Che's - Zen Poster Process

Recently, Che Lovelace celebrated the first year of his weekly Deejay jigs at the roof top of Zen discotheque in Port of Spain, Trinidad. As the promotional invitation to the event, The Amateurs, Lovelace executes a series of posters which are compiled through, photography or his general observations at the club. The drawings may be a gestural figurative sketch capturing a moment of intimacy between people.Che Lovelace has a methodical approach to his work, and he is aways looking at ways to expand his technique. From his early confined compositions, his posters now comprise of a detailed crop from a larger drawing. The painting shown here seems to resemble the Queen's Park Savannah superimposed with stenciled blades of grass. The forms are simpler and layered as if it is a screen print. Where he may push this process further is to reduce it just to lines.



Lovelace begins by; I start in a area and slowly begin the process of markings through a stencil. This may expand across the board, and then I will crop what works best. This means that some thought is involved, rather than the quick slap-dash approach which he had experimented with before. With this work, a section for the particular poster is removed from the panel, and the remaining painting may be reused in future deejaying engagements. Either way, Lovelace shows his passion as a painter with activities such as deejaying or surfing that are on the periphery of his calling.

Upper photograph, an invite Amateur Poster courtesy of Che Lovelace. Lower photograph, the work in progress at his studio, Trinidad, courtesy of Che Lovelace. See his solo exhibition for 2008, his four year journey into painting ***

The Other - Isaac Julien

Time to clean up your act

At the Studio Film club in Port of Spain, Trinidad Isaac Julien's experimental film, Territories is screened. This is part of the Studio Film club's participation with the Trinidad Film Festival. Produced during his studies at St. Martin School of Art in 1984, Territories deals with race relations particularly with the West Indian community in London and something more.

The BBC Reports; Tempers were boiling among young black men over police use of the "sus" law, under which anybody could be stopped, searched and held, even if only suspected of planning a crime...

At Notting Hill Carnival in London, a riot ensues and the force of the all white British police are out to enforce order from the hooligans who have disrupted the celebrations. But this turns into war, between the white majority and the black community who feel they are trampled upon by who they are ethically, and the perception that if black people congregate in large groups, it means trouble.

The footage used in this film is actual from the riots in Notting Hill in 1976. To not be accepted as part of the community when you are apart, Territories addresses it as an overlay in narration, in which the "Other" he describes is himself and exposes the ways the British laws segregated the black community by proposing restrictions like issued passes to citizens to enter or the ban on drumming at the festival under the pretense of noise disturbances. Nevertheless, Mr.Julien attempts to educate the viewer by giving a brief history of the festival, and its roots originating from Trinidad and Tobago. In 1964, Notting Hill hosted it first carnival to celebrate West Indian cultures and traditions.

In British contemporary art circles, the attempt to portray a part of London's woos is considered as ground breaking. No one dared to deal on a subject so sensitive. Mr. Julien has layered his film with imagery of himself as a black gay man embracing another. There are nuances of his sexuality but it is edited with subtle care. The stills are interjected with the backlash of the police force. In closing, Territories pans rows of abandon public housing, and it shows United Kingdom's role as oppressive, towards its people or neighbouring territories such as the conflict in northern Ireland.

As a student film, Territories is just that, in its contents and context of its visual artistic language. This is a short film, about twenty five minutes long, but it seems to drag on a bit. Mr. Julien's repeats of a few stills, yes the footage may be apt for the part, but repeating it too often can also distract from the message it is trying to convey.

Top image; The official poster for the film event. Bottom; The gates to the Studio Film Club in Trinidad, West Indies.

All Rights Reserved 2007, Wonder of The World, thebookmann

The doctor's daughter - Janine Fung

The pedestal we place on others often disappoints us in the end

At the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, Janine Fung presents her first major film. It has as Ms. Fung explains, taken a decade to finally finish the production. The Doctor's Daughter,(2005) is a film about family, obligation and betrayal. As the producer and directer, she has casts herself as herself and also includes members of her family and friends to portray a story which underlines a secret and a lie.

