Festival boosts young artists Young artists in the Corporate Area and St. Catherine were given an extra boost by the recently held Arts Festival put on by the Youth Department of the Emmanuel Faith Fellowship in Braeton, Greater Portmore. The festival, targeting amateur artists, took place on June 16. It included entries from at least 28 contestants in both the 14 to 18 and over 19 age categories. Nosbourne Lee, a 36-year-old teacher, was declared winner in the senior division of the competition, while Shaon Barnes won in the junior division. Mr. Lee was so overcome with joy that he cried. He had participated in the competition to motivate four of his students whom he had encouraged to enter the competition after seeing it advertised in The Sunday Gleaner. A teacher at the Pembroke Hall High school, and past student of the Mico Teachers College, Mr. Lee is also founder of the Central Village Academy for the Visual Arts, which was set up in 1997. Frustration over his many attempts and entries in competitions locally, Mr. Lee had transferred his passion to helping students develop an appreciation for art. Under his direction, the academy offers skills training in art, printing and leather craft. He credits his success to a good background in art, especially under former tutor Ralph Campbell of Tivoli Comprehensive High School. 'Most Creative' Mr. Lee won the trophy for the "Most Creative" entry and a $10,000 cheque from Mega Mart Store in Portmore. His entries included a painting and papier mâché representation of the theme using scrap material. Titled "The Triumphant Entry of Christ" the three dimensional work was a 10-inch sculpture depicting Christ on a donkey. The body was made from a plastic soft drink bottle with wires for the legs. The frame was moulded together with tissue and the paste and painted. The painting represented Mr. Lee's interpretation of the mood of the biblical story. Both were completed in the allotted four hours. For young Barnes, first place winner in the 14-18 category of the competition, his victory signals a positive step towards realising his dreams. "I want to be an artist. So with this now I plan to continue drawing. It's what I like. I have always been drawing, from cartoons to copying things from books and magazines," said the 16-year-old student of Bridgeport High School in St. Catherine. The judges decided that his entry was the most original piece in that age division. He also received commendations for having the entry with the best use of space and was offered a summer art scholarship to the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA). The competition was hailed as a good outlet for young talent by judges from the art education department of the EMSVPA, which included Jermerline Palmer-Anderson, Isa Francis and Valerie Shackleford, all final year art education teachers. They said the entries were good, with participants displaying talent which needed special direction and development. Convenor of the event, Janet Allen, said that, based on the encouraging response, plans are being made to make the competition a regular event for the communities. The entrants were awarded points based on their presentation, originality, creativity, interpretation of theme and use of medium. - File
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