OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica)

DAY 2 (Creative workshop series at Allan Town Primary):
The second day of the Allman Town creative workshop series mirrored the first day in success, as the students were brought to new horizons by Donald Oliver, Malesia Frazer, Emma Lewis, and Jana Bent, although missing. The creative workshop series titled “The Critical Role and Impact of the Arts” started on January 13.
After the National Anthem, the Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band book was read to just 100 students. An impressive combination of the Arts as a tool to teach about the Arts, the book is accompanied by a CD. The CD contains a narrator who reads the book pages, encouraging students to follow and actual voices are heard animating.

Emma Lewis, public affairs consultant at the United States Embassy, spent some time with the children offering them a workshop in “Writing”. As a member of the creative industry, she herself is a writer and brought her journal as a tool of the trade.

The children were enamoured with the idea of writing about their own lives after she made them reflect briefly about Haiti and their own experiences with their eyes closed. Lewis who had concerns, had her mind put at ease when they responded to questions about her session favourably.
Recipient of the Prime Minister’s youth award for excellence in Journalism, Donald Oliver, then took the students into ta new depth for success. He encouraged them to invest in (D)iscipline; (E)ffort and (E)ducation; (P)atience; (T)ime; (H)eart.
However, not before Malesia Frazer a second year student at the Edna Manley College for the Visual Arts, aspiring to be an art teacher who spoke on her own visual expressions. Malesia’s work was used as the day’s backdrop in the computer lab, where the sessions were held, and included portrait, lifestyle, and abstract done in both sketches and paint.
The day’s spread was ended by another impressive show by Kemarch “Wizad the Magician” Dodd. This time his main trick was making doves fly from his folded gloves. One wonders, art, illusion or craft. Its all art from the heart though!
The presenters were participating in the creative workshop series hosted by the OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica). OAaSIS International exists to network artists. The series continue through to the 22, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays only. So far the over fifty presenters include Peter Lloyd, Oscar Derby, Leighton Levy, Jerico Hanson, Anthony Henry, Rhon Bramwell, Derrick Wilks.
The final day, where reports will be offered by the students and teachers will be open to the public.

SPONSORS:

(Whistling Frog (Sebastian Odgen)), P Gavin James graphics, Howard Moo Young (master at graphic design and photography, Print Xpress, Hot off the Press, Berger Paint, Burger King, Videographer Robin Chin, owner of Enhanced Realizm Studios and his team, Xclusiv Entertainment, Paralegal Dwane Forbes)

READ MORE:

Jamaica’s OAaSIS International Foundation launches creative workshop series
DAY 1: Jamaican artistes, artists ignite young minds
DAY 2: New creative depth for students through creative series
DAY 3: Colonel Derby, Peter Lloyd, artists time out for children
DAY 4: Creative connections at Allman Town Primary
DAY 5: Workshop stirs creative power at Allman Town Primary
DAY SIX(6): Creative workshop series end with Solid performances
DAY 6: Starry end to inaugural OAaSIS Fdn’s creative workshop series
DAY 6: Allman Town Primary thanks over 30 artists, artistes for creative workshop series
Allman Town teacher reports on OAaSIS creative series

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SEE ALSO The Gleaner’s Children’s Own issue of January 31 – February 5
Allman Town paints for the Bank of Jamaica
Creative workshop series end with Solid performances

In January 2010, varying members of the creative force will team up with business persons to impact positively on Jamaica’s children at Allman Town Primary. The event will be the kick off for a creative workshop series by OAaSIS International Foundation to impact on our children through the arts, and relating fields.

The Foundation’s objective is to assist with the development of today’s youth, making them more rounded and positively exposed to a wide variety of fields. The arts, its value, role and purpose is being seen as critical to the development of each human, ultimately each nation, and the world.
Founder Anthea McGibbon believes that early exposure to children, when done properly will enable each to be better able to perform, and choose wisely careers and hobbies, especially when it comes to the arts. Recent winner of the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards for Excellence in Journalism, Donald Oliver is expected to participate. Perhaps his step towards filling out the shoes of his namesakes such as Senator Honourable Donald Oliver (Nova Scotia, Canada).
Along with the school’s principal Kandi Lee Crooks, he once resided in Allman Town. They also were students of an art club which began years ago at the Apostolic Church of Jamaica, Bethel Temple, Central Avenue.
The curriculum is being finalized in a meeting on Monday, December 21, at the studio of Barrington Watson, the foundation’s first patron. Topics will include What is the Arts, Critical Role, and there will be clippings and previews of actual work done by Jamaicans.
So far Robin Chin has volunteered video coverage, to provide mediahouses which will not be able to attend all activities. This especially for the numbered US broadcasting stations who have agreed to use clips in supporting the aim of the Foundation.
It is anticipated that the series will roll across the island, causing a domino effect, as the participants strive to empower our children through properly exposing them to the arts and relating industries.
The confirmed list for Project #1 includes:
Donald Oliver (Winner of Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in Journalism and resident of Allman Town)
Peter Lloyd (Who will come ALL-THE-WAY from Montego Bay)
Lennie Little White (you may know him for his work on Royal Palm Estate, and Outameni)
Emma Lewis (US Embassy); Kristen Brown (freelance model); Colonel Oscar Derby (Optimist Member, Civil Aviation); Jermaine Gordon (motivational speaker); Patrick James (Graphic designer, Journalist); Anthony Henry (journalist); Jereico Hanson (Retired Teacher); Leighton Levy (entertainment journalist and more) in addition to those confirmed on facebook.
The slated dates are January 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22. The scheduled time is from 12:30 p.m.-2:30p.m. Each day there will be a motivational speaker, a workshop and a project.
Anyone wishing to participate can make contact through
the facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191501532110#/event.php?eid=191501532110&ref=mf), the website www.oaasisinternational.org or by calling:
Kandi-Lee Crooks Smith, principal of Allman Town Primary, 967-3385
Anthea McGibbon, Founding President, 876-797-7297
Wazarri 876-388-9428
Melhanie Spence 876-842-1496
Patrick James, 790-1941
Derrick Wilks, 877-2715
Gallery Barrington, 978-7424