The history behind the script, Ms. fung confesses is based on personal accounts in her life. The Doctor's Daughter dwells on the surface of coming out to oneself, the strains of first love, and the flaw to be overzealous in committing to others. Hurt waits around the corner.

Filmed in Toronto and Trinidad, The Doctor's Daughter opens with a downpour in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Nikki and Regan consummate their relationship. At the time, Regan has just been proposed to by her eccentric German speaking fiancé, but he is oblivious to the ongoing flirtation between the two friends. They eventually make love. Five years later, Nikki and Regan are both living together in Toronto and the strain of their relationship reaches a threshold.

Ms. Fung has filmed her father's office as she portrays vignettes of her character as his receptionist. The daily onslaught of the Doctor and his patients' idiosyncratic needs are compounded by her undisclosed affair which she has to contend with.

One Chinese patient makes a slip and says, I want to see him... you ..I have a pain in my back..as she speaks directly to the doctor, and this adds a raw anecdote to independent films. Unscripted dialogues by untrained actors tend to be amusingly, in all, she may very well suffer with back pains. Her acting is convincing.

The Bake Potato Painting

Regan played by Gillian Frise, is Nikki's love interests, and she slurs her words in character, you have to pay close attention to her lines to get an essence of what keeps these two women together. Portrayed as a struggling artist, she waffles in her self pity and exploits Nikki's need to sustain the relationship, knowing in the past that Nikki has confessed her love to her. (Like to be heard, but seldomly said) But Regan begins to drift, and Nikki grows suspicious. The film concludes when she betrays the Doctor's daughter and expresses her desire to be normal. The charade is up and Regan decides to be with a man, married and with children.

Ms. Fung brings to attention the isolation which gay people feel especially during family gatherings, her slow pan of her family's dinner party is quite moving. This film deals with the dynamics of a relationship which people endure. In this case it is between two women, about truth, self esteem and the basic desire in all of us to be loved and respected equally.

The Doctor's Daughter is not an upstanding film, but neither is it a weak one. Ms. Fung is able to get her message across. There are a few inconsistencies in the visual scripts, jerky camera shots and close cut editing, but overall it has a genre that feels distinctly Canadian. Where and when Ms. Fung decides to produce another film, her maturity, self confidence and humour may shine.

Trinidad born, Janine Fung is a Canadian and this is her first screening at the second Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival. The Doctor's Daughter has been shown in festivals throughout North America and it has received warmly at the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in San Francisco, 2007.

.................................................................................................................


Trinidad and Tobago has had a long, sad history with films and film making. In the early 1970's there was great enthusiasm for a film industry. The locally produced Bim starring future senator Ralph Maraj included all original music scored by the late Andre Tanker. it is considered a classic not only in Trinidad and Tobago but by many the world over who know of this precious little movie. The industry floundered and died on the vine. There have been halfhearted and expensive attempts at recessitation, but we have only seen tragic stinkers like 'Man from Africa, Girl from India' and 'Flight of the Phoenix' and a gaggle of poor action flicks that go straight to bootleg DVD for first viewing.

All in all, there are also special glimmers of hope, like Yao Ramisar's Sister God and now, Janine Fung's Doctor's Daughter. Recently I have looked at two Indian films dealing with lesbianism, and it is easy to think that film makers want to make something titilating (no pun intended) and controversial. This is untrue. These films are not only very watchable and thought provoking, but delicately told and beautifully produced, and unfortunately I cannot remember their titles at the moment.

Miss Fung's film may be the first to explore what t is like to be an Asian Trinidadian Lesbian. That is no small thing! The Asian community has not been represented on local film in any real way before. Far less an Asian woman, and even moreso, an Asian Lesbian Woman. The Asian community in Trinidad and Tobago is very private, very insular and very proud. For an Asian artist to explore her sexuality is very daring. But that is not all. This woman has singlehandidly pioneered a genre for Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean as a whole with such a semi reality movie/psychological drama that transcends our slapstick expectations. To have her family and friends join in in her understanding of herself and then filming it is in a word, Art.

