Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

The Institute of Jamaica and the National Gallery of Jamaica hosted a reception for Aaron and Marjorie Matalon for their contributions to Jamaican art. Here they are presented with a special gold Musgrave Medal by Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba (centre), at the National Gallery, Ocean Boulevard, downtown Kingston, on Thursday, November 2. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Art enthusiasts and members of the social élite came out to the National Gallery on Thursday, November 2, to say thank you to two special people.

Aaron and Marjorie Matalon have contributed to the development of Jamaican art so much that the directors and friends of the National Gallery gave them a big thank you. But the occasion was also to celebrate a special awarding of a special gold Musgrave Medal to Aaron Matalon from the Institute of Jamaica. The double event was put together with haste as the Matalons were to be honoured later this month by the gallery and the confirmation of the Musgrave medal did not come through until late Thursday evening!

Guest speaker, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture Aloun Assamba, said the duo had enriched the people of Jamaica with their energy and generosity. She said they had added to the creative and spiritual life of the people of Jamaica. In 1999, the Matalons donated over 200 works of art to the gallery. This is still the single highest donation in the history of the institution.

Forever the patriot, Matalon, in his brief thank you speech, said though they had enjoyed every moment of what they had to do, there was still plenty to be done. He bemoaned the state of East Street, among other areas of downtown Kingston, and promised that with what time he had left, he would do the best he could to help the situation. He and Marjorie received long and well deserved applause and standing ovations at the end.

Guests included members of the Matalon family, Joseph A. Matalon and Joseph M. Matalon; Andrew Phillips; Christopher Irons; Taynia Nethersole; William Tavares-Finson; Joan Tucker; Vivian Crawford, executive director of the Institute of Jamaica; Glenn Guimond of the United States Embassy; Jennifer Smith from the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture; Annabella Proudlock and Jennifer Lim.