The Art Industry

Our not so hidden jewel....



Jamaican art can be traced back to the civilization to the Tainos, Spaniards and the English. This era speaks of a diversity of cultures that clashed by force, greed, geography, love, hate and slavery.

The strongest influence on Jamaican art is derived from the English as seen in the sketches and paintings of Isaac Mendez Belasario and the works of the intuitives John Dunkley and Colin Garland.

 

“Koo-Koo or “Actor Boy” sketches of Characters, In illustration of the Habits, Occupation and Costume of the Negro Population in the island of Jamaica 1837. 

The costumes and accessories of Actor Boy illustrates the European luxury items such as the fan and the mask showing the clear cultural mix taking place at the time.










Jamaican art as we know it today evolved out of the 1930’s social and political awakening.  Edna Manley 1935 sculpture “Negro Aroused” stands has an icon of that early movement.


                                                                                         

Veerle Poopeye Director of the National Gallery of Jamaica states: ‘The dominance of sculpture and specifically woodcarving in early modern Jamaican art is exceptional… and may be attributed to the revival of African traditions in Jamaican culture and accompanied cultural nationalism’.

Jamaica’s art market is described as one in which the works sold are usually: original, primarily second-hand and buyers only buy the work and not the copyright to it. The market is also dominated by an elite few: collectors, curators and gallery owners who determine which artist and artistic styles to promote.
There are 18 commercial galleries in operation in Jamaica, mainly in Kingston, St. Ann and St. James.   There is only one art museum; the National Gallery of Jamaica. It was established by the Institute of Jamaica to house the national collection of art.

Data on the Jamaica’s Art Industry is difficult to collate and this is where the problems beginning when trying to map the industry.  The problem is not unique to Jamaica; the lack of quantifiable information on the art market is a worldwide phenomenon. 
                              

This is mainly because the issue of what is considered art is very subjective.  Anyone can call themselves an artist, and can call what they have created art, and they can set any value to it. Art can also be bought, sold and given away privately.

The Jamaican art market is estimated to be worth between $3 - 5 million.  Among the noted names in the art industry are Kapo, Albert Huie, Barrington Watson, Karl Parboosingh, David Pottinger, Colin Garland, Carl Abrahams, David Boxer, Milton George, Osmond Watson, Eric Cadien, Edna Manley, Samere Tansley, Petrona Morrison, Margaret Chen, Laura Facey Cooper, Dawn Scott and my favorite Christopher Gonzales amoung others.