The Collegiate

Editorial

establishment of the institution now known as Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA).

A strong cultural institution in any nation will certainly help to promote freedom of expression, diversity and economic prosperity. The EMCVPA was a gift to a nation from our founders - Edna Manley, Vera Moody, Henry and Greta Fowler, Barbara Requa, Bert Rose and Sheila Barnett.

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

- Marcus Garvey

I am very pleased to dedicate this issue of The Collegiate to those men and women who selflessly gave of their time, talent and resources to the

Our History at a Glance…

I hope that you will share this issue with your children so that they appreciate those who paved the way for them and understand that they can enjoy an institution such as this because of someone else’s vision. We invite you to celebrate with us by becoming a “Friend of the Arts”. Buy art, visit a gallery, attend a concert, watch a play or better yet, visit the College and have the experience of a lifetime.

1970

The School of Dance was founded the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC).

1976 1940s

The School of Visual Arts began as a workshop conducted by cultural icon Edna Manley at the Junior Centre of the Institute of Jamaica.

1951- 1961

All four Schools were brought together and became a full-time tertiary institution under the aegis of the Cultural Training Centre (CTC), an arm of the Institute of Jamaica.

1979

The School of Art and the School of Music were established.

The four Schools were identified by UNESCO as pivotal institutions, not merely in Jamaica, but in the Caribbean.

1969

1983

The School of Drama grew out of the work of the Little Theatre Movement, when they set up a part-time evening school, the called “The Theatre School”.

The Organization of American States (OAS) designated the institution the Inter-American Centre for Caribbean Cultural Development thus recognizing

To our distinguished Alumni all over the world, I urge you to join our Alumni network and consider what role you will play as we continue our mission to enrich the aesthetic sensibilities of the Caribbean.

To our loyal readers, we say thank you for your continued interest in our Newsletter and the College at large and invite you to continue sending us your comments/suggestions or submit interesting articles and photos of your work/event for inclusion in The Collegiate.

One love, Coleen Douglas, Marketing and Public Relations Manager

______________________________________ Submit all editorial material to marketing@emc. edu.jm with “The Collegiate Editorial” included in the subject line.

it as a regional cultural resource institution.

1995

The institution was renamed the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in honour of the Hon. Edna Manley, OM. Today - 2015 The College consists of the following schools: • • • • •

•

School of Visual Arts School of Music School of Dance School of Drama School of Arts Management and Humanities School of Continuing Education and Allied Programmes

Principal’s Desk Dear EMCVPA Family and Friends, In 1976, when the Cultural Training Centre (CTC) opened it gates, each institution carried their individual philosophy. By 1995, the separate schools merged into one body with one mission. This new mission bourgeoned and included new perspectives balancing cultural, social and educational philosophical underpinnings. The current mission— To enrich the aesthetic sensibilities and promote the cultural diversity of the Caribbean through the highest quality education and training in the Visual and Performing Arts— embraces the concept that the artistic and cultural heritage of a society should not only be the foundation of its arts curricula, but should be at the forefront of a nation that is serious about arts and culture for economic prosperity.

Students (myself included) of the 1970’s and 80’s began to understand the value for the CTC to Jamaica and the Caribbean and our responsibility as a post-Independence generation.

During this time of cultural interactions, we acquired knowledge of a Jamaican/Caribbean identity that has sustained us until today.

On The Cover Albert Huie Portrait of Edna Manley c. 1940s National Gallery of Jamaica Image courtesy of the National Gallery of Jamaica

We are indeed grateful and indebted to a nation that has provided us with visionaries to the likes of Rex Nettleford, Edward Seaga, Michael Manley to name a few, whose shoulders we stand as we continue to build on the legacy of an artistic dream—The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA).

As we welcomed 2015 and a new semester, EMCVPA stands on the threshold of its 40th Anniversary as still “the first and only arts institution of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean”. The EMCVPA seeks to reposition itself for a greater role in national, regional and international development, while embracing the inherent challenges related to developing a state of the art, student-centred, tertiary educational experience.