For a production that has taken ten years to see the light of day, a topic such as those being addressed in her film, Miss Fung shows us that small communities deserve to have light shone upon them as well. it is relevant to see that there are many struggles that we all face, and that looking upon one group as privileged can in many times hurt both sides, as we neglect realizing that everyone has their trials to contend with, no matter how secure they may seem. The fact that the film still feels current shows us how slowly things change and how long people take to come to terms with emotional issues. I commend Miss Fung for her foresight and insight and look forward to seeing where she shall go from here. - Adele

All Rights Reserved 2007, Wonder of The World, thebookmann

Where ever you go, I shall be a part of you

Love beyond the physical world

This young man, on special occasions carries a small glass vial around his neck. What it contains is the ash from a special friend to him, and it is in memory of a man who lived on the very edge of life, but then death intervened.

It has more than a year since the untimely motorcycling death in Trinidad and Tobago of Gilles Budin, the tattoo artist who operated Tattoo Farm is still remembered with kindness and perplexity. The manner in which he was killed stills remains a mystery to most. But truth generally finds its way to the surface, and all scenarios will finally rest.

And with a wash of the drifters, wannabes and other transparent characters, Tattoo Farm had downsized but still manages to keep afloat after Gillies' absence. The young man speaks quite fondly of him and as he showed a tattoo of a beetle and an ancient tradition Indian Totem symbol inked on his upper biceps by the Frenchman himself, his voiced buckled with sorrow, as he knows that somewhere in the ether, Gillies' spirit is close to his heart.


From an universal email at his passing: Terry and I went to the hospital last night and stayed with him until he passed. It was just so fucking peaceful. It actually was spiritual, pure bliss. He received the wings he so desperately desired at 12.25 am.13th. May 2006 and everything around became full of joy, quiet and urgency disappeared. The moon came out in Macquariepe and a whisper of a breeze made the flame of the lone candle burn bright. It was pure love. (The writer of this message is not the person described in this post)

The Republic for which we stand

Whereas the People of Trinidad and Tobago - August 1, 1976


A wedding in Port of Spain

1. have affirmed that the Nation of Trinidad and Tobago is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, faith in fundamental human rights and freedoms, the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions, the dignity of the human person and the equal and inalienable rights with which all members of the human family are endowed by their creator;


Windshield wipers boys in Woodbrook

2. respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe that the operation of the economic system should result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to subserve the common good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all, that labour should not be exploited or forced by economic necessity to operate in inhumane conditions but that there should be opportunity for advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity;


A tyre worker in Princess Town

3. have asserted their belief in a democratic society in which all persons may, to the extent of their capacity, play some part in the institutions of the national life and thus develop and maintain due respect for lawfully constituted authority;


A man with a glass vial at Green Corner, Port of Spain

4. recognize that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law;


Dancing on carnival Tuesday

5. desire that their Constitution should enshrine the above-mentioned principles and beliefs and make provision for ensuring the protection in Trinidad and Tobago of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

The constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Preamble)

Bouquet Art - I solicit art

About a year ago, a public art project called Galvanize commenced in several public venues across Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. A small room catered for one of the artists tucked away in a small residence in Woodbrook.

Alice Yard is Sean Leonard's gig and the genesis of creating it came soon after the Galvanize project.The architect wanted a dialogue in public conversations, be it with art, performance or music and the space seemed appropriate to hosts small gatherings to suit a particular subject.

Since January 2007, Alice Yard had provided forty artists the opportunity to show their work to a public audience under the guidelines of a committee which includes himself, Christopher Cozier, Nicholas Laughlin and Sheldon Holder. Mr. Holder is responsible for the requisition of music performers, and he is also the lead singer of the local alternative rock band 12. Nevertheless, by attending these shows it will give a clearer description of the curatorial mandate.

One newly addition to the yard is a small recessed gallery which can be encased by a large glass panel door. If this was visible at street level (basically as a showcase), it may have been one of the first in Trinidad and Tobago specifically designed for the purpose of exhibiting contemporary art.

Currently, there is a student installation, the first in a series curated by the art committee. Mr. Leonard considers the entire project as on going process. Alice Yard has already expanded to a upper level courtyard and who knows how adventurous in the world of art, music theater or dance it may leap.

