Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Colin Garland's circle of friends, supporters and family gather around his portrait following the service held in celebration of his life on Saturday, April 14.

My darlings, it is written, there's a time for every season; a time to live and a time to die, and who are we mere mortals to say otherwise? But then again, there are some mortals who have elevated the art of dying to such a grand finale, they inspire those left in their wake! On the other hand, if you have never lived, then you will most certainly not know how to die!

Daahlings if there was ever a man who knew how to live, it was Colin Garland! Having lived, he most certainly knew how to die, and when he did, crestfallen and/or dejected was how those closest to him felt, but that, too, was only for a while, as when the realisation came home that the painter, sculptor, costume designer and social introvert, who found freedom in artistic andcreative expressions, had made the transition, the gloom that beset them was lifted. It was realised that, not unlike an epiphany, here was a transition to be celebrated, worthy of praise, and most certainly no cause here to shed tears, because the world knew he was here, and how!

Difficult time then

A native of Australia, the young Colin Garland arrived here in Jamaica some 45 years ago, and to be sure, it was a different time and place then. As it was true then, so it is today, that the essence of Jamaica is the warmth, depth and hospitality of the people, who were so all-embrac-ing, that Garland knew within days of arriving here that he had found his home away from home.

Garland was a man of boundless energy, whose creative and artistic intellect were in sync with the emerging cultural and artistic order of the time. And as Jamaica grew to embrace her inner cultural and artistic apostles, she also embraced Garland, and not only embraced him, but in embracing him inspired him, challenged him, and nurtured and nourished him and his unfettered creative expressions!

In the end, Garland, to whom much was given by the land he called home, gave back much more. He bequeathed a legacy of artistry, passion, beauty and artistic industry, through paintings, sculpture, costume-designing, and his humanity, to a country still in the throes of moulding its artistic soul.

Ailing

Now, it being just over three weeks since news of Garland's death was first made known, while not totally unexpected (he had been ailing for sometime), it still came as a shock, forcing some to break down and weep openly, as was the case with Rose Tavares-Finson, with whom this scribe was sharing a late lunch when she received the news, within minutes of his passing.

Dearly beloved by his many friends, and having earned and kept the respect of his peers, Colin Garland's passing was not unlike a body blow to many. This, however, galvanised them into taking the initiative in planning what they considered a most appropriate 'official' farewell to one of 'Jamaica's' great artists of our time.

And so, to commemorate his life and times, on Saturday, April 14, an exhibition in celebration of his life and work was mounted at the Seaview Fine Arts, the former home of the late social powerhouse and art collector, Burnett Webster. It is now the property of art collector extraordinaire, Wallace Campbell, and home to the single largest and most extensive collection of Caribbean and Latin American art ever amassed, and when it was all over, it became the new standard by which funerals and/or memorials will be measured, because my dears, this was all that, they are not!

To be sure, there was an air of the funereal to the occasion. As one entered the vestibule of the imposing home, one was greeted by life-size pictures of Garland, taken by the illustrious Maria Layacona; the urn containing his ashes, a Norma Harrack masterpiece, small though it was, dominated the room, as did his favourite clogs that rested under the antique entrance that housed the condolence register.

Fabulous bouquets

Seaview Fine Arts was awash with a collection of fabulous bouquets and creations by Mrs. Corrine Smith (widow of late artist Eric Smith). The sense of beauty and wonderment was all but complete, and upon entering the exhibition area where the work of the late artist, drawn from the private collections and galleries, stood in triumphant splendour, seemingly denying his mortality!

Dears, it was all very moving and only got more so as the 'service', hosted on the lawns of the estate, got under way with William Tavares-Finson as the evening's compere.

There was a moment of meditation, led by the Rev. Michael Reckord; the Most Hon. Glynne Manley sang; his brother, Howard Garland, who flew in from Australia, Mrs. Margaret Reckord Bernal, Christiana Rosetti and Lloyd Reckord gave remembrances on behalf of the family; Cecil Cooper paid tribute in song and flautist Maggy Mangraviti did a solo rendition; Dr. David Boxer did a tribute to the artist; Professor the Hon. Rex Nettleford paid tribute to Garland's early contributions to the NDTC and theatre; noted lawyer Tom Tavares-Finson; Claudia Robinson; Evan Williams; Maxine Walters and Gene Pearson - all paid solo tributes in between flute introductions; and to cap it all the Jamaica Folk Singers led the audience in a fab finale, that began with Evening Time and included Wonderful World, Beautiful People; followed by Christopher Williams and Ralna Simmonds, performing The Prayer in words and sign language; closing with a selection of Colin Garland's favourite music, on tape, all adding to the beauty of the occasion!

Well, my daahlings, suffice it to say, that so beautiful was the entire affair, it is the new benchmark for final farewells.

And then there was the august body of distinguished personalities in attendance: long-time friend Lloyd Reckord; the Hon. Aaron and Marjorie Matalon jetted in from Florida for the occasion; Maurice and Valerie Facey; Joe Matalon and wife Bernadette McKinley Matalon were also there; as were Dr. John McHardy; Olive Senior; Greg and Susan Shirley; William Mahfood; Jennifer Lim; Cindy Breakspeare and daughter Lea Tavares-Finson; Barbara Alexander Forrester; Dr. Richard Gomes; Dr. Jonathan Greenland and wife, Dr. Rebecca Tortello Greenland; Beth Hyde McDonald; Sandra Lyn Shue; Pearle Chang; William and Rosemary Thwaites; Ellie Rickham; Eva Myers; Dennis and Ludo Rappaport; Annabella Proudlock; Christopher Gonzales; Seya Parboosingh; Judy-Ann MacMillan; Graham Davies; Sameer Tansley; Amy Laskin; Joanna Brasch; Zoda; Stafford Schliffer; Lisa Remeny; Carol Crichton; Gilou Bauer; Andrew Phillips; Johanna Thwaites; Kirk Nunes; Virginia Burke and her sister Inansi; Cliff Hughes; Taynia Nethersole; Elaine Oxamendi Vicet; Sachi Wagner, in from Florida; Mandie Pink; Jean Smith; Esmie Gordon; Myrna Lee Holmes; Barbara Richards, plus many others!

And talk of going out in style, dears, this was grand style!