The College’s motto of “’Create, Persevere, Achieve”, represents the foundation on which the institution’s activities will be poised, like building blocks, to create a strong, sustainable and united institution; with continued recognition as an important nucleus for national, regional and international cultural and creative development.

With this repositioning, however, it is important that we reflect on our beginning—the vision of a centre for the arts, while remaining in the present where the College’s core business is tertiary education services.

Please remember you can reach me anytime by dropping a line to principal@emc.edu.jm.

Sincerely, Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson Ph.D.

CAMPUS NEWS School of Drama, a popular nominee in 2015 Actor Boy Awards “The [School of Drama’s] productions over the years have been an exposition of its process of theatre education for aspiring performers and drama teachers.

That process is grueling, given the challenges of limited resources as well as a national and regional environment where amateur and non-profit nurseries have become virtually non-existent and the profit-driven entertainment sector is our only sustenance. In this dispensation (over the last 3 decades), the positive recognitions that the School’s productions have received have been a tribute to the educational process that facilitates productions, the focus of the Director as a Teacher-Director as well as the emphasis on the technical and design components as critical aesthetic factors for students to experience.”

- Eugene Williams, Director, School of Drama

Scene from School of Drama’s 2014 Production, Dream on Monkey Mountain

The EMCVPA School of Drama Actor Boy nominations for 2015 Set Design: Ron Steger with three nominations for An Echo in the Bone, Dream on Monkey Mountain and Wild Alice.

Lighting Design: John DaCosta, An Echo in the Bone; Trevor Naire and Calvin Mitchell, Dream on Monkey Mountain and Nadia Roxburgh, Wild Alice.

Costume Design: Denise Francis-Ericson, Dream on Monkey Mountain; Pierre LeMaire, Wild Alice and Stacy-Ann Banton, An Echo in the Bone.

Choreography: Patrick Earle and Alice BerryGayle, Dream on Monkey Mountain.

Musical: School of Drama with Wild Alice Drama: School of Drama with An Echo in the

Bone and Dream on Monkey Mountain.

Children’s Theatre: School of Drama with Wild Alice.

Comedy: School of Drama with Wild Alice.

Actor in a Lead Role: Christopher McFarlane, Dream on Monkey Mountain.

Directing: Eugene Williams, An Echo in the Bone; Trevor Nairne, Dream on Monkey Mountain and Pierre LeMaire, Wild Alice.

Production: School of Drama with Wild Alice, Dream on Monkey Mountain and An Echo in the Bone.

The Rex Nettleford Arts Conference 2015 The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) will host its third International Arts Conference, October 14-17, 2015 under the theme “Growing the Arts: Breaking Boundaries”.

The theme for this year’s conference comes against the background that the arts has been faced with several challenges and it is believed that the way forward is to break traditional ideologies about the arts. Incorporated in these traditional ideologies are preconceived notions of the value of the arts and there seemingly lack of viability, sustainability and income generation capacity.

The conference provides an opportunity for local, regional and global voices of arts educators, policymakers, researchers and arts practitioners to raise awareness and lead the discourse as cultural agents for change and expression. The goal is to create connections and parallels that would serve to break boundaries of stereotypes and seek to grow the arts; create enlightened appreciation and knowledge of the arts and its intrinsic value to society.

The conference co-chairs invite individuals and groups to submit proposals on the conference theme and on other themes in the arts.

Individuals can also submit proposals on the following sub- themes: •

Arts Theory and History

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Arts Education

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Technology and the Arts in a Digital Age

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The Arts and Disability

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Arts Festivals and Biennales

•

Arts as Activism

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Gender, Feminism and Sexuality

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Arts and Identities: Local, Regional, National, Global

•

Art, Religion and Spirituality

•

Museums and Galleries as Social Institutions

• The Arts: Therapy and Rehabilitation

•

Defining Audiences: the Role of the Reader, Viewer, Listener

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The Arts in Popular Culture and the Media

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Arts Policy, the State and Law

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Children and the Arts

•

The Business of Art

•

Human Rights, Social Justice and the Arts

•

Art, Well Being and Healing

•

Public Arts, Collective Memory, Cultural Heritage

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Artistic Expression, Identity and Cultural Rights

•

Art and Globalization

•

Diasporic, Ethnic, Multicultural and ‘World’ Arts

• Art of Nature: Culture of Sustainability •

Art as Propaganda, Advertising as Art

• Arts in Tourism and Economic Development The conference will create a platform for discourse with practitioners, writers, researchers and educators, policymakers in the creative industries. It will also create interdisciplinary dialogue on the role of the creative industries in transforming society, generate discourse around the cultural industries being a viable medium for wealth creation and to create a space for critical exchange of ideas that make the connection with the creative industries and the Arts.