Hangers; Adam Williams, a series of studies and sketches from art class at OCAD and UWI hung on a rack. At last Friday's music performer; Shakeela a singer from Point Fortin who mellowed the crowd with her smooth sultry vocals. See her perform at Youtube

Street Couture - Some naturally have it

In mythology, hair is a sign of seductive beauty and strength


This is Sheldon, and what this rather tall striking man is showing you is his hair plats which were executed by his girlfriend, a petite yet charming girl. As the couple stood outside of one of the popular bars in Woodbrook, Port of Spain, she explained the process by pointing two feet up to his head. The history of his particular hair style comes simply by comparing a visual of rows of corn in a field, hence, Cornrows. With this specimen, there are rows of plats that are cone shape which extend to the crown. At the forehead, a devision of plats are parted in three which follows the contour of the head, and end at a headband of extended piggy plats.



The art of plating someones hair has a deep cultural root. Between a mother and her child or fathers and their daughters. You can just picture a girl who sat between her parent's legs and stomached the pulls, the grease, the tugs and complaints of not having good hair. More importantly it was the conversations between them both. With Sheldon, he and his girlfriend would have bonded in conversations about their relationship, or perhaps just gossiped about current things, nevertheless it is the human nurturing quality which creates the intimacy. Hair is something people are protective of.



At hair salons for women, to comb-out, treat and plat a braid or weave ones hair takes the entire day, men on the other hand suffer less torture. Sheldon's cornrows took under two hours to complete, but this excludes extra time he took to finesse himself for the evening. The results gives him a sense of kicking hip pop street style.

Mas at the BRIC'S Rotuda Gallery

Trinidad and Tobago, what we take for granted and the others who don't

Like all things made, there is a process behind it and with this concept, an exhibition on the very subject is on at the BRIC'S Rotuda Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. It is on the common subject of Carnival from Trinidad and Tobago by artists, performers and photographers.

The curator, Claire Tancons has orchestrated the works of Alex Kahn and Sophie Michahelles by suspending the backlit boxes from the ceiling of the gallery. These cascade around the room. On a wall, images are projected from the German photographer Stefan Falke. Mr. Falke has documented the Moko Jumbies (stilt-dance performers) for many years and has produced a book from his studies. The process of staging a performance, from the ground up, to the streets of Port of Spain or in New York may have been addressed.

Titled, MAS: FROM PROCESS TO PROCESSION
Caribbean Carnival as Art Practice, Ms. Toncons includes a costume by Laura Anderson Barbata. The muti-media artist since her Trinidad residency in 2001 has integrated her Mexican heritage unto the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Her costumes specifically are designed for the Moko Jumbies and credit should be given to those young Trinidadians and Tobagonians who have to perform in them. Not only does the balancing act require skill, but to stabilize themselves attached to these tall stilts may be further compounded by a large costume on their backs. To see the Moko Jumbies perform without these artificial tapestry may shed another light as visual art.

The puppet designers, Alex Kahn and Sophie Michahelles, also experienced Trinidad and Tobago's carnival and they are included in the show. At their residency at Caribbean Contemporary Arts in 2005, they constructed two large traditional carnival costumes as puppets. Although during the carnival festival in Trinidad, Mr. Kahn struggled to carry his costume. This suggests that carnival is ingrained in a people, and costumes are just an extension. Backlit boxes of a photograph of the front and side views of buildings (New Orleans) are exhibited. Please refer to the comments by Claire Tancons regarding this work.

Yet, the thread to all these artists is Trinidad and Tobago and the former Caribbean Contemporary Arts. Claire Tancons briefly was the curator and the show, Lighting the Shadow was under her belt.

Other noted artists are Trinidadians Marlon Griffith with his draped reflective (carnival material) cellophane cut-outs sheets, and Karyn Olivier, Caecilia Tripp from Germany and Nicolás Dumit Estévez from the Domincan Republic.

