CYAM celebrating 10th anniversary with ‘Colours of Steel’

The Contemporary Young Artists’ Movement (CYAM) celebrates a decade since its inception in 2004 with a series of events, starting with an art exhibition entitled “Colours of Steel”.{{more}}

The exhibition opens in the Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines ground floor foyer on May 26 and features the original art work from the BOSVG 2014 calendar ‘Pan on Canvas’ done by CYAM members.

Currently completing a community mural in Rose Place, in collaboration with the SVG National Trust, Inivershal Rastafari Movement and the Rose Place Fishermen’s Organisation, the CYAM team has gained previous recognition through the painting of ‘Our Island Heritage’ mural on Upper Bay Street, Kingstown, unveiled by Cecil McKie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture in July 2013. Just a month later, three CYAM members produced an impressive 20ft mural for the SVGCC Tec/Voc Division, entitled ‘Our Caribbean Innovators’.

CYAM began its journey in December 2004 when, under the guidance of their lecturer, Vonnie Roudette, a group of young graduates from SVGCC’s Art & Design programme decided to raise funds to encourage upcoming youths in their creative development by providing them with art materials. The founding group were Norlan Jackson, Ayeshma Abbott, Shannette Parris, Raquel Lewis, Raphilia King, Roland Layne and Dane Jack.

The scope of CYAM’s activities gradually widened to promoting public awareness of the importance of creativity with a long-term goal of creating a receptive social environment for young visual artists to contribute to national development through the creative arts sector. This encompassed the staging of several art exhibitions; a National Arts Festival ‘I Came to Know’ in 2005; the production of annual calendars featuring artwork of SVGCC graduates; a series of creativity classes for children; and a weekly radio programme ‘The Art Room’(NBC radio), where experiences of the youths in various educational community art projects are shared.

The CYAM team’s skills set encompasses documentary film making, mural arts, environmental sculpture, graphic design, fashion design, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and creative education.

CYAM prides itself on its productive ethic of creative collaboration, supporting youths to serve their communities through appropriate creative solutions to environmental, cultural and economic challenges. As graduates return from overseas after further study, CYAM provides a creative family for them to combine skills in creative entrepreneurship.

With a deep conviction, fostered through their educational experience on SVGCC’s Art and Design program, that creative solutions build a resilient community, these youngsters are determined to create livelihoods from their artistic skills, through sustainable creative entrepreneurship. They are presently establishing an arts centre where artists can have individual studio space and gallery, whilst collaborating on community projects.

CYAM member Olivia Stephens, a first year student in SVGCC’s Fine Art, Design and Cultural Communications Associate Degree program, and one of the organisers of the exhibition, says: “ CYAM’s focus is on how we can improve our communities through creative collaboration. We are delighted to be hosted by BOSVG, whose support of CYAM members (as former NCB) dates back to 2007. As young artists we are proud to have such an opportunity to share our original works with the general public of SVG.”

Olivia’s artwork, along with that of seven other CYAM members, will be featured in the ‘Colours of Steel’ exhibition, where the works will be on sale.

Upcoming activities for the 10th anniversary of CYAM include a Youth Film Workshop (June); launch of Rose Place community mural; film screening “More than the Cost;” Youth Arts Camp for children (July-August).

For more information on these activities please visit CYAM’s facebook page or www.cyamsimdif.com, http://coloursofsteel.weebly.com/or email us at cyamartroom@gmail.com