Photo by Anthea McGibbon
The Ward Theatre, designed by architect Rudolph Henriques, exemplifies more than the fine art of building. Here, the cultural heritage of Jamaicans is promoted through drama and, at one point, the walls bore murals and paintings of the island's rich history, e.g., of the Columbus era.

Anthea McGibbon, Gleaner Writer

Images of struggling artists along the sidewalk, or dying in poverty, are some of the complexities parents have had to tackle when children vocalise their interest to 'pursue a career in art'.

Simply put, all but a handful of local art practitioners have demonstrated the practices and values sufficient to produce prodigies. Aspiring artists have thus been denied sufficient social support and resources that would help to further their development. In addition, many persons do not understand or cannot interpret art.

However, art is more than a hustler's play for money and far from being the mysterious dilemma it appears to be.

Petrona Morrison, director of studies of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, identifies the role of art as critical in transforming a community.

She also describes it as a clear indication of what is happening within society, e.g., issues and concerns. Put in its right perspective, artists can earn a proper living from the profession which, she says, has historically been a fundamental to societies with developed structures.

Vice-Chancellor at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Professor Rex Nettleford, in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner, describes art and artists as being "very significant".

"Jamaican artists, like others, have been the centre of the world," comments the professor, who further elaborates that [they] "have been responsible for development and self-government movements of Jamaica - thanks to people like the Manleys and the public leaders who followed."

Lack of specialised skills

One criticism he has, however, is the lack of specialised skill often exercised by media personnel, evidenced by poor or little critical analysis in the published reviews of both the performing and visual art expressions.

Specialised skill in reviews, along with better assertion of artists, Mr. Nettleford identifies as being necessary in the quest for certitude by those who exercise their creative imagination. Hence, resulting in a better understanding, appreciation and expression in the advancement of our culture.

Art broadly describes visual and performing creative expression. Visual arts ranks high among the highest forms of communication, while bearing aesthetic and functional value, and offering financial relief.

The visual arts offers within itself a broader spectrum of categories under the two main headings: pure (fine) and applied arts (inclusive of plastic arts).

The term 'fine arts', when first attested in 1767, characterised a limited number of visual art forms, including painting, sculpture, and printmaking. The term traditionally excluded art forms labelled as craftwork, or applied art, such as textiles.

Today, the term is more inclusive and descriptive for a variety of current art practices, and the multitude of mediums in which high art is accepted as occurring. Schools, institutes, and other organisations still use the term to indicate a traditional perspective on the visual arts, often implying an association with classic or academic art.

However, one must be aware that the word 'fine' denotes the purity of the discipline, rather than the quality of the artwork in question.

Fine arts broadly include architecture, ceramics, dance, drawing, film, fine art photography, furniture, intermedia (interdisciplinary, traditionally referred to as fine art media), literary and language arts, jewellery, music and opera, painting, poetry, printmaking, sculpture, theatre, and stage design.

Applied arts

Unlike fine arts which focuses on intellectual stimulation and academic sensibilities, applied arts incorporates design, aesthetics, and creative ideas to objects of utility, for example, a decorative park bench, magazine or a cup.

Under this category, the fields of industrial design, graphic design, fashion design, interior design, decorative art, and functional art are considered applied arts. (Examples of functional art are glassware, staircases, culinary arts, ceramics, textiles).

Commercial art - art created for commercial purposes -has its definition within applied arts.

Examples of commercial arts include illustration, graphic design, photography, television commercials, music videos, animation, and computer.

In a creative context, the fields of architecture and photography are considered applied arts.

In pursuing a career in art, research is critical, and advice from masters should be sought.

The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) is unique and is described as the centre of art education in the region (Caribbean and Latin America).

Ms. Morrison emphasises the role of college in providing the level of education required for artists to develop in their skills and intellectuality, thus shifting from the 'notion of an artist to a person with critical analytical skills.'

Graduates have so far been employed in the areas such as tourism, insurance, marketing, advertising, architect, art administration, cultural institutions.

Courses are offered in ceramics, textiles, jewellery, visual communications, painting, printmaking and art education. Academic courses include psychology, creative writing, language arts, Caribbean literature, history of art and 20th century comparisons.

Since 2004, the school has been offering, in conjunction with the University Council of Jamaica, a Bachelor of Fine Arts or Art Education within the various disciplines. At present, a master's degree is also offered in conjunction with colleges abroad, such as Ohio State University and Maryland College of Arts.

A bachelor of arts degree is also offered in conjunction with the University of the West Indies. Since the Ministry of Education?s accredition of these degrees, the former diploma and certificate have now been modified demanding less of students.

Interestingly, up until the early 1990s, the diploma course at the EMCVPA was the highest accredition to be had in art education locally, with a compulsory requirement of 190 credits, done in four years, a combination of academic and art subjects.

Afterwards, successful students were accepted directly into the master's degree programme at selected colleges overseas, such as Pratt University, School of the Visual Arts, N.Y. and Maryland Institute College of Arts.

There is no formal link with the University of Technology, but Morrison details the cross-reference studying between the two schools in the areas such as architecture, information technology, graphics and textiles.

Formerly the Jamaica School of Art, EMCVPA offers more than a good introduction to art, but dispels the misconception that you are taught to draw and paint there.

Rather, having some basic skills is a requirement for the full-time course. There are, however, remedial courses offered on a part-time basis.

Executive director of the National Gallery, Dr. Jonathan Greenland, supports the view that artists are critical in the development of any country - leadership, activism, education and creative output. He also recognises the need for the development of critical thinking skills throughout society through the looking at and discussing of artistic issues.

Ultimately, visual art is essential to the Jamaican tapestry, being a common thread in all areas of the human experiences.

For the sceptic, a true understanding and appreciation of art expressions can only be had after a long-term relationship and exploration of the varying forms, but a candid awareness of its presence is a fruitful beginning.

Anthea McGibbon, a graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts has over 10 years experience in the fields of visual arts and journalism. Write to islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk or anthea.mcgibbon@gleanerjm.com.