MAS: FROM PROCESS TO PROCESSION
Caribbean Carnival as Art Practice
BRIC'S Rotuda Gallery, New York
September 12 - October 20, 2007

Art imitating life - Adele Todd - Paradise

Man's ingenuity to do ill, show the art of it


The newspaper clipping showing a device to kidnap and restrain victims would have never been considered as art until the front page came across Adele Todd. A year after the newspaper article, Ms. Todd in 2003 collaborated with South African, Lisa Brice in a show titled Paradise at former Caribbean Contemporary Arts gallery, CCA7 in Trinidad, West Indies. The themes were to show how the Caribbean island had changed by the sudden increase in crime. Ms. Todd approached the subject by reconstructing the Kidnap Box. (shown below)

Recently, an unknown crime to Trinidad, it had escalated into an alarming rate. She created two confining constructions based on the actual plywood boxes seized by the Trinidad police. The idea of being restrained in such a device she said, was discomforting and frightening.

Selling a garment they can’t put together

If we can't see a future we are doomed

In St. James, Trinidad and Tobago, a small narrow room is filled with old Singer sewing machines. At the front, an older gentlemen sits next to a open door that separates the room from a electronic shop next to it. Busy away on his heavy Singer sewing machine, he is adding a few patterned stitches on a pair of light green corduroy jeans. A measuring tape hangs from his neck and a mobile phone is attached to his wrist. Nicked named Drake from Andrew, the tailor has been in the business for thirty seven years. Back than, to make a pair of trousers cost $4.00 tt, a blouse could run for $3.00.

But today, Drake is concerned with the industry, and a factor that bitterly upsets him. The motive from businesses to make as much money as possible in return for less desirable goods. By this, he means the cloth stores that import ready-made clothes, all mass-produced in China. This has cut into the small independent businesses that relay on customers who now shop else where for their suits. Sadly, it is the American mentality (Fast- Food) that exists in Trinidad and Tobago and people say they just have no time for a proper tailored fitting. it is more convenient to buy a ready-made outfit no matter the cost. Bet your money down, their fancy new suit eh go last. What clients may be unaware of is the inferior quality in which these garments are produced and China is becoming the new sweat house for local Fashion Houses (loosely termed) who may seek to cut costs of production.

Occasionally, tailors and seamstresses are commissioned to sew for a few designers, yet Drake snickers at the prospect of the Brand Names owners who can’t put together a garment that they sell. The dollars you make or save adversity affects the tailoring industry and Drake is doubtful if it can recover. If you look around, only older people operated these shops, young people are just not interested.

One of the reasons he stresses is that the Now-Generation motive is make money quickly. Qualified people like mechanics and electricians are bidding for guns instead to somehow counter act the economic imbalance. Even Levi Strauss gets punished for changing the fashion style in Trinidad and Tobago, the casual ready to wear dungaree trampled the industry as it changed the sense of tropical clothing West Indians once had.

Puppy Love in St. James

If you walk along the streets of St. James, Trinidad and Tobago, you may see some quaint homes with their galleries set with flower pots and pictures of Christ (in various sizes) above a decorative two panel glass doors. And as thebookmann canvased the streets to photograph things that people generally overlook, a young girl was gently holding her pet. There is no need to explain these two photographs, but rather it is a sample of pure love, loyalty and perfect synchronized partnership.

Traveling Abstractions - Barbara Neu

At Move Vino, an upscale wine bar in Port of Spain, every week shows work from an array of artists. This week it is an exhibition of oils by Barbara Neu, an American who resides in Trinidad and Tobago.

Just settled in for over a year now, Ms. Neu has lived in Europe, Africa and Japan and her observations on the landscapes has triggered a memory of turbulent energy. Her brush strokes exhibit a masculine quality which is unseen with paintings in Trinidad by a woman artist.

Only one of the nine abstracts was actually produced here, the rest where done in Tokyo, Japan. The painting titled # 2 is a mixture of cobalt blue and gray with accents of orange. It is the indication of what Chris Ofilli described this island to be, mysterious and an enigmatic.

With a rather dark pallet, the artist is capable to applying the pigments without contaminating them. Working primarily with blacks, oranges and light yellows. Her strokes are controlled as they zig zag or rotate across the canvas. With the diptych on your left, Ms. Neu says it is imagery found on the internet, the painting is of a fork which has the ambiance of an Italian visa.

