Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works, in conversation with curator Gilou Bauer, at the opening of the exhibition featuring selected works from his private art collection. -Winston Sill Georgia Hemmings, staff reporter
Selected paintings from the collection of the Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill, are currently on show at the Mutual (formerly Mutual Life) Gallery in New Kingston.
It is an exhibition which affords a "glimpse" of the Minister outside his official capacity, one which shows his truly individualistic taste as far as art is concerned.
It is also a collector's exhibition, designed to "stimulate thought by other collectors or potential collectors," according to curator, Gilou Bauer.
She told The Sunday Gleaner that "young collectors, in particular, can see what a collection acquired over the years can be like."
The over 30 pieces on show are a fraction of Mr. Pickersgill's total collection, which he began amassing some 25 years ago. But they are certainly worth viewing and will delight the eye.
Mrs. Bauer told The Sunday Gleaner that the Minister had consented to "share" his works with the public, since he was still in the process of setting up office, and this includes removal of his personal paintings from the old Ministry.
"Rather than working in stark surroundings, the Minister chose to surround himself with paintings that inspired him and created a comfortable environment," she explained. "And it is some of these works (from home and office), that are on show here."
Art lovers, no doubt, will love three early works by artist Joshua Higgins - striking in size and quality.
'Two Water Carriers (1988)' captures two women, seriously absorbed in conversation, buckets in hand. The same clean, simplicity is shown in 'Banjo Players' (1993), with a flute and a banjo player as the central characters. Then there is the woman husking coconut in 'Grating Coconut' (1992)
Rather earthy subjects, the everyday life of Jamaicans. And it's a theme reflected in Nadine Anderson Cheng's 'Saturday Morning' as well as 'Seller' and 'Domino Players' by Anthony Wilson (now deceased), and some early works by John Walters ('Sweet Talk', 'Labrish', and 'Still Life with Breadfruit').
Minister Pickersgill favours these genre compositions.
"I really like paintings which deal with everyday life of the average Jamaicans. And these are a reminder of a time when life was gentler, simpler," he told The Sunday Gleaner in a telephone interview. "I also have a partiality for those that preserve some aspect of our heritage. For example, the woman scrubbing the floor with a coconut brush ('Saturday Morning') was a subject matter which appealed to me immensely, so I bought the painting."
But the Minister's taste also leans towards abstractions, as evident in the abstract and semi-abstract works of the three dominant artists - Joshua Higgins, John Walters, and George Rodney.
Higgins' 'Anthuriums'(1993) is eye-catching, bursting with life and colour, while Rodney's 'At The Window' (1999) and 'Still Life with Peppers' (1999) are particularly interesting.
Two large portraits of National Hero, Norman Washington Manley - one in colour, the other in black and white - are done by Dennis Sousa, while Webster Campbell shows old style architecture ('Old Time Court House'), and Royan Gray captures well a 'Great House' landscape and the fogginess of the 'Bog Walk Gorge'.
A sense of concealment and privacy is caught by Oliver Hunter (now Blackdoor) as a woman steps from her bath ('Bathing'), while young artists Peter Peart and Eric Smith present blooming red poinciana in contrasting styles.
Minister Pickersgill revealed that he acquired most of his collection at "competitive prices" when the artists were younger.
"Of course, these artists have come into their own now, so the value of my collection has increased tremendously." said the Minister,"
And this is why he encourages potential collectors to buy now.
"It is a rather interesting time to buy art, because there are quite a few talented artists today." he said. "And one can acquire works from these artists, especially the younger ones, which will increase in value over time."
Paintings are his speciality, he confesses, and, apart from the artists on show, he also admires the talent of Barrington Watson, Albert Huie, Royan Gray, and Ken Abendana Spencer.
The exhibition is colourful and full of life, and, in staging it, the Minister is doing his part to promote an appreciation of Jamaica's artistic talent.
The show is scheduled to end on Friday (January 25), and the gallery's viewing hours are Monday to Friday between 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
