The National Gallery of Art, Castellani House, was recently reopened to the public with the staging of an exhibition by the Guyana Women Artists’ Association (GWAA).
The exhibition, which ended on Friday after a three-day extension, was the first to be held since the reopening of the gallery, which was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
According to acting Curator, Ohene Koama, during the closure to the public, the gallery was also being renovated to improve its infrastructure, like its roof, as well as the compound. New screens to hang artwork have been added as well.
Koama said the gallery is still in the phase of fixing areas and added that before the end of the year, artwork will be displayed in two still to be completed sections.
Since reopening the gallery also served as the venue for Posh, a jazz, fashion and art show that was organized as part of the Guyana Cricket Carnival activities last Sunday.
Koama explained that the lower flat was used to display artwork of invited artists that were part of the event.
According to Koama, the National Gallery of Art will return to its regular programme of having guest artists coming in to exhibit for a period of time. “We will get back to our normal routine programme and we hope to get new policies and new approaches in exhibiting the works,” he said.
Already, he noted, the gallery is preparing for an exhibition of indigenous art on October 6.
Meanwhile, Cosmata Lindie, a member of the GWAA, was among the artists who showcased work at the exhibition.
Lindie, a self-taught artist, said she never thought about making a career out of art but did it for herself because she loves it.
While noting that her work is influenced by surrealism, she explained that one of her pieces, ‘Emergence,’ represents a vision of a new world.
Some of the other artists featured were Maharanie Jhillu, Ariela Azaire-Duke, and Ashley St Aubyn- David.