Ms. Neu's on the other hand is slightly cautious to explore the hot vibrant country that Trinidad and Tobago is. She watched carnival on television this year but says next year may be another story with a fusion of reds. Barbara Neu at Move Vino is up for a week.

The World Trade Collapse - 2001

Even Allah seemed perturbed

About this Book Project. November 2001-2003

A few months after the events in New York City thebookmann had an usual dream where he was part of the World Trade Center Memorial project.

The Memorial 1

The proposal consisted of a raised transparent resin buttress encased with the names those lost on that day. It was essential to use material from the structures to give an immortal presence.

The type would be set in reverse and the shadow would cast the individual's names below on a polished marbled floor. The names would simply appear or sometimes not depending on degree of light during the course of a day. With no relationship to New York or the United Sates of America, such a project seemed inconceivable and wondered why?….. Perhaps a book?. The following below is the proposal for an Art Book residency in New York in 2003 .

A Book Memorial

Prototype dimensions: 10x10x.25 inches Research regarding this project has been overwhelming. The prototype contains the actual names.

The book consists of 40 folded sheets of transparent paper 10 x 9.5 ins in size. Constructed in the form of Japanese binding the folds are at the foredge and the sections are secured by a side stitch or with wooden pegs (as shown) at the center of the backboard. Covered in full or an optional spine material for strength using Japanese paper. The inner endpapers are ribbed in texture.

The concept are two books sewn as one. The leaves are divided equally so that it can be viewed either side verso-recto. The text blocks are enclosed with the hinge at the pages’ foredge. The two front boards would be die cut to insert two elongated iron rods in the hope that the actual material is embedded. (one eighth x 9.25 ins in length)


This book is assembled with four boards and the sections are side stitched. The narrow center strip tipped on then secured by small wooden pegs.

Bakery Art

A rock cake for meh grandson to break up he teet

Pastry shops in Trinidad and Tobago are quaint places. I am sure that they do not set out to be that way, but it became inevitable when parents, particularly women began to make their demands felt regarding their children's taste. You will always see the following, hopsbread, current rolls, pigs in a blanket, beef pies, custard creams and pink and white icing cup cakes. The larger cakes are another matter. Whatever is the Hollywood action character and Disney character of the day is on offer in the most psychodelic shades of colour. There are also the standby Elmo, Barbie and Barney. Just writing that makes your teeth hurt. The colours are so vivid you question whether they are legal or whether they are filled with number 2 dye!

However, these are ready made cakes and confections and we all know how long it takes to make something like that from scratch. Gone are the days when women would scoff at buying a ready-made cake, they are now mandatory for the very busy family. When you stand in line at the bakery is another matter. People are always buying hops, white or wholewheat bread, and you can bet that you are going to hear what they cost once upon a time when life was simpler. The size, taste and texture of what they used to be like makes you almost put back what you are buying today, as todays hops do not measure up at all. In fact you are told by older people that they are now half the size and twice the cost. That is progress and inflation for you. - Adele

The National Guild of Decoupeurs

This is a map of Trinidad made by the craft of Decoupage. You may see many works of a sort hung in living rooms across the nation, Trinidad and Tobago. Popular imagery are flowers and the Lord's pray made by the lady of the house or as a gift given on a special occasion. It is an art form which entails pasting paper cut-outs which are then glued to a treated plaque of wood.

The outer edges of the work above shows the hacked indents from a hammer and this was perhaps to give a patina of old world charm. It also showed the passion in which the artist attempted to produce the most authentic work gauging from the group of housewives who participated in the project. The map has been preserved by several coats of varnish or lacquer but the aging has somewhat dulled the finish. It should be noted that parts of the paper had been deliberately tarnished or burnt to give the look of a historic document preserved under cakes of varnish.

