SEVENTY-THREE art works done by 55 artists have been selected for display in the 2000 Annual National Exhibition organised by the National Gallery of Jamaica.The exhibition, one of the premier events on the island's art calendar, is scheduled to open at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 10 at the gallery in downtown Kingston. Guest speaker will be Michael Cooke, director of museums division at the Institute of Jamaica.
The pieces were selected from a total of 204 works submitted by 108 artists. The exhibition is traditionally divided into two sections: a) a juried section and b) a specially invited artists section - and it is to the juried section that the pieces were sumbitted for consideration.
The works reflect trends in Jamaican art over the current year in all visual media including paintings, works on paper (drawing/collage/watercolours/pastel/original prints), photographs, ceramics, fibre arts and sculpture/assemblage.
Selection was made by a panel comprising the chief curator, three members of the gallery's exhibition committee, a board member, a staff member from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and an artist who has attained "invited artist" status.
Professionals
As customary, the "invited artist" section will highlight works by professionals who have made a significant contribution to the development of Jamaican art over the years and, in the process, acquired a national reputation and a sound exhibition record. They are allowed to enter works only in the media for which they have achieved recognition.
To date, there are 64 "invited artists", with five new artists added to the list this year.
The new "invitees" are photographer Albert Chong, potters Donald and Belva Johnson, ceramicist David Pinto, and artist Sylvester Woods.
An added feature of the annual exhibition will be the tribute paid to artists who have received Musgrave Medals from the Institute of Jamaica.
This year, a mini-exhibition will feature the works of gold laureate Barrington Watson, silver medallists Petrona Morrison and Hope Thomas-Wheeler, and bronze medallists Lancelot Bryan and John "Doc" Williamson.
The exhibition is expected to run until February 2001.
- Georgia Hemmings
