. One of which was done by artist Morag Williams and the others by staff and students of the University of Guyana – one of which pays homage to Nobel Laureate and renowned Guyanese author Wilson Harris entitled ‘Palace of The Peacock’.
• Students, teachers and adults being offered training in the Visual arts at the Burrowes School of Art and the University of Guyana.
• Artists displaying their work in Suriname during August of this year for the Inter-Guiana Arts Festival.
These are but a few on the ‘Art Trail’. There are others on stream, one such which Mr. Ali has an opportunity to make some money on by entering the competition for the design of a monument to commemorate the Year of People of African Descent and by the way this is an undertaking by the Government of Guyana.
Presently there is a committee planning for a National Visual Arts Competition for both Artists and children and if Mr. Ali is ready by the time such is announced he may be able to make even more money, that is, providing his work is up to standard.
Editor we all are aware that much more needs to be done with respect to the Visual Arts in Guyana, but let us not forget that Rome wasn’t built in a day. We now have a building in Castellani House as our Art Gallery and anyone or group is free to exhibit there once they meet the required standard and make their booking.
The Division of Creative Arts of the University of Guyana has been collaborating with the Ministry of Culture and has been offering sound advice as to the direction art should take in Guyana. Staff-members play an integral part in the planning of Mashramani every year. The Division and the Ministry have also collaborated on a number of occasions and mounted some very significant Exhibitions, namely Arrival Day Exhibitions, The 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade and most recent as last August an Exhibition of Art and Artifacts to mark the occasion of Emancipation. Indeed, unity in diversity can only be achieved when the best talents and energies of all are involved in decent and healthy discussions.
The way things are going and the engagements we are having with the Minister of Culture certainly augurs well for the future of the Visual Arts in Guyana. We look forward to continue our work with the Ministry of Culture and anyone or group who are sincere and share the same vision as ours for a much better future for the Arts in general and ultimately a better Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Philbert Gajadhar
George Simon
Michael Khan
Jynell Osborne
Winslow Craig
Collette Jones – Chin
