OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica)

Did it appear from thin air, or was it obeah? Jamaica’s most professional magician, Kemarch “Wizad the Magician” Dodd says his magic is all an illusion of the mind.
He is a firm believer in God, both his parents are christian, and for the most part he is self taught except from additional lessons from his mentor Andrew Campbell, a magician from Jamaica.

So he claims he will never indulge in black magic or anything negative or deeply spiritual.
He simply entertains, and whether the viewer sees things appearing into thin air or being held without hands, he insists that the mind is just being tricked.
When he finally sits down to be interviewed his fingers are rolling coins, or some other trick.’
He is not worried about being called an obeahman as he says “People always say negative things about what they dont understand”. Children across Jamaica, adults especially in the hotels simply love him, and wherever he goes he’s treated as a celebrity.
He’s most times flocked, but for sure there are at least ten persons who can spot him on site, and, chant his stage name “Wizad.”
His tricks include making doves appear from thin air, producing balls from one’s ears, creating the illusion that eggs are coming from one’s mouth, making hard things appear to be passing through glass, making it seem as if fingers have been removed from one’s body, making women disappear and reappear, making glass freeze in mid-air as a catchment area for pouring water, making it seem as though his hand has gone through a mirror and making money change right before one’s eyes.

There is no magic in the words a magician uses, nor is there a language of magicians outside of common phrases adapted. These phrases such as ‘abracadabra’, ‘boom shak laka’, and even ‘presto’ are used to enhance the presentations, making them more believable.

Wizad who makes most of his equipment, as a result of being financially challenged and creative at the same time, is hoping to start a magic school, magic club in Jamaica.

Boom Boom Boom Boom Steppa was the chant on the lips of the children once the artiste arrived for the closing performance and pep segment of the creative workshop series at Port Royal, last Friday. The creative workshop series, a 3-day event was held to engage the children in a better understanding of arts, creativity, culture towards development personal and otherwise.
It was the first and only day the creative series were off to a 1 hour late start, as participants and presenters waited patiently for the soundmen to arrive and all crews to set up for the special recording by the Public Broadcasting Co-orporation (PBC). The television team led by Tannisha Scarlette was there to put their spotlight on OAaSIS and their interaction with the children for child’s month.
The sensitisation creative series, held by OAaSIS International had presenters from visual, performing and literary arts and interactive workshop, project and motivational sessions are done across Jamaica to empower the creative mind of youth.

On Friday, the closing day, there were hardly any visual sessions unlike the first two days, but the children had enough virtual memories to speak about what they had learnt in the workshops both on and off stage.

The day started with the national anthem led by the Founder, Anthea McGibbon, and the national pledge led by four young students visiting from Kingston schools, who came along as their own schools were under threats resulting from the recent national disturbances.
Official thanks were given by Port Royal teacher, Sara Taylor, and the programme had founder as the first emcee, with Derrick Gassey Wilks assuming the role soon enough.

Winston ‘Babatunde’ Witter, still popular as a radio show host and journalist and now lecturer at the University of the West Indies the children remembered as teaching them about listening to their parents and teachers and his career as a lecturer. Three children on stage sang three of the songs they composed on Wednesday and in April’s workshop series, along with their guide musician songwriter and poet Jermaine Gordon. One of the songs is to be done at their graduation.

The three Jadeen Gordon, Jevon Allen and Gilanae Blake vied for a Wisynco gift basket for being the student remembering most of what what was taught, and other responses to other questions. They spoke of presenters such as DJ Davonish who taught them about mixing music, Kirk Brock who stirred their minds about the gems of Port Royal and Howard Moo Young, a multiskilled visual artist who taught them much, and Patrick James, Gleaner subeditor who spoke about OAaSIS.
Jadeen Gordon copped the award.

Click here to watch video on OAaSISintTV

Very briefly, painter and art educator, Melhanie Spence, did a summary of the interactive workshop on faux finish that they had with Berger Paints representatives Fred Emmanuel, Sydney Jumpp, and McGibbon. Twenty of the volunteering children came up to either demonstrate what they learnt or did new strokes guided by Spence with the Berger tool “the rubber comb.”
During question and answer sessions the young respondents proved they understood the tool of creativity, arts and their unique culture living in Port Royal in making themselves better.

Afterwards, the performance and pep session began and the main emcee was Derrick Gassey Wilks. Five artistes introduced to the foundation by Solid Agency’s Chris Campbell were on board. Boom Steppa was the first artiste, who from the last visit of the Foundation had become the children’s favourite. His song Port Royal Nah Stay Poor, which he tailors from Mih Nah Stay Poor has secured him top spot in the hearts of many in that area. He sang that, and other songs, to their delight, but left enough space for them to enjoy Rollie Fresh who, also a returned artiste from the 1-day workshop in April, was next.

He was followed by a mind challenging performance by Wizad the Magician who did several tricks combining visual and performing art, equally exciting. He will for sure be remembered for tricks like pulling a cloth over a blank black canvas and making a bird painting appear, then pulling his cloth again and making that painted dove fly from its spot.
Sophia Brown and Anthony Que closed the session with dynamic performances especially with Sophia being thev flower of performances dancing with a young male student on stage, and Anthony Que doing a range of tongue rolls and voice demonstrations in his songs.
A bit of culinary arts was on display by Morgan Harbour Hotel caterers.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:::
Morgan Harbour Hotel, Wisynco, Henkel, The Gleaner Company, Berger Paint, presenters, musicians, teachers, sound team, ancillary staffers.

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READ MORE:::
Super Creative series for Port Royal
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3: Boom end
Creative workshop series loved for Jamaica’s child month

3-day mind stirring workshop series
Watch OAaSISintTV channel on You Tube
More photos on facebook group ‘OAaSIS International Foundation FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT’ event page Click here

Carvell Redwood
May 11,2010
A R EPORT ON OAASIS INTERNATIONAL
My name is Carvell Redwood and I am doing a report on an OAaSIS International that happened on May 4th ,6th ,7th .The founder of this events is Aunty Stacey. I learned a lot about the arts. Babatunde was a good speaker of the events. I love his story and he told us to believe in ourselves. It was very educational. Aunt Stacey –ann’s brother, Mark Foga, told us a little of information but it was very educational advice. Uncle Jermaine was lively. I love him the best, you always supposed to bring a smile on your face.

I didn’t know artists was teaching us, such as: Earl Fyffe, Henry Can and Anntonette Harrus. They are Visual, Performing , Literature. Visual is my best of all. Also they teach us about the persons in the kitchen who are culinary.
We must see the opportunity they taught us. Dont care if its not you want, it can lead you to your dream. You must shut out the negative voices and hold on to anything you want to achieve.

I learned a lot about the arts and God. I really loved the OAaSIS International. Thank you very much for coming.

Report by Carvell Redwood, St Theresa Prep

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

MORE IN PRINTED MEDIA
JAMAICA STAR: Sophia Brown heads to Allman Town Primary
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