For two days, an international, interdisciplinary audience will come together to share knowledge and experience; share research findings on issues related to practitioners and education in the creative industries especially experts in dance, drama, visual arts, music and other art forms. It thus strengthens the network of researchers and encourages research in the fields of Arts and Culture.

Visit the conference website at www. emcartsconference.org for further information regarding registration and attendance.

Saluting Our Founders

A special feature

Hon. Edna Manley, O.M was born in England to a Jamaican mother, Martha Matilda Elliot Shearer and an English father, Harvey Swithenbank.

She was the fifth child of a family of nine children.

At the age of fourteen she met Norman Manley, whom she married when she was twenty-one years old. They came to Jamaica in 1922, with their first child Douglas. In 1924, the union later produced another son, former Prime Minister Hon. Michael Manley.

School of Visual Arts -

Edna Manley

After leaving School, Edna Manley engaged in a number of jobs but her heart’s desire was to study art. So she was sent to a number of Art schools including St. Martin’s School of Art in London and also studied privately with Maurice Harding, the animal sculptor.

In 1941, she started art classes at the Institute of Jamaica’s Junior Centre, where she taught drawing and later

sculpture. It was simply a “rite of passage” that with her involvement in the Arts and great love for art, she founded the Jamaica School of Art. It was very fitting that the College was renamed Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in 1995.

Edna is known for her popular sculptural works, including ‘Negro Aroused,’ ‘Horse of the Morning’ and numerous others classic pieces, too many to mention. She also has many major exhibitions at home and abroad.

She was also the recipient of several awards including the first ever Musgrave Gold Medal on October 9, 1941.

In 1977, she was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Letters by The University of the West Indies.

EMCVPA salutes the Hon. Edna Manley

Vera Moody was born Vera Manley to the late T.A. Manley and his wife Margaret Shearer. She was sister to National Hero, the Right Honourable Norman Washington Manley.

She spent her early school years at Hampton Girls School in St. Elizabeth and later left for the Royal Academy of Music, London on a scholarship where she earned the L.R.A.M. and A.R.C.M.

School of Music -

Vera Moody, nee Manley

In 1915, to further add to her knowledge in the art, Vera did extra music curricula in Russia. She returned to England and for two years (19161918) worked in the Pensions Issue Office, London. She returned to her original love at the end of that time to teach music in English for six years.

On returning to Jamaica, she held music appreciation classes at her home and later started the School of Music in 1961.

By the time she founded the School of Music, the name Vera Moody was already synonymous with music, art and education. She would ruthlessly insist upon good standards, from her students regardless of their background.

In 1950, Moody was appointed Manager of the Jamaica School of Arts and Crafts, which had to be established on a small financial grant.

Moody was given the important task of bringing local artists together and giving them a pride in their talents.

EMCVPA salutes Vera Moody.

established in 1969, by the Little Theatre Movement (LTM) as a parttime non-profit institution, under the leadership of Henry and Greta Fowler.

School of Drama (Little Theatre Movement)

Henry & Greta Fowler

The Little Theatre Movement (LTM) was founded in 1941 by Henry and Greta Fowler to raise funds for the building of a Little Theatre, and to help in the development of drama in Jamaica. The School of Drama was

Henry Fowler Henry Fowler studied in England as a Rhodes Scholar. On his return to Jamaica, he took on the role of Editor of the newspaper, Public Opinion, a vehicle for discourse on what the future held. He became part of a band of social activists/idealists who began to lay the groundwork for the “new Jamaica.� He also founded the Priory School, which came to be widely regarded as an institution for the elite.

