Anyone visiting Kingston, or any other area of the island, simply must pencil in some time to spend at the National Gallery of Jamaica. As suggested in their Mission Statement, this is a venue which as made every effort to preserve Jamaica through research, collection and documentary of Caribbean art and other related materials. Their goal is to ensure that both locals and visitors have the opportunity to experience and appreciate the rich history and culture of the island.
History
Established in 1974, the National Gallery of Jamaica was the first of its kind in the Anglophone Caribbean. It’s opening essentially paved the way for additional galleries to find their homes in the Bahamas, Guyana, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. In terms of size, it falls second to only the massive-sized museums found in the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Peurto Rico.
The gallery originally began at Devon House in its earlier years but was moved to the Kingston waterfront where it sits in the Roy West building in 1982. This was meant to be temporary while a new, larger building was constructed but the gallery found its home there and now remains a vital part of the city’s business district.
About
When the National Gallery of Jamaica was first established, it inherited 30 sculptures and 200 paintings from the Institute of Jamaica. Today, the gallery is known for having nothing short of a premier collection with over 1,700 pieces of art. They are also currently refurbishing many of their permanent exhibitions to make them more up to date. This began in 2008 with historical galleries, followed by the Edna Manley collection in 2009. The project will end with the 2011 revamp of their Kapo exhibit.
Additionally, the National Gallery of Jamaica stages at least five temporary exhibitions which are certainly worth exploring. The venue is the primary publication source when it comes to Jamaican art. Their active education program provides film screening, panel discussions, lectures, guided tours, documentation services, children’s art workshops and many outreach visits to community centers and schools.
Featured Artists
- Albert Huie – One of Jamaica’s most well-known and exceptional print-makers and painters who recently passed away in Baltimore is paid tribute to with a collection from the 1930s to the 1990s, his entire artistic career.
- Jose Manuel Ciria – On December 14th, 2010, the gallery received The Dream Inam by this renowned Spanish artist. The piece is from the New York (2006) LaGuardia Place series.
- Edna Manley – This phenomenal sculptor contributed greatly to Jamaican culture. Mother of Jamaican art is how she is often referred to. She took lessons in London but it wasn’t until she moved to Jamaica that her exhibits transitioned to a more cubist and progressive style.
- Mallica Reynolds – Otherwise known as Kapo, he is known as being a folk painter, capturing the beauty of the orange groves, houses and hillsides of Jamaica. He also created many distinct sculptures made from dense wood that were heavily stained, creating a lot of anxiety for viewers. The National Gallery of Jamaica houses his largest collection that was donated to them in 1982.
- Isaac Mendes Belisario – The pieces displayed by this Jewish-Jamaican artist offer valuable insight on social realities of slavery. His images record cultural responses of all interests regarding the slave trade and the influence of the sugar economy.
- John Dunkley – This Jamaican sculptor and painter died in Kingston in 1947. The gallery is honored to house some of the darker pieces created by this self-taught artist.
Anyone with a passion for art or just interested in the history of the land and the culture of the people, will enjoy a visit to the National Gallery of Jamaica. In addition to their permanent collections, they also feature an active exhibition program including works by local artists, guest-curated exhibitions, thematic exhibitions and two recurrent national exhibitions being the National Visual Arts Exhibition and the National Biennial. The gallery offers a variety of educational services and operates a coffee shop and gift shop on site.