“A Jamaica wi come from” art show light up Miramar Civic Center

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The ad for the show. Courtesy of Richard Blackford.

The celebration of Jamaica’s Diamond Jubilee 60th Independence celebration continues under the Patronage of the Honorable Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s Consul General in Miami, who opened the Jamaica 60th Art Exhibition this past Thursday 1 December 2022, at the Ansin Family Gallery located at the Miramar Cultural Center / Arts Park was 2,400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, Florida 33025.

The exhibition, which was curated by head of Yardabraawd International LLC, Richard Hugh Blackford, featured the combined works of seven Jamaican fine artists under the theme “A Jamaica Wi Come from.” Fine art has always been a major pillar of Jamaica’s cultural expression, and this bold step of featuring seven artists was designed to reflect the diversity that makes up the island. The seven artists are Vaughn Tucker, Christopher Butler, Elpedio Robinson, Gail McGhie Daley, Colin Smith, John Walters and Richard Hugh Blackford.

Tucker migrated to the USA in early 2004where he was able to focus on honing his skills and channeling his passion for nature into art.  With no formal instruction, Tucker refined his talent to the point of versatility in oil paint, watercolor, and acrylic.

Butler emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1988 where he attended Central Technical Fine Arts Institute and George Brown College of Graphic Design. Famous for his insightful portraits and murals, Tucker works extensively in oils, acrylics, and water colours.

Robinson is a graduate of the Edna Manley School of Visual and Performing Arts and a practising artist working full time at his craft since 2000. Robinson deliberately paints subjects that are free of any indication or influence of angst and has exhibited extensively in Jamaica, the wider Caribbean, Canada and the USA.

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McGhie Daley, a Jamaican- born artist based in South Florida, captures the vibrancy of her homeland through her artwork. Her obsession with portraying human expressions is seen in her many engaging portraits that pull you in. Many of her most notable paintings focus on the rich cultural iconography of Jamaican folk art, the spirited beauty of the countryside and the intricacy of nature and she artfully extricates the essence of her subjects.

Smith is an artist whose love of the Caribbean landscape, culture and music is evident in his paintings – from tranquil island scenes to vibrant melodic abstracts. Originally from the island of Jamaica, Colin found inspiration from his youth in the lush Jamaican flora and the surrounding Caribbean Sea. He studied at the Jamaica School of Art, which is now known as the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Walters graduated with Honors from the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts where he specialized in painting. He also holds a certificate in Art Education. John has had many solo and group shows over the years. His work has also been displayed in the Jamaica National Gallery.

Blackford is a completely self-taught artist and has been painting professionally for the last 20 years. He has exhibited extensively in Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, London and here in the USA, having emigrated to the USA in 2008.

The curated exhibition features more than 40 pieces from this diverse group of fine artists that evokes a great deal of nostalgia of aspects of social Jamaica and is a fitting tribute to the island’s continued celebration of its 60th Independence observances.

The glitzy opening function was sponsored by Purple Team, Ambetter Insurance, Jamaica National Money Services, and Yardabrawd International LLC, and attracted a huge and diverse audience including Lauderdale Lake’s newly-minted vice mayor, Jamaican born Karlene Maxwell-Williams. Vice Mayor Maxwell-Williams took the time to speak about her Florida Immigrant Coalition while encouraging green card holders to become naturalized citizens.

The Exhibition continues until 18 December 2022 and is open to the public from 10:00 am -5:00 pm Mondays through Fridays. Go see it.

Visit our website at: www.yardabraawd.com and

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