He served as advisor on education to successive Jamaican governments and also represented the nation as Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), helping to place this country on its agenda through his interest and influence in education and the arts.

Henry Fowler also led the establishment of the Ward Theatre Foundation in response to the urgent need to save the landmark building and preserve its heritage as a part of Kingston’s cultural history. To the end of his life, he retained his interest in the LTM and the Ward and continued to be passionate in his advocacy for the maintenance of these symbols of national creativity.

Greta Fowler, nee Bourke Greta Fowler wrought many a miracle,

School of Dance -

Barbara Requa, Bert Rose & Sheila Barnett The School of Dance, originally situated where The Little Theatre currently is, had no established fulltime programme at its inception.

Barbara Requa Barbara Requa was born Barbara Grant on January 25th, in St. Elizabeth to Mr. and Mrs. Henry and Amy Grant.

Barbara Requa was founding member and principal dancer of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) of Jamaica in 1962. Mrs. Requa brought technical versatility and a sound

with her management of plays that were mounted without the benefit of budgets, without recourse to training courses for potential actors and with no source of fees for those who may have made claim to being professional.

In her eulogy it was said of Greta Fowler that “by her sheer enthusiasm and determination she laid the solid foundations which are now the basis of a vibrant Jamaican theatre which is so evident everywhere today.”

Before Independence she was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1975, the Institute of Jamaica awarded the Gold Musgrave Medal to the Little Theatre Movement, the organization which she founded alongside her husband in 1976. She received the Order of Distinction (Commander) for her contribution in the field of the Arts.

EMCVPA salutes Henry and Greta Fowler.

Classes were available only for those who expressed serious interest to perfect their talent, with an annual summer school and active department for juniors. When the Government of Jamaica established the Cultural Training Centre (CTC), for those devoted to Dance, Visual Arts, Drama and Music, Sheila Barnett became Director of the School of Dance, Barbara Requa, the Administrator and Bert Rosem, a Senior Instructor in Choreography and Modern

Technique. In 1979, Barbara Requa, along with Sheila Barnett, became founding members of Dance and the Child International (daCi) in Canada and, in 1984, she became founder of the School of Dance Junior Department.

nowledge of movement as well as performing style to NDTC. Her strength was rooted in a deep understanding of the dancer’s instrument and the possible range of movement in space – due on part to her Laban Studies.

Her articulate feet and superb lines were special attributes that served her well as dancer, and her phenomenal stamina made her a consistently outstanding performer in difficult in dance situations.

She took a different career path in the mid-1970s when she joined two other forward-thinking Dance artists, Sheila Barnett and Bert Rose to become a co-founder of the Jamaica School of Dance at the Cultural Training Centre (CTC), now the EMCVPA School of Dance.

She had special interest in the choreographic future of the Company and as such choreographed five major works, the first of which was Fantasy, in 1982.

This expressive piece was warmly received by both audiences and critics alike, giving Barbara Requa the kind of encouragement a choreographer with an independent voice needs.

The Collegiate is pleased to celebrate, Barbara Requa, Bert Rose Sheila Barnett, the three founders of the School of Dance.

Mrs. Barbara Requa is former Dean for the School of the Performing Arts, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts-and also a former Acting Principal.

Mrs. Requa retired from full-time status at the School of Dance in 2003 but, thankfully, continues to share her wealth of Dance knowledge and experience by teaching dance Composition and Movement Studies at the School of Dance.

EMCVPA salutes Barbara Requa.

by The University of the West Indies in Jamaica. Further development of Rose’s technical craft came through his diverse dance experiences in New York, both at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dances as a performer in off-Broadway productions.

With his gifts of technical facility, theatrical flair and lyrical quality, he attracted significant attention from the beginning of his performing career.

Bert Rose Bert Rose received his basic training in dance with Eddy Thomas and in the early Summer Schools hosted

Bert Rose, photographed during a performance of Dialougue for Three (Chor. Rex Nettleford, 1963)

The opportunity for establishing a school presented itself in 1970 and so Bert teamed up with Sheila Barnett and Barbara Requa under the direction of the National Dance

Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC) to establish the Jamaica School of Dance.

