Members of the public can now view the works of 17 of western Jamaica’s talented artists, which are on display in the Due West Exhibition in Montego Bay, St. James.       

The pieces, showcased at National Gallery West, include ceramics, paintings, photography, printmaking, and fibre arts, among others. They were created using a diverse range of materials.

The themes largely centre on the environment, relationships and portraiture (portraits).

The exhibition, which runs until August, was formally opened on April 13 with a reception at the gallery, just ahead of World Art Day, observed on April 15. Among the guests in attendance was Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, who emphasised the significance of art as a means of self-expression, “especially when we are trying to promote our culture”.

“[Art] is an active means of getting our inner expression outside and to get the world to engage with what we see, how we live and our own experience; people express the Jamaican culture in different ways, especially through art,” he told JIS News.

Councillor Vernon also highlighted the significance of the exhibition being mounted at Gallery West.

“This is a location that we are trying to promote. We want to have persons come in… each day when we have the different… exhibitions happening. [When we have] tourists visiting our city centre, they can come and experience that as well,” he stated.

For his part, Chief Curator at the National Gallery of Jamaica, O’Neil Lawrence, told JIS News that the Due West exhibition was initially held in 2019 and then in 2020. However, he said the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other challenges, disrupted plans for further exhibitions. Lawrence emphasised the importance that the Gallery’s management placed on the exhibitions.

“It’s going to be our flagship [event], because we really believe in creating a platform for western Jamaica. There are a lot of artists who come out of western Jamaica. I think some of the leading artists coming out of Jamaica came from this region,” he pointed out.

Lawrence highlighted the late, highly acclaimed painter, Barrington Watson, as a notable figure, adding that artists from western Jamaica continue to gain prominence both locally and globally.

He urged artists to begin preparing their submissions for future Due West exhibitions. Eligible pieces must be created within the last three years, and artworks will be available for purchase directly from the artists after the exhibition concludes.

Assistant Curator at National Gallery West, Monique Gilpin, noted that the call for submissions for Due West 2025 was issued last November.

Some 40 submissions were received by the Gallery’s selection committee, of which 17 were shortlisted. Gilpin advised that a People’s Choice Award is being incorporated this year, which will allow patrons to vote for their favourite display or artist, based on the pieces exhibited.

To vote, persons can either scan the QR codes on the labels of various artworks or use ballot boxes at the gallery.

“The artist with the most votes at the end of the exhibition… will receive a cash prize of $250,000. It is a part of our initiative to continue to support emerging and professional artists within the region as it is something that is necessary, as there are not that many platforms of this nature that support artists from western Jamaica,” Gilpin stated.

Artist, Brighton Brown, who is showcasing a printmaking piece in the exhibition, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate and encouraged fellow artists in western Jamaica to strive to be a part of the next staging.

He also encouraged them to identify alternative media to showcase their work.

“You must be steadfast in looking out for opportunities… you don’t always have to rely on a gallery. You can also put on your own show. They can also showcase their work online, bringing their works to different places, showing people what they can do and trying to network with others, or look to the overseas markets as well,” Brown said.

For his part, Montego Bay businessman, Lloyd B. Smith, who was a patron at the opening reception, said the exhibition is “an excellent idea”

“For too long, artists in the west have had to just pander their wares to the tourism industry, hoping to make a few bucks without getting the necessary recognition from the community at large. I think that this exposure is the right direction, because it elevates our talents to certain levels of excellence and distinction. I hope that this will be a regular affair so that the artists can get their work sufficiently exposed and, in the long run, benefit from the experience,” he underscored.

Smith noted that artists in western Jamaica continue to journey to Kingston in order to gain recognition, which he said is unfortunate. “I think Due West is showing us that our artists in the west are talented. They have creativity, they have a right to be here and we have to give them the support on an ongoing basis so that their works will become part and parcel of the overall creative arts experience in the country and not just in Montego Bay,” he stated.

World Art Day was observed this year under the theme ‘A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community through Art’.