OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica)

OAaSIS network welcomes patron Bernard Hoyes

All the way from California, Jamaican master painter Bernard Hoyes, arrived in the island yesterday, Monday May 24 to give back to Jamaica’s youth. He is on the island to begin an etching school for the youth, and as patron to the OAaSIS International Foundation, he will tour specific areas joining in projects towards empowering the development of the youth.
At an East Street location, refurbishing has already begun on the building slated for the etching school. Starting on Sunday, June 6, Hoyes begins his tour with OAaSIS.
On Sunday, June 6, Hoye will pay a courtesy call on the foundation’s first patron, Barrington Watson, a well-known master painter himself whose work is currently hung in the National Gallery.
On Tuesday Hoyes travels to Port Royal Primary and Infant to restore murals along with other OAaSIS volunteers, as well as to do workshops including etching.
On Wednesday, June 9, Hoyes goes to his old school, allman Town Primary to conduct workshops and motivational sessions just a week before he participates in a worshop series paying tribute to Christopher Gonzalez.
The workshop thesemes include on “Painting”, “Living as a Jamaican artist in the USA climate,” “Etching”.
Earlier this year in January Hoyes was among the numbered persons from the Allman Town area, recognized and appreciated with a certificate for their outstanding impressions made through an application of the creative arts.
Others included Donald Oliver, Rohan Daley who through literary expressions have been impacting on the nation.
Bernard Hoyes is established and known throughout the United States as a painter, sculptor and printmaker and etcher. (http://www.bernardhoyes.com/) His latest exhibition was held in Singapore earlier this year, and he has been featured in magazines such as Afrikan Business and Cultural Quarterly based in London.
See his resume here.
OAaSIS International Foundation exists to network members of the creative industry and relating fields to empower today’s youth. More at www.oaasisinternational.org.

CONTACT for further information or an interview:
Founder Anthea McGibbon, 797-7297; Leighton Levy, 561-4445; Melhanie Spence, 842-1496
Paralegal Secreatary Dwane Forbes, 443-9443; Patrick James, 790-1941

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BACKGROUND OF THE SCHOOL

The Allman Town Primary School is nestled in the heart of Central Kingston. Catering to the needs of the immediate environs – Allman Town, Kingston Gardens, Campbell Town, Fletchers Land, and Beverly Gardens, there is an increasing number of students from the Spanish Town and Portmore communities.

The school is accessible from two main thoroughfares: Marascaux Road and Arnold Road.
The school, which was originally built to accommodate 1000 students,  has a total of 567 student - 305 boys and 262 girls. Principal Khandi-Lee Crooks-Smith says that punctuality has taken a giant leap, as an active PTA body is now in place, and the parents have been monitoring the gates in the mornings.

Of the 19 members of the academic staff including the principal, there are 11 auxillary staff members, including two full time volunteers.

The low socio-economic status of parents which drastically affected the attendance of students, is improving. High percentages of the people are unemployed, and spend most of their time on the streets. For many parents, sending their children to school was not a priority, and some even made it an impossibility.

The stigma attached to the school was that it was one of the noted underachiever and indisciplined institution, located in an inner-city community, known for crime and violence.’ Now the school is on an upward trend, and those views have been dispelled.
She spoke with the Gleaner about some of the school’s needs as a Crusader for the Arts.

ARTFUL ACHIEVEMENTS

The school participated in the Lion’sClub of Downton Kingston’s National Pride Competition, and placed second in the Art Competition, using the theme, “this is Jamaica My Jamaica, Bring Back the National Pride.”  The pieces were done by a Grade 5 student- Shaquille Crosse.

Shaquille is an introvert, but very mannerable. He is naturally gifted in the area of visual arts, and is now a member of the School’s Junior Challenge Quiz Team. He also represented the school in the 4H Achievement Day Competition with craft pieces. The school also received a trophy for the “table napkins category.”

CREATIVE PROJECTS

At present, the school’s dining room is being converted into a visual an performing arts centre. This will facilitate the growth and exposition of the aethetic values that the students naturally have. The school has a Drama Teacher (part-time) and is pursuing a part time music teacher who will begin in January 2010. Drumming classes will begin this month as an extra curicular activity.
The supplies available at present are sheets of news print paper, pencils and wax crayons. All classes have a time for art in their timetables, that spans the entire week. These times will allow the room to be free for use and equally shared among the arts.

FROM THE OAaSIS

Recognizing the challenges of obtaining a formal visual arts teacher, OAaSIS will work with principal and parents, artistically inclined to fill this gap. A schedule of sessions being sorted is for the strict intention of preparing the students for their entry into formal art classes.
Anyone wishing to be a part is being asked to contact the principal Mrs Kandi Lee-Crooks (876-967-3385) or OAaSIS (using the contact form).

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So far volunteers include:
Young master painter Bernard Hoyes, former resident of Allman Town who now resides in the US.
Jermaine Gordon, author of Colour My Thoughts and a musician. He is currently working on his newest book Discovering the Gold in You.