Today, Bert Rose is focused on another of his many passions, the world of event planning, fashion, décor and design. With his own business, ROSE AND COMPANY LIMITED, he is the talent behind many of the creative and colorful uses of lights, fabric and foliage by private and public sector interests. He masterfully adds artistry to many public events including “transformation of the arena into a garden of celebration for the lying-in of the late Michael Manley”, former Prime Minister of Jamaica.

EMCVPA salutes Bert Rose.

Mrs. Barnett returned to Jamaica and joined the staff of Excelsior College where she had earlier studied. She later joined the staff of St. Joseph’s Teacher Training College as a lecturer in Physical Education, Dance and Drama and later became an Education Officer (Physical Education and Dance) in the Ministry of Education. She was then seconded and later transferred to the Jamaica School of Dance as Director.

Sheila Barnett

A founding member of the Jamaica School of Dance and the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC), Barnett has had a distinguished career as a dance educator, choreographer and dance performer. After leaving England,

Sheila Barnett, was a dance education pioneer, distinguished performer, gifted choreographer, a Jamaican citizen, was born in Trinidad to a Barbadian father and an Antiguan mother. Her childhood was spent in Guyana and later Jamaica.

Sheila Barnett was married to Felix Barnett and was the mother of three daughters.

Educated at Excelsior High School, she was trained in dance at the Ivy Baxter School and conditioned on modern dance while studying at the Chelsea College of Physical Education in England. After graduating from the Chelsea College, Mrs. Barnett returned to Jamaica in 1954. She holds a Masters Degree in Cultural Dynamics in Education from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Quite deservedly, she has been given a number of awards over the years.

Some of these include the Bronze and Silver Musgrave Medals for Arts and Education and the Commander of Distinction for work in the field of Dance and Education.

EMCVPA salutes Sheila Barnett.

In remembering our founders the EMCVPA pays special tribute to

Prof. Rex Nettleford

,OM, FIJ, OCC,

the immortal father of Jamaica’s dance movement and cultural icon.

“I have always been creative. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be an artist and so coming here was a natural progression.

I first attended Cultural Training Centre at the age of six and was a part of the Junior Programme until my high school years.

I later joined the School of Visual Arts as a full time student in 1989. Coming to Edna did not feel like coming to school as learning was so much fun.”

- Paula Daley, Alumna

In October 1983, I fell in love with the Jamaica School of Dance, Cultural Training Centre (CTC). Its octagon shaped window motif and the general architecture were inspiration to my spirit. I must recognize my mentors Sheila Barnett and Barbara Requa who taught me that all things are possible and whose guidance framed my purpose in Dance. I should also acknowledge other lecturers of the time who impacted my dance journey: Cheryl Ryman, Barry Moncrieffe, Alaine Grant, Bert Rose, Maria Smith, Dorothy Hobson, Tony Wilson, and Christopher Morrison among so many others.

And then there was Prof. Nettleford who made Caribbean Studies a lived experience at each lecture. I was shaped here.

- Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson, Alumna

“Wow! Being a student at Edna Manley College; School of Visual Arts felt like the greatest achievement, ever! It was wonderfully terrifying all together! Being introduced to varied art forms in the same space was a heady experience. I did exactly what I wanted with so many others who understood that art does matter! My Lecturers; they got it! Edna was my space my place, where a whole world of possibilities opened for me then… loved every minute of it!

- Miriam Smith, Alumna

“I was heavily influenced by my high school art teacher to become an artist.

She had the most wonderful spirit. My year at art school was life changing for me a once shy reserved individual found myself and grew into one who became confident in who I am and became the fearless leader. I was head cook and bottle washer in all student led events.

The trip to Haiti and Puerto Rico that was planned by students remains memorable particularly the fundraising activities we did. Another memorable involvement was being a part of the team of students that conceptualized and implemented ‘Roots Festival’ that was a major fundraising activity for the Student Council. This went on for many year and was quite a grand event. As students we did not need any reason or monies to have a lyme after school. I would not change my experience as an art student for anything.

