Contemporary Caribbean Art Exhibit at the Dwyer Cultural Center in Harlem
The launch of the visual art exhibition, Contemporary Caribbean Art: Selections from CaFA Fair Barbados, is a confluence of artists from across the Caribbean. Presented by the Dwyer Cultural Center, located at 258 St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem, the exhibition features the work of twelve artists who have participated in Caribbean Fine Art (CaFA) Fair Barbados over its three annual editions (2011-2013), as well as artists spotlighted in the colorful film documentary, Plight of the Caribbean Artist.
Four of the exhibition's artists, Haitian painter, Patricia Brintle; Barbadian painter, Carlton Murrell; Montserrat native, Lennox Warner and Dominican painter, David Wilson, were also featured in the film. Other artists include, Guyanese painter, Carl F. Anderson; Trinidad and Tobago's multi-talented, David Boothman; Puerto Rico's, Minerva Diaz; Trinidad and Tobago's, Glen Martin; Barbadian painter and actor, Na La; U.S. Virgin Island born, Ademola Olugebefola; Jamaican artist, Ava Tomlinson, and Barbadian sculptor, Alfred Weekes.
What better place than Harlem -- the cultural Mecca for people of color -- to highlight the contributions of Caribbean members of the African Diaspora? In a salute to Caribbean American Heritage month, June 2013, President Barack Obama stated,
"Through every chapter of our nation's history, Caribbean Americans have made our country stronger -- reshaping our politics and reigniting the arts, spurring our movements, and answering the call to serve. Caribbean traditions have enriched our own, and woven new threads into our cultural fabric...."
Many of the luminaries -- who are associated with those accomplishments -- names such as Marcus Garvey, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson, Colin Powell, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Graciela Perez, Tito Puente, and others, were shaped in the great neighborhood of Harlem, as early immigrants or first generation Caribbean Americans. Furthermore New York City is said to have the largest concentration of Caribbean citizens outside the region.
Running through December 5th 2013, the exhibition will be open to the public on Wednesdays, 5-8pm, and Sundays, 4-7pm. A panel discussion, Examining the Caribbean Presence in Harlem, is scheduled for Saturday, November 23rd, from 5-7pm. The exhibition is a prelude to the CaFA Fair - Barbados 2014, which will be staged at the Historic Spirit Bond Building, Bridgetown from March 12th thru 16th, 2014.
Held on the idyllic island of Barbados, this unique cultural event will showcase works by the finest visual artists in and of the Caribbean, representing all of the region's major language groups--Dutch, English, French, and Spanish. It will feature daily performances, film screenings and symposium presentations by distinguished guests. Presenters include, Danny Simmons, celebrated U.S. artist and cultural entrepreneur; Dr. Ademola Olugebefola, renowned USVI born artist and lecturer and Amy Kisch, former Sothebys executive and founder of AKArt.
Visit http://cafafair.com to learn more. Or contact Curator, Anderson M. Pilgrim at (646) 267-8831 or ampilgrim@hotmail.com.