Lushness of SVG displayed on canvas

by BRIA KING

THE WHITE WALLS of the Youlou Art Centre (YAC) are the blank canvas for artists who have risen to the challenge of displaying the lushness of St Vincent and the Grenadines through bursts of colour, thought provoking and aesthetically pleasing images.

Another of Dinks Johnson’s paintings of a dancing cat.

At least 17 artists mounted their pieces at the YAC in Villa last Saturday, March 7 for the art show dubbed “Lush SVG”.

“It (feedback) has been very positive.

We had a lot of people at the opening,” Camille Saunders Musser, the founder of the YAC told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday. “ People were very happy to see the show and it’s very colourful, very nice. ”

Saunders Musser said she thought it would be exciting to see what each artist would present for their interpretation of lush.

All of the paintings on display are for sale and the YAC founder said four paintings were sold on opening night. And paintings displayed in Lush SVG will be available to the viewing public until July 20.

Saunders Musser said that this is so persons visiting the country during the carnival season will also be able to see the artists’ interpretation of the lushness of SVG but also to offer them an opportunity to purchase local art.

DINKS JOHNSON, self-taught Vincentian artist next to his painting, Flower Girl, which is on display at the Youlou Art Centre.

She is also encouraging artists in SVG to contact the Art Centre so that they can have a list of artists in the island.

“We want to send out a call to artists who would like to show their work at the Centre. They should give us a call. Contact us, give us your information and we will put your names down on a list… and if we come up with an idea for a show again, we can reach out,” she explained.

Dinks Johnson, a veteran, self taught Vincentian artist has four pieces on display for Lush SVG.

And he told SEARCHLIGHT that he believes shows like this one are extremely beneficial to local artists, particularly the younger ones.

“I think it’s good. It showcases the work of young artists who may not have the chance to do so otherwise,” Johnson said.

The artist, whose paintings are considered to be photorealistic, also took the opportunity to urge parents to support their child’s passion.

Johnson said he painted his first commissioned piece in the 70s on hard board, using an easel he built himself.

But long before then, he had been drawing as a child and his mother always supported him.

“But there are a lot of parents who will chastise their children for the drawing and will tell them, put that down and take up your book. You can’t force a child to do something that he’s not inclined to do…” Dinks said. “There are children who may be good with their hands, not necessarily academically inclined, so the forcing that on a child could do more damage than good.”

The self-taught artist noted that he makes a decent living from his art and encouraged artists to take the necessary steps needed to gain the necessary exposure for their work.

The Youlou Art Centre is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and members of the public are invited to view all paintings on display.