Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Celebrating Harmony Hall are from left: Peter Me, Tony Hall, Merna Martin, Roy Linton, Paul Ennevor, Annabella and Alistair Passley, all of whom were involved in Harmony Hall from the very beginning. - Contributed

Whoever coined the phrase - fortune favours the brave - was spot on the money! My darling dears, in stopping to survey all that's around, and especially those who are prospering in their chosen fields, then there's no escaping the fact that those at the acme of their game, went outside of the box to pursue their various endeavours, and in doing so, not only found their calling, but the peace of mind and rewards.

Just imagine some 25 years ago, Harmony Hall, not more than little village, with almost no saving grace in terms of industry, or a public beach to entice potential visitors. Not even a social buzz to make it really happen, as it was smack right out there in the middle of nowhere. It is located between the village of Tower Isle, to its east and Ocho Rios to its north, and on a strip of lonely road that, back then, was rarely traversed.

Well, this was where British expatriates Peter and Annabella Proudlock decided on siting their novel business idea, using the Harmony Hall Great House as the setting for an art and curio gallery, with a restaurant/bistro, to boot.

Well my darlings, there were those who thought them quite batty, for even thinking it, much more to bring it to fruition. Well, that was 25 years ago. Today, Harmony Hall is synonymous with fine art, craft and curio, and those divine little Annabella trinket boxes.

Idea

Talk about an idea whose time had come! None saw it as such then, but in retrospect, the venture by the Proudlocks was not only an idea ahead of its time, it became a vitally crucial link between the budding art scene, artist and market. It served the established artist residing on the north coast at the time, not to mention the loads of aspiring talent, who up until then had no home to showcase their work either for appreciation and or evaluation.

To be sure, it was not all smooth-sailing from the get-go as when it comes to matters of art and the artsy, there are personalities to be soothed, egos to be placated, and naturally, attracting, and building a sustainable coterie of patrons, to make the new venture one that would survive the whims and fancies of the art-loving public.

Not the types to pat themselves on their shoulders, or even rest on their laurels, the Proudlocks are constantly in search of perfection, and it is this search that would deny them the satisfaction to assert that yes, they have kept the faith and have achieved their objective - that of making Harmony Hall, the grand dame of the (north coast) art world. Her tentacles reach out and influence the national mood. In the process, Harmony Hall is a triumph, not only of the Proudlocks, but also for the Jamaican art movement and more importantly, for the artisans and craft-people of the satellite villages in wider St. Mary and St. Ann.

And at 25, what a fitting and crowning achievement.

Me luvs, it all commenced on November 14, 1981, and 25 years and some 200 exhibitions later, it has showcased some of the island's best artists, as well as some of its finest prodigious talent.

Cocktail soiree

Well, to mark their 25th anniversary, the Proudlocks hosted a cocktail soirée last Tuesday, on the imposing grounds of the charmingly quaint Harmony Hall. And yes, it was that kind of a party nostalgia that reigned supreme and then some, as we are talking a charming do here, with some of the very firsts artists ever to exhibit their works at the now esteemed gallery. Guests included some of the very first restaurateurs to have opened their wares for patrons of the gallery; and others who were in attendance since the very beginning. Equally important it was Harmony Hall's 25th anniversary and the Proudlocks did celebrate and they did, but they actually made the affair all about Merna Martin and George 'Roy' Linton who were both presented with commemorative plaques to commemorate the moment (and not to mention sealed envelopes, that brought broad smiles to their faces).

Now, Tuesday, November 14 was the official anniversary of the opening of Harmony Hall Great House in its present dispensation. It will be a two-part celebration, however, as come next Sunday, the celebrations will continue with the staging of the annual Harmony Hall Arts and Crafts Fair and Art Exhibition, and honeys, this promises to be a stellar event and nothing but.

And, it was with this in mind that guests shared anecdotal memories, and touching stories all about the creation and evolution of Harmony Hall into a great symbol of the Jamaican art movement. And amid the laughter, polite chitter-chatter and the downing of some premium libations and tasty finger-food served up from Toscanini, it all made for one fine outing, and how!

Guests

Among those in attendance were: Custos of St. Mary, Hon. Bobby Pottinger; Dr. John McDowell, O.D. (who made the presentations earlier); Rudolph and Kathleen Jobson; celebrated artist Colin Garland; Johnny and Rosie Marsh; Eva Myers of the celebrated Evita's Italian Restaurant Rafael and Robin de Comas; the lovely Alex Ghisays of Couples Hotels and Resorts; Stan and Judy Havrlik, of Jamaica and Brussels; George and Judy Meikle; Lindel and Belinda Nash; Humphrey Taylor director, St. Ann Chamber of Commerce; Paul Ennevor; Tony Hall; Pat Taylor, TPDCo; Jonathan Edwards of San Francisco and Jamaica; Sorina Wehbe of Hard Rock Café; Andrew Todd; Jenny Wood, of the fabulous Golden Eye; Joel Goldfus; Peta Goldsmith; Marina Delfosse; Winston Notise; Jonna Brasch; the lovely Rina Romano; Tony Wright; Lisa Solon; Tukula Ntama; Pieter Tenkate, consultant to Walkerswood Holland; the charming Lella Ricci of Toscanini's; Jasazii Mackenzie; Selma-Maria Weerenbeck, in from Holland; and Alistair Howard St. Aubyn Passley aka 'Shorty', (who made the original fretwork that adorns the noble Harmony Hall Great House; and the famed Annabella boxes); as were his children Nordia, Junior and Rashida Passley; plus a number of others.

And honeys y'all know come next Sunday, not even the dreadful road conditions of the St. Mary roadways could keep this scribe away from the north coast premier art and craft social!