- Carol ‘Annie’ Hamilton, Alumna

“I had a disagreement with my physics teacher at another school. He said “you are not here to learn physics, you are here to pass”. I was offended. I wanted to learn. I accompanied a friend to the Cultural Training Centre and was sitting in an auditorium. I was impressed with the diversity of music, discussion of Caribbean music with what seemed to be brilliant minds. I wanted to be a part of that discourse and I made a decision right there that I wanted to be here (CTC).

It was CTC that made me decide to be a Caribbean Musician.”

“My experience at Edna was phenomenal as I was with a group of people who had the same drive and passion to be an artiste. The motivation to attend Edna came from Mr. Joseph Robinson, then Director of Little People/Ashe that I was a part of. I loved it amidst all the stress.”

- Dr. Coretta Brown-Johnson, Alumna

“Coming to EMCVPA was not a dream come true, but ended up being the step to helping me realize what my dream consisted of.

EMCVPA opened my eyes to the potential and power of the arts and allowed me the space to dream, create, be and aspire. I will forever be a part of the Edna family and I am proud to boast that I attended and am a part of, the premier arts institution in the Anglophone Caribbean!”

- Sophia McKain, Alumna

- Seretse Small, Alumnus

“It was a struggle in my church that what was being offered as dance was not being done excellently. I believe that God deserved the best and so I enrolled in the best place to learn dance – Edna Manley College. The environment was trusting and non-judgmental. My tutors were more than interested in academics. There was a natural care for lifelong learning and the shaping and maintenance of my identity.”

- Patrick Earle, Alumnus

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arents, friends and well-wishers came out in numbers to support the 2014 graduates as EMCVPA held its annual Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, November 15. The packed Vera Moody Concert Hall saw graduates being awarded certifications in the over 20 programmes that the College offers including the first 5-member cohort of graduates from the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Education. Guest speaker for the valedictory activities was Mr. Ramu Damadoran, Chief United Nations Academic Impact Secretariat.

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I. EMCVPA Board Chairman, Mr Paul Issa delivers his message to the 2014 graduates

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A. Graduation Ceremony 2014 Guest Speaker, Mr Ramu Damadoran, Chief United Nations Academic Impact Secretariat B. School of Visual Arts Director, Miriam Smith embraces student during the ceremony.

C. School of Music graduate Christopher Wright receives Vibart Seaforth Award from Director, Roger Williams D. Chairman, Mr Paul Issa presents SAMH graduate Deidre Barrett with her degree E. Elated graduates cheer during the ceremony held in the Vera Moody Concert Hall F. Chairman, Mr Paul Issa presents School of Dance graduate Juett Carty with her degree

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J. Chairman, Mr Paul Issa presents School of Visual Arts graduate Traci Wong with her degree

G. Lecturer, Sophia McKain presents graduate Kim-Lee Campbell with the Rex Nettleford Award H. Chairman, Mr Paul Issa presents Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Education graduate Coleen Douglas with her diploma.

K. EMCVPA Principal Dr Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson L. Valedictorian Nadette Grant during her Valedictory Address M. Chairman, Mr Paul Issa presents School of Drama graduate Akeem Mignott with his degree N. Valedictorian, Nadette Grant is presented with her award from Chairman, Mr Paul Issa O. Vice Principal, Mrs. Carol Hamilton and Chairman, Mr Issa P. Graduating Class of 2014

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The Vine

EMCVPA claims top prizes in Red Stripe’s Make The Cut In December, Red Stripe announced the winners of its Make the Cut Competition that saw EMCVPA current students and graduates claiming the big awards. The Make The Cut competition, an offshoot Red Stripe’s responsible drinking campaign, ‘Drink Right’, saw young filmmakers creatively interpreting the slogan ‘Right Age, Right Amount, Right Way’ for a 30-second TV commercial.

Lionel ‘Dukie’Thompson, EMCVPA Alumnus, walked away with the top award for his commercial which also aired on prime time television. He also received an all-expense paid trip to attend the New York Film Academy for a one-week course in Directing.

