OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica)

ANTHEA McGIBBON: Inside the booth of Jeffrey Perry, the other sketch artist.

Lots of things are in store for all who connect with the Arts this year. For sure good notes were written at the recent Art of Music Festival.

Third World band members revealed in a press conference that they will be publishing two books, one for children as they celebrate their 37th anniversary as a band. Their children’s book will teach about Jamaica’s culture and patriots.

Rebecca Packer, from the Reggae Pickney who will be working on the book in due time, told OAaSIS International about another book that will be published soon. The Reggae Pickney team members, which include Jana and Rupert Bent and Dr Veronica Salter are working hard to publish another book in the Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band series. This time Shaggy Parrot, voiced by Shaggy will have a turtle for a costar. Rebecca, says that another Jamaican singer will be the voice of the turtle, and the book also will be illustrated by a Jamaican. The layout for the colouring book is already finished and will not take as long as the colouring book for the Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae band to be ready.

The team sources their information on the environment from NEPA and uses the books to teach on marine life and animals of both land and sea. This new book will address issues affecting turtles, however. Issues such as the turtles being forced to eat plastic bags, garbage floating in the river that are being ingested by the turtles. Rebecca believes that Jamaicans who are creative are also scientific, and intellectual. Therefore in the future there will be books on the universe and space.

At the Art of Music festival, previously named Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues fest, the visual artists showcased their many skills. A lot of persons loved meeting the characters from the Outamenni Experience who represented different periods of Jamaica’s history. There were sketch artists such as Jeffrey Perry making portraits Buck’s Designs sold souvenirs of Art of Music which they made like teeshirts.

There were lots of craft made from materials like wood and leather and ceramics. Bridgette Sandals showed off her slippers she made for sale. Mutabaruka showed fashion, and Philip Supersad, sold his hand-made drums and ceramic pieces that makes him a master potter. Bianca was one artist who had jewellery like rings and hair pieces and broaches and handbags.

There were artists from Montego Bay like Alpha Arts, and from Ocho Rios like Hopeton Powell. Hopeton Powell and his mother, Eugene Williams brought artworks from different relatives. Some of them were of dance moves, and teansport Jamaicans used through the years like donkey carts.

Ringling School of Arts and Design graduate, Tamika Wright launched “Only in Jamaica” photographs on posters, and books on images found only in Jamaica, like signs with misspelt words that made the signs look funny, and as the house built on railroad tracks.

READ MORE in The Gleaner’s Arts section and the children’s own.

Arts in Harmony.