From left are Krissie, Dream Home, Bajan beauty, Run boat, Refresh -Anthea McGibbon photosGeorgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
"VERY SUCCESSFUL" is how photographer and graphic designer, Anthea McGibbon, describes her first solo exhibition, held recently in the United States (U.S.).
The three-day show was held from November 14-17, at the First African Baptist Church in Philadelphia, the first American city. The First African Baptist Church this year celebrated its centennial and the exhibition provided a link between its African and Caribbean roots.
The exhibition, titled Caradise - Caribbean Paradise of Beauty, featured images captured in Jamaica, St. Lucia and Barbados. The works included portraiture, still lifes, community activities and nature scenes.
Ms. McGibbon said the photographs were taken during work-related and vacation travels to the U.S., the Caribbean, Latin America and South Korea from as far back as 1992.
"Between 1996-2002, I served the Gleaner Company Limited in various capacities, including writer and feature co-ordinator. Travels during this period inspired me to begin a visual essay of the beautiful scenes witnessed," she explained to The Sunday Gleaner. "Close friends, family and those who admired my work, including veteran photographer, Howard Moo Young, and Hope Wheeler of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, often further encouraged me to exhibit."
Anthea's spiritual links with the First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia served her well when she began thinking seriously about hosting a show.
"I must express sincere thanks to Reverend Terrence Griffith, the church's pastor who is from Grenada and an author himself," she said. "Both he and his congregation, as well as Gregory Shervington from the Jamaica Tourist Board in Philadelphia, gave a lot of support in organising the show."
Support also came from the congregation, business persons, libraries, publishers, bookstores and other organisations from the immediate environs who viewed the works over the period.
Friends from Maryland, New York, and Savannah, Georgia also attended, and a few others who were unable to visit the church were privy to a private showing.
"Interest was high, and viewers were quite fascinated with the beauty of the islands and artistic appeal of the photographs," Ms McGibbon reported. "What was impressive was the high level of interest shown in the images that were not traditional tourist scenes, although someone did mistake one of the scenes for Dunns River Falls."
While the pieces were not for sale, the multi-skilled photographer says she largely benefited from the experience with the wide variety of contacts made, and the proposals received.
The viewers also benefited as they expressed keen interest in information about the sponsors, especially The Gleaner Company Limited, The Jamaica Tourist Board, Air Jamaica and Spencer's Tailoring.
In assessing the success of the show, Ms. McGibbon has plans to stage other exhibitions in the coming year, locally and abroad.
Additionally, paintings done from photographs will also be displayed. Three of her paintings were already displayed and sold through a gallery in Miami, Florida. She is contemplating selling her works through specific orders.
Another big step will be the publication of a series of motivational books containing photographs packaged with thoughts and poems penned over the years. The first in the series is expected to be launched soon.
In the meantime, Ms. McGibbon is committed to seeking funds to pursue her Master's of Fine Arts (MFA) degree through a specially-designed summer programme overseas.
Ultimately, she aims to become a consultant in her field, while providing education to homeless children and orphans through a skills training centre.