Better living than dead - Damien Hirst

It is Damien Hirst's desire for his work to exceed in value of that of Mona Lisa, alive

Ever since last week I have known about the sale of the Damien Hirst skull which allegedly went for one hundred million US dollars. It is unprecedented to hear of such a figure given to a living artist for his work. Mr Hirst can be very proud. Now where do we go from here? He certainly has set the bar very high. Dead artists as everyone knows always seem to have done better than living ones, but this is not strictly true. Throughout history art has been a very lucrative career for many people, for example, in Europe, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Goya,SalvadorDali, Picasso,in America, past and present Mary Cassatt, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Virginia Bartlett, and in Trinidad and Tobago, Bosco Holder, leRoi Clarke, Jackie Hinkson and Karen Sylvester.

When it comes to artists making money though, a weird thing happens. So many people get excited and concerned about an artist calling large figures for the work they make. I suppose that people do not see the struggle, only the fame, much as what happens with actors. Now many people would say that they are really overcompensated for what they do too. I am sure in Mr. Hirst's case, there are just reach people who are wondering what is it about his work that makes it worth the cost? In fact there are practicing artists wondering the same thing. Mr. Hirst guaranteed value by making the work an object, and not just any object an unexpected relic-like, haunting interpretation of mystical sculpture of the past. Obviously Mr. Hirst was looking at how far, how high, how big and how much he could push his already expanding reputation. It shall be interesting to see how he tops himself, and no people, he won't do his own body or anyone in his family in diamonds, that's already old hat. adele

Saturday at the President's grounds

On the average Saturday and Sunday in Trinidad there is a ritual that plays forth where the invited do something called 'dollzing up' to go to a wedding.

As long as people get married in Port-of-Spain and environs, there is the mandatory stop at the Botanical Gardens. For those of us in a rush to get into St. Anns and Cascade after two in the afternoon, there is always traffic as people double and triple park. They completely forget driving courtesy in deference to the wedding party.

Here many drivers also forget that they had other intentions as they crane their necks to glimpse "Who gettin' marrid?" It is always a sight to see ladies dressed identically in the two colour choice of the moment. A pink and peach or a lilac and taupe, a pink and silver or a yellow and pale blue.

Men are not outshone, as we have seen them dressed from fedora hat to shoes in deepest blue,or burgandy or chocolate brown tailor made suits, and the tailor is usually not Bradford but a friend called Mr. Wellington or Jerry and today, the 'gangsta style' of oversized clothes are creeping into the wedding scene
with men wearing zoot suit come gangsta trousers loping precariously over patent leather shoes, sometimes aflame with bling on fingers, chest and in a wide smile. The weddings are very special. You see delicate women and children manouvering in new shoes of every colour and style. The neck craners adding sound by others impatience to move on. The day is always lovely, a cool breeze wafts positively in the direction of people in love and family in joy of the day, and as we drive away we always say, may they be blessed with love and the relationship grow strong, as we remember our own parking on the lawn to beat the sunset to get that special picture in the park. - Adele

Hey Mr. Deejay - Alice Yard

Celebrating Independence under stormy circumstances

Many in the art community are taking steps to organize and provide their own independent space. This is apt for Artists who find it difficult to show their work in public. One such alternative venue is Alice Yard in Woodbrook, Port of Spain. It is actually the yard from a private residence, fairly small, but intimate enough for a small gathering of people. There is a stage, chairs, tables and bar. The Deejay is located on stage with an array of amplifiers, mixers and turntable.

The picture on your left shows the prosperous future which we all hope in Trinidad and Tobago, it is our forty fifth year of Independence and the evening has begun with an unpredictable onset of a early storm. Yet, on this damp evening Alice Yard's gig; We callin it de Ipod Sound Clash, was still on. The space that hosts a number of art-based events is featuring a live Rock Band and a few popular Deejays.


The video is a short preview of the Band called "12". They passionately rocked the Yard with a compilation of popular tunes. Followers grooved in sync with a display of handbends and air guitars from the fusion of Rock, Blues and Jazz.

The yard tapered down with good old soul music and ended with a barrage of Reggae tunes that were constantly cut short but oblivious to the out of control wet-down dancers who were attempting to imitate a Jamaican dance hop, sorry dem bredrin kar dance Jamaican.