Mandeville Art Fair celebrates 28 years

The Members of the Mandeville Art Fair Committee of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Mandeville have announced the 28th annual Mandeville Art Fair and Craft Fair, which opens on Thursday, November 7, at 6 p.m.

The Art Fair will continue on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9. Entry is free to the public. Saturday at 10 a.m. will feature a craft fair and children’s fun-day.

“This unique art experience showcases the finest cultural expression of Jamaican art the island has to offer,” said a communiqué from the organisers. “On the opening night, guests will be fêted to an open wine bar and exquisite hors’ d’oeuvres as well as a visual feast for the eye, with over 500 pieces of art in various formats of artistic expression.”

The exhibition features artists like Damian Cunningham, Valrie Beaumont, Miranda Sampson, Pheona Godfrey, and Mark Bell, among others. The Junior Art Competition section will be on display featuring students aged six to 11 (youth category) and students aged 12-18 (junior category). The night’s event will culminate with the Julia Lyn Scholarship, to be awarded to a deserving final-year art student of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

The brain-child of the first Bishop of Mandeville, M. Boyle, the Art Fair was started in 1991 with support from a handful of faithful friends to raise funds for diocesan charities. The continuation of his legacy has supported 17 Catholic Diocesan institutions and poor relief activities to include, but not limited to, basic and primary schools, homework centres, medical outreach and poor relief housing. One of beneficiaries is the Mustard Seed Gift of Hope. Senior administrator Ann Marie Parker Dale of the home said that “… requirements of the special-need wards are great and the proceeds gifted from the Art Fair provide immense support to purchase essential items for the 22 residents …”.

The Art Fair continues to provide support for the early childhood, primary, and secondary educational institutions. Four early childhood institutions (ECI) utilised funding to achieve ECI certification. Principal Doreen Brown of Annunciation Early Childhood Institute said that the “funds received from the Art Fair made it possible to purchase well-needed fixtures to attain the 100 per cent in their early childhood certification process in July 2019”, the organisers informed.

Scholarship

In addition, a scholarship honouring the memory of founding Art Fair committee member Julia Lyn will be awarded to a deserving final year Edna Manley College Art student who demonstrates great artistic skill, is in good academic standing, and needs financial support.

The 2018 scholarship awardee Richard Gayle expressed his gratitude and said that the “scholarship has helped to make my dreams a reality in finishing school as well as providing a boost to my career in a tremendous way ... ”.

The Mandeville Art Fair Committee has provided a stage for young, up-and-coming, and established artists to showcase their work for more than 27 years. Over the years, the committee has instituted a Junior Arts Competition for budding art students to showcase their work. On the second day, art students from Manchester and surrounding parishes are invited to view the exhibition with their art teachers and interact with Jamaican artists on hand to discuss the creative process and techniques.

The Craft Fair, held on the third day, also presents another opportunity for children to express their creativity through art and craft at the children’s craft workshop.

In the communiqué, The Diocese of Mandeville and the Art Fair Committee is once more deeply grateful to the artists, organisers, sponsors, and donors who participate, coordinate, and donate to the Art Fair and the worthy projects of the diocese.

“You are good managers of God’s gifts because you use your talents for the good of others. Give, and it shall be given unto you (Luke 6:38). We pray that good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall be given back to you … .”

This year’s sponsors include NCB Capital Markets, Isratech, Pioneer Chocolate, Pick-A-Pepper, and Pro Hardware.

November 7-9, 2019

Opening Night Cocktail Party: November 7. Cost: J$2,000.

Location: St John Bosco Auditorium, Hatfield, Manchester.

Tickets: Available at the Gate; in Kingston at Alpha Institute (876-928-1345); and in Manchester at St John Bosco Career Advancement Institute (876-963-0611).