As we say goodbye to 2013, The Scene presents quotes from the 12 most inspiring artists featured in these pages for the year.
The list is not hierarchal but presented in chronological order from January. Universally in their interviews these artists spoke on the influence the arts has had on their lives or how would they aim to promote arts and culture in Guyana. The answers they gave can have a lasting impact and it is these very same answers that define who they are and what our nation’s culture exhibits.
Collectively the personas and the views of theseartists shape our country. They all tell different chapters of the same book.
Collage – Multi-genre musical band.
“Our basic philosophy is to be ourselves. God has created each one of us as individuals and with talent. We look forward to at least causing a mental riot. That is the most dangerous thing about us – people see us and expect us to do something average and Caribbean whether it be Soca, Chutney or Reggae but we go above all of that, we go above the limit.” – Christian Sobers, Band Director of Collage from ‘Collage – starting a music revolution’. January 5, 2013.
Colette Jones-Chin – Decorated Dramatist, Writer, Costume designer, set designer and former Director of Drama for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Artistic Director of the National Cultural Centre; now head of Drama and Arts at the Guyana International Academy.
“As a teacher I do not teach people to become artists, I teach using the visual arts as the vehicle – I want to teach the student to become creative. Not everyone was born with the gift of being an artist, but everyone was born with the gift of creating…. I want to initiate ideas and hope that they are bought. I plan to have an exchange programme providing actors and theatre personnel from Guyana to go to other Caribbean countries to perform and have those people come over here and share their ideas. I want to basically open an international stage to drama and arts.” – From ‘Collette Jones-Chin: using the arts as a vehicle for change.’ January 12, 2013.
Gem Madhoo-Nacimento – Award winning Drama-tist, Producer, Director, Patriot and Tourism Enthusiast.
“Drama is hectic but very rewarding; you need a lot of tolerance, patience and discipline… Drama needs those qualities because it is a business in addition to be being entertaining. You have to be committed to it. Ultimately you have to be able to prove yourself and please audiences. I must be a sucker for hard work, to still be in it,” – From ‘Gem Madhoo-Nascimento… Committed to theatre, culture, tourism.’ February 2, 2013.
Lester Ricardo ‘De Professor’ Charles – Calypso Monarch 2013, award winning musician.
“I feel Calypso is deliberately getting shifted mainly because of its content and that the social commentary is deep. People must look forward to hearing Calypso because of the message, Mighty Rebel was
perhaps one of the most controversial and greatest singers of his day and from that time onwards Calypso has been shifting. People say [Calypso] is not marketable but that is not true. If things are put in place to encourage the youths to participate then there would be better commentary. I want to see Calypso treated with respect. I want it to get a different, more positive kind of attention… and the prize money should be raised to encourage this.” – From ‘Calypso suffers because of its content, 2013 Monarch says.’ February 23, 2013.
Sean Thompson – Award winning dramatist.
“In acting you always look for a challenge, you always look for something new and something that can push you over the edge. I want to know that when I put my mind to something and I work hard towards it, I will achieve it.” – From ‘Sean Thompson: Looking for the next challenge.’ March 2, 2013.
Anastasia Sanford – Dancer, Dramatist and Student of Law.
“Dancing is my ultimate passion. I find peace. I find myself through dancing. Whenever I am having a bad day it is the only thing that calms me. It always happens and I don’t know why or how. Some people like to pray – I would dance. I connect spiritually with myself through dance… This is my time, my opportunity and I am grasping it. When I finish that [her legal education], I will be back on stage; whether you want a singing lawyer, acting lawyer or a dancing lawyer. As long as I can breathe and these legs can still move I will always be on stage.” From ‘For Anastasia Sanford, ultimately, it’s dance’. March 23, 2013.
Nuriyyih Gerrard – Award Winning dramatist, Radio Personality
“Everything I do happens for a reason, every step that I have taken in my life has been a stepping stone to the next thing. Every piece brings me closer to fulfilling my overall purpose in life, which is working with youths who are traumatised; to motivate people, inspire people, fix broken wings. Being exposed to all people would make my ultimate goal a little more realistic.” – From ‘And Boom! It’s Nuriyyih
Gerrard!’ May 5, 2013
Russell Lancaster – Award decorated musician and Dramatist.
“I am particularly interested in… the things that can move our society forward and I have found that to a large extent the power of the arts is underestimated. So I spent a lot of time exploring artistic endeavours as a means of empowerment for young people. Young people are our future and I have found that [they] have to be rounded; you can’t just have skills in one area. You have to have skills in many areas.
I myself am very multidiscipline. I play two instruments, I sing, conduct a choir, I write, act, direct, I’m a television and radio producer and presenter and I am very much involved in business education, … being a certified UNDP Entrepreneurial Trainer.” – From ‘The multitalented Mr Lancaster.’ July 27, 2013.
Kojo McPherson – Political Activist, Photographer, Dramatist, Poet, Writer.
“I don’t even feel as if I’m giving up one art form for another, to me it’s about sampling different dishes to make one big meal. For me as a film maker, I can draw on my experience as a writer, as a performing artist, as a director selecting my shots, doing my storyboards; I draw on my experiences as a photographer – all these different threads get moving together.” – From ‘Kojo McPherson’s different threads come together.’ August 3, 2013.
Harold Bascom – Award winning playwright, dramatist, artist.
“I often wonder how others live as non-creative beings. I often wonder how others exist without cognisance of nature’s beauty about them—how they live without the contemplation of life in all of its vicissitudes. For me to be an artist is to feel relevance to being alive and a responsibility to interpret and pass on life-lessons and new points of view. As an artist I often feel driven to interpret and share.
As a playwright I feel driven to mirror our lives—the positives of it; the negatives of it; and hope that through a process of catharsis, we can make things better for ourselves as rational beings. I believe, ultimately, that the artist is the antennae
of society. As an artist; writer, and playwright I feel driven to contribute to the evolution of a noble mind.” – From ‘Harold Bascom is the real deal.’ August 10, 2013.
Ryan Hoppie – 2013 Guyana Star, winner of the English segment of the GT&T Jingle and Song Competition.
“It really does not matter how many people believe in you, you have to believe in yourself and that is sometimes the hardest thing. But always remember that there is no one that can do what you were born to do exactly the way you were born to do it – do not rob the world of your imprint.” – From ‘Ryan Hoppie: Putting love into music.’ September 7, 2013.
Kwasi ‘Ace’ Edmondson – Comedian, Dramatist, Writer.
“People enjoy what I do, especially my music because I speak the truth that’s on my mind. I don’t want a façade of me. I want my fans to know that I am an entertainer but I’m also human and I go through all the challenges and emotions as everyone else.” – From Kwasi ‘aces’ it. December 14, 2013.
