- CONTRIBUTED
Photo of Ken Spencer's work from the private collection of Carl and Maryanne Lazarus.
Howard Moo Young, Contributor
LEAVING A void that is not easy to fill, when one takes into account the man's individuality and the kind of personality and talent that he exuded, Ken Abendana Spencer was as big and bold as the signature he left on the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of paintings that he produced over his many years as an artist. This prolific, creative individual though eccentric at times, has certainly left his mark on Jamaica. His inimitable style and technique (indeed he had several, at least three that I know of), are indelibly etched in the minds of many persons.
The first time I can recall meeting Ken was at my office, which was then located in the Victoria Mutual Building on Half-Way Tree Road. With several paintings rolled up on canvasses under his arm, he shook my hand and introduced himself. Almost instantly, I knew that this individual was different from any artist I had ever met. He was easy to talk with, he even offered to leave the set of canvasses with me for a day or two for me to make my choices, no rush! He was also a great salesman, confident of his work, knowing that within a short time, all the paintings would be sold, and indeed he usually returned home without any of them.
WEDDING PRESENTS
I bought five of them, got them framed, and within six months, they got hung in five different homes as wedding presents. Over a period of time, getting to know him a little better, he invited me to Portland, near Long Bay, to his castle that he was in the process of building. I always looked forward to visiting my favourite parish, and Port Antonio, the birthplace of my father. If any artist has captured the spirit of Portland on canvas, it's Ken Abendana Spencer.
His namesake, a schoolmate of mine from Wolmer's, Ken Spencer of Bellrose and King Burger fame, was one of his avid collectors who decorated his offices and outlets with many Abendana's paintings, telling his friends and customers that he was the artist.
UNIQUE STRUCTURE
On visiting the artist's home near Long Bay, I remember being personally escorted on a tour of this unique structure, with ascending stairs in a circular motion. He was the architect, and he wasn't joking, he even showed me the spot reserved for a grand piano. Inside, I could feel the fresh sea breeze circulating in this huge unfinished structure. I came to a studio, where I saw at least four easels, each with 'work-in-progress' canvasses.
I believe that it's the first time that I ever encountered a single artist working on four different paintings, all at the same time. He was an extremely versatile and talented individual. Ken explained to me, and demonstrated, using his palette knife loaded with green, as he went from canvas to canvas filling in the trees and other areas with that particular colour on each easel. He did this every time he changed colours, a practical solution which I thought at the time, made a lot of sense with the tools that he used. He reminded me of today's TV iron chef, at work on several dishes in the kitchen, all at the same time, creating appetiser, soup, main course, and dessert. The only difference was that Ken had no assistants, and he wasn't competing with anyone else as far as he was concerned.
He was completely at home, using this technique, and there was always a crisp, fresh look about his work; he could capture the feel and texture of Jamaican life with his eyes shut. Every stroke of the knife or brush was done with confidence, even his mistakes looked great, or were they really mistakes? He had an excellent eye for the human form and could capture a certain feeling or mood in whatever character he was portraying, be it a handcart boy, a market vendor, or a fisherman.
He was a master of composition and the use of colour, as his many landscapes and seascapes have shown. There were times when he would deliberately change his technique to show a more serious overtone in the subject matter; these paintings showed the versatility of the artist himself.
NO EXHIBITION?
After watching him for some time, I asked him, "Ken, how come you have never had an exhibition before? I don't recall any ever being held anywhere." He looked at me, smiled and said, "Moo, why should I? Jamaica is my gallery!"
The truth hit home like a bombshell. Here I was, standing beside one of Jamaica's best-known artists, a man whose paintings have been admired by more Jamaicans, both here and abroad, than any other Jamaican artist I know today.
One can find Ken Abendana Spencer's paintings hanging in boardrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, studies, libraries, in luxury mansions, townhouses, apartments, studios, banks, offices, hotels, restaurants, galleries, lobbies, you name it! I can also imagine the many pieces he had sold during his travels worldwide, before settling down in Portland.
He was not interested in degrees, medals or awards; I don't even know if he was ever recognised locally for his contribution to the arts, not that it matters now. I didn't ask him where he studied, yet, here was a true artist doing what he did best, painting Jamaican life on canvas and enjoying it. Here was a talented Jamaican, a skilled craftsman, an artist who actually made a living from his chosen career.
He was an individual who was not personally known to a lot of admirers of his work, but whose work will be admired for generations to come long after his departure. Ken, on behalf of all those individuals whose homes and corporate offices have become your permanent gallery, thanks for having shared with us. We will miss you!
