Cuban sculptor, painter and performance artist, Professor Manuel Mendive.
Tanya Batson-Savage
, Staff Reporter
LAST THURSDAY'S rain almost brought with it the postponement of the University of Technology's Annual Cultural Showcase, but according to Pat Ramsay, Director of Arts and Culture of the University, the crowd would not let the show be put off.
So it was decided that rain or moonshine, the show must go on.
The applause that rang out in the Caribbean Sculpture Park at the end of the night suggested that the audience was thankful for the participants' agreement to brave the elements. The performance marks UTech's growing movement as a centre of culture since the creation of the Sculpture Park and the development of a centre for the Arts.
This year's showcase was dubbed 'Sunburst' and featured the UTech Art and Theatre Ensemble accompanied by the UTech Drummers and the UTech band, who were in their first public performance. The piece was written by Joan Belfon with choreography and costume design by Monika Lawrence. Abeldo Gonzales and Patsy Ricketts also assisted with choreography.
RECENT ADDITION
The night also featured the unveiling of the most recent addition to the sculpture park, 'Free Thought'. 'Free Thought' was created by one of Cuba's most revered sculptors Professor Manuel Mendive.
Mendive's work is informed by the Yoruban religion as well as Catholicism. His art often involves an intertwining of flora, fauna and people. 'Free Thought' features birds (who are messengers to and from the gods) coming out of the heads of the people. The sculpture also involves a chair that allows the viewer to become a part of the sculpture.
The sculpture's donation to the university was facilitated by Professor James Early of the Folk Museum at the Smithsonian. Early explained that when he was first invited to the sculpture park in 2001 he realised that Mendive's work would be suited to the space.
"I thought how wonderful that a university focused on technology would put in its centre a garden focused on art and creativity," explains Early. "We tend to think of technology and the arts as of opposite parts of the spectrum but they really are from the same space of dreaming."
POSITIVE ENERGY
According to Mendive, who was interpreted by Early, the sculpture reflects people opening their minds and letting their thoughts fly. Mendive also explained that the original intention was to also have a dance called 'Positive Energy', to accompany the sculpture. 'Positive Energy' was choreographed to Bob Marley's Positive Vibrations. Mendive, who is also a performance artiste and painter, notes that the dance had already been choreographed but all the dancers were not able to make it to the island.
Pat Ramsay was ecstatic at Thursday night's turnout. "Tonight was for me an amazing thing," said Ramsay. "What is it that made the people sit in the rain and demand the performance?" Ramsay argues that what the centre hopes to show is the value of theatre. "It allows for a truly empowered people, and that is what we're trying for in the young people."
Ramsay explained that engagement in the performing arts at the university is now an elective which goes toward the student's grade. Indeed, their performance in Sunburst will be graded.
The crowd in the park was estimated at approximately 500 persons. The performance helped to enhance Fuchsia Blair's first week of work at Technological Solutions "I think it was good," she said while gazing at one of the sculptures in the park.
For both the performers who were engaged in excited chatter after the performance and the audience who were making their way home, Sunburst, was another successful exploration of Caribbean culture.
