Talking Art

Now Showing

2011-11-19T22:06:00.000-04:00

Stop by Softbox on Alcazar Street for Maya Patel's watercolours.

The Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago is hosting its annual November group show at their headquarters in Jamaica Blvd, Federation Park. Of course I will tell you more about this show along with pictures so do visit. It might be raining on the outside but on the inside it's warm with the combined creative energy of artists.
Be blessed
GretaMichelle

Now Showing

2011-11-16T22:25:00.000-04:00

Now showing at Y Art & Framing, an exhibition of works by Peter and Margaret Shephard. Make some time hop on down to Port of Spain.

A night of "Feminine Mystique"

2011-11-16T21:49:00.000-04:00

What do Sharon Burford, Zenobia Campbell-James and Fay-Anne Ryan have in common? They are all female artists who are currently showing together at De Gallery of Visual Arts on Woodford Street, Port of Spain. Even though each has a love of watercolour media, their styles are different.

Cradle of the Moon
raku sculpture

Emerge
watercolour

back view

Into the Forest
mixed media

Sharon's style is more linear and her love of illustrated brush strokes is clearly evident in her watercolour cariacatures like Dame Lorraine and her beautifully rendered paintings "Emerge" and Into the Forest, a mixed media piece. She also loves to experiment and does not limit herself to one media, but also explores artistic expression in paper clay and the Japanese style of raku pottery as seen in "Cradle of the Moon" a piece which changes when viewed from different angles, inspired by the nursery rhyme "Winkin,Blinkin and Nod"

Dame Lorraine
watercolour and ink

Zenobia or Zen the artist blends her hues with artistry. Her style is impressionistic with the Japanesse painting style, with a little Caribbean flavour. Her subjects are the wildflowers and orchids that grow here in Trinidad and Tobago. Her inspirations are the stories taken from mythology and the bible and her love of the things French. All her paintings combine the flower with images of the female form. "The Three Fates" illustrates the story of the mythical women who are responsible for weaving the threads of life. One wove, one measured and the last cut. For Zen this symbolised her coming to a point of acceptance of her artistic gift which warred with her practise of law. Her paintings are sensual and point to the erotic lines of the orchid which also celebrates the sensuality of womanhood.

Topless Dancers
watercolour

the Three Fates
watercolour

Le Fleur du Bois #2
watercolour

What FayAnn Ryan brings to the table is the expressiveness of her brush strokes and her love of the traditional; the things almost forgotten such as the corn pipe, the ease of country living, the cock fight. She works mainly in watercolours but also is quite proficient with acrylic and scraperboard. Her brushtrokes are reminiscent of Van Gogh and her use of colour is bold and reminds of the Fauvre period with its vibrant hues. She cites as her mentors Ronald Smith and her model artist, Jackie Hinkson.

Fight to the Death
Acrylic

Tobago Beach
scraperboard

Relaxing

Acrylic

The exhibition ends this week and it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to be surround by such beautiful statements about the wonders of the female creative spirit.

November!

2011-11-02T21:05:00.000-04:00

Well, another month is here. We are one month closer to the end of another year. That's not what I stopped by to tell you though. November also is the month of a lot of art happenings. For the rest of this week I'll share all of them with you.

November 3rd is a date you want to keep in mind. It's the opening of Feminine Mystique. A joint exhibiton by Zenobia Campbell-James, Sharon Burford and Fay Ann Ryan. Three women with differing styles but the same passion for creating art. This show is on at De Gallery of Visual Arts, Woodford Street, Newtown. Make it your business to come on down.

While you're out and about why not check out the fantstic work done by the late Boscoe Holder along with Keith Swantson's sculpture, at 101 and the Women in Art show at the Gallery at Fine Art.

Shabdh Kosh

2011-10-30T11:32:00.000-04:00

In Hindi 'Shabd Kosh' means dictionary; an apt title for this exhibition by Parmanan and Prabhu Singh, twin brothers who have been painting together since they were six years old. It is the story of the Indian people from indentureship to present. It tells of their history, their culture, their experiences. It is an exhibition of identity; of what it means to be an East Indian; of what it means to be an Indo-Trinidadian.

On opening night the music first beckons. Sounds of the sitar and tabla play in the background and draw you in. Then there is the explosion of colour: Yellows and oranges and pure reds and blues dominate the canvas that are arrayed on the walls, reminding of the East Indian love of colour and symbolising a history that is rich in its tapestry.

Parmanan Singh

The Arrival

At first glance you know right off the difference between the two brothers. Parmanan's style is more representational, more subtle in his use of line. His colours while still vibrant are blended and fused with quiet dignity. Prabhu, on the other hand is bold and weilds his brush almost fearlessly. He has strong use of line and shape, symbolism and experimentation. Yet, even though their styles are different, there is cohesion and rhythm to the paintings that is unmistakable. This comes from years of working together and feeding off each others artistic energy.

Prabhu Singh

Backyard Gathering

This exhibition ends November 7 and it would be a shame to miss it. So check it out at Softbox Studios on Alcazar Street, Port of Spain.

Be blessed

GretaMichelle

Hi!

2011-10-29T12:47:00.000-04:00

I'm creating a new blog. This one will cover the Trinidad art scene with critiques on exhibitions and news about the arts and artists.
I'm doing this because of my dissatisfaction with the quality of art reporting in T&T. So join me as I do my part as an artist and writer to support and highlight the creativity of my world.

Be blessed,
GretaMichelle