Richall Hall working on canvas at last year's show.- Contributed

The annual Art and Photography Festival organised by The Liguanea Drug and Garden Centre in association with The Gleaner takes place on Sunday, April 29, 2007 at Liguanea Plaza. The showcase of the arts is the brainchild of Tony and June Wong, assisted by an experienced team of artists, art collectors, and enthusiasts.

This year marks the fourth anniversary of this one-day exhibition of Jamaica's top artists and photographers to be concentrated in one location. It is the only exhibition in which each artist showcasing his or her work is required to be present and to meet the public in person.

The 2007 Festival is almost completely booked out. Serious art collectors are already planning to add to their present collection as all pieces of work on display will be on sale. From original paintings, drawings and photographs to sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and other fine examples of Jamaican art, every patron will find some item to take home.

This year will feature such well known artists as Christopher Gonzales, Bernard Stanley-Hoyes, Gene Pearson, Norma Harrack, P.J. Stewart, Nakazzi Hutchinson, Michal Layne, Richard Hall, Phillip Henry, Everard Powell, Akiwali Walters, Andy Jefferson, Alphanso Blake, David and Allison Sinclair, Jean Taylor-Bushay, Kay Sullivan, Peter Peart, Paul Blackwood, Ewan McAnuff, Ray Jackson, Viv Logan, Sonia Richards and many others. Among the photographers exhibiting will be Hugh Wright, Franz Marzoucz, Howard Moo Young, Tony Wong, Jeremy Francis, Shakira Khan, as well as members of the UWI Camera Club and Just Black and White Photography Club. Jewellers will include Damaris Mavno and Paul Smith. The Jamaica Guild of Artists will be well represented by its members with a host of new works.

Super Plus Under 40 Artist of The Year Competition

The Mutual Galleryand Art Centre is inviting artists under 40 years old to submit entries for the Super Plus Under 40 Artist of the Year Competition. The deadline for submission is March 31, 2007. The competition is open to resident and non-resident Jamaican artists and non-Jamaican artists residing in Jamaica. Artists must meet two criteria: be less then 40 years old and have participated in at least three recognized group exhibitions either in a commercial gallery, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) or The National Gallery of Jamaica. Previous prize-winners are eligible to enter the competition.

Artists should submit a portfolio of past work in print form or slides showing a minimum of fifteen (15) works in any of the following media: painting, sculpture, installation art, ceramics, photography, video art, collage, printmaking and fibre art, a biography or r?sum? and a statement of intent of no longer than 200 words. Artists may call the gallery for a copy of the guidelines and advice on proper presentation of the documents.

Sixth year of staging

The competition is in its sixth year, having been staged in conjunction with Super Plus Food Stores since 2001. The gallery's mandate is to promote and encourage new forms of expression among young contemporary artists in Jamaica. Super Plus Food Stores has again this year pledged to pay a total of $250,000. Ten artists will be selected in the first round and receive a selection grant of $10,000.00 each to cover expenses of material to produce two works. The finalists selected to participate in the competition during the second judging will be required to produce a minimum of three more works, one of which may have been shown before. A 'Jury Prize' of $100,000.00 will be awarded to the artist judged by the jury to have made the best overall submission. A 'People's Award' of $50,000.00 will be given to the artist voted by the public to have made the best submission. The winner of the Jury Prize will be offered a solo exhibition at the Mutual Gallery in July 2008.

Past winners of the 'Jury Prize' are: Nakazzi Hutchinson, 2001 who won also the 'People's Award'; Khalil Deane, 2002; Chrisopher Irons, 2003; Ebony Patterson, 2005; Keisha Castello, 2006. The 'People's Award' was won in 2002 and 2003 by Tafui; Tiffany Recas in 2005; Phillip Thomas in 2006.

The competition opens 16th August and the prizes will be announced on 4th September 2007.