Third place was awarded to Damion Radcliffe, another distinguished EMCVPA Alumnus while current student Jesane Jackson and recent graduate Stephanie Channer both received Spirit Awards for the sheer quality of their entries.

EMCVPA launches new “The Artchive” Blog EMCVPA is excited to announce the launch of The Artchive, the College’s new arts, entertainment, culture and artist(e) lifestyle blog. This new initiative forms part of the College’s digital drive to make itself more accessible to audiences in Jamaica, the Caribbean and all across the globe while using the blogging platform to encourage and engender artistic expression, creative and critical thinking skills and cultural development.

The Artchive

While playing on the words art and archive, the name The Artchive celebrates the College’s rich history and its proud feat as the first and only arts college of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean since its establishment (first the CTC in 1976; with the oldest individual School, the School of Visual Arts). The name The Artchive symbolizes this proud feat while making a simple and catchy play on words.

Why Blogging, Why Now?

The decision to establish an official blog for the College is a fulfillment of our mission, which is to “To enrich the aesthetic sensibilities and promote the cultural diversity of the Caribbean…”, alongside the desire to “go digital” and capitalize on the accessibility provided by the internet and the digital age in executing our mandate.

The Artchive is live on Tumblr at www.theartchiveblog.tumblr.com

Congrats

Dr. Morgan!

The EMCVPA college community would like to officially recognize and congratulate distinguished lecturer Dr. Shelley-Ann Morgan, PhD on her completion of doctoral studies at The University of the West Indies, Mona in Cultural Studies.

SVA Faculty Exhibition 2015: The Highlights

KATRINA COOMBS Cornucopia, 2014 Mixed threads and yarn 50 x 23”

Conceptual and thematically varied, the SVAs 2015 Faculty Exhibition highlights works that range from the conventional to the controversial interrogating varied social, geopolitical and other pertinent issues in society.

The exhibition is quite balanced in its presentation with works juxtaposed creating exciting conversations, tension and moments of pause. The artist’s work depicts their personal experiences varying from loss, invasion, presence and absence of the “other”. No doubt, their process helped to heal and will help others to find their own healing when viewing.

ISRAEL DELMONTE With the Cross, 2014 Pen and ink 8” x 12”

DONNETTE ZACCA

. Where is My Daughter, 2015 . Digital Photography . 21 x 15 each

PRUDENCE LOVELL Untitled (Connected), 2015 Carbon on Mylar 28.5 x 38” MIRIAM SMITH Ode to Memories, 2015 Mixed Media 19.5 x 11”

LUTALO MAKONZI Transformation, 2015 Earthenware and stoneware Variable dimensions

SUSAN LEE-QUEE Of Roots and Reminders, 2014 Digital Manipulated Collage 28 x 16”

EMCVPA SVA past Nicole Bryan talks about her journey to success at Collection MoDA 2014: My personal experience during Collection MoDA was one of strength, endurance and acknowledging my weaknesses and overcoming them. When I first applied, I had no doubt that I would win. I was hungry and determined to succeed but the major challenge was the myriad of other talented designers, equally hungry and equally determined.

What got me through the challenges this competition threw at me was my designer’s

voice – the understanding of who I am as a designer. This self-certainty allowed me to push through each challenge headstrong.

As first place winner I am now the beneficiary of the First Global Bank MoDA grant, which is financial aid amounting to $250,000, along with two SINGER sewing machines and an opportunity to build a collection workshop at JBDC. The First Global Bank MoDA grant is meant for emerging designers to ease the pressure of funding their business in fashion.

Pictures from LIVESTUSH

Upcoming Events Creative Conversations March 19

Exploring the potential of the Animation Industry

School of Drama: Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex March 20 - 29 Undeniably, Sophocles’ finest play and the purest and most powerful expression of Greek tragic drama. Oedipus Rex details the story of the titular Oedipus, a stranger to Thebes, who becomes king of the city after the murder of King Laius, about fifteen or sixteen years before the start of the play.

EMCVPA Open Day Creating a Future in Arts March 20 Prospective applicants for August 2015 and other interested individuals are invited to experience EMCVPA on March 20 with a full day of activities designed introduce the public to the College.

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