“Look how she digging she panty
Perform by Yasmin Espert
Photograph by Adrian Richards
“Look how his backside by the door”
Perform by Sheena Rose
Photograph by Adrian Richards
“She feel she’s all of that”
Perform by Sheena Rose
Photograph by Adrian Richards
“Man I want piece of that”
Perform by Sheena Rose
Photograph by Adrian Richards
Sweet Gossip …coming soon!!!
A collaborative project about the Pop culture of Barbados
Artist: Sheena Rose
Photographer: Adrian Richards
Writer: Natalie McGuire
Assistant: Yasmine Espert
Graphic Artist: Bonnie Hearty
(via sroseart)
Happy Birthday Projects & Space!!!!
Done it again!!!
Projects & Space will like to thank Rodell Warner for being the first international artist/photographer to participate in our artist’s residency. It was really interesting and inspiring working with Rodell Warner, his artist’s residency was successful!
We will like to thank the Roses for sharing their house for 10 days to make this residency possible. We couldn’t done it without your assistance.
We will like to thank Mark King for showing his art work, he created at Alice Yard and sharing his experience at the art party. Mark’s work was beautifully projected on the side of the Rose’s house.
Thank you, DJ MainFrame was playing some great tunes and collaborating with Rodell.
Thank you, Ria Scott for writing a great review about the “Also Us!” Art Party.
Thank you, Amery Butcher for capturing the moments for us, and also documenting Rodell’s work. After the party, we realize that we didn’t take a photo of the work and Amery save the day. Thank you again!
We will like to thank Alicia Allyene and Versia Harris for coming and showing Rodell around Barbados and telling him about the country.
Thank you everyone for attending and making this art party awesome! Thank you As Cute as a Cupcake for those tasty cupcake! We did it again!!!
Happy Birthday Projects & Space!!!!!
The group have done so much and we need to keep the group going.
Next we will be organizing another artist’s residency and we need to rise funds for the next artist’s residency.
Now here is the famous line…
What is the next project? Where is the next space?
Also Us! Art Party 2012
Located at Sheena Rose’s house
Photograph by Rodell Warner
Ria Scott’s Review about “Also Us!” Art Party
The “Also Us” Art Party: A Review of Projects and Space’s 1st year Anniversary Celebration
“We have a long history of watching boats on the horizon… let us come up with making our own boats even if they’re rafts…anything we can afford to push ourselves on our own steam”-Christopher Cozier
When Christopher Cozier visited Projects and Space at the end of February for his talk this was the statement which resounded most in my head not just as an artist but as a person from the Caribbean. As, Cozier expounded on the journey of Alice Yard and the various projects it facilitated, he seemed to be continuously circling a singular idea captured in the above quote. This idea suggests that within the Caribbean we must create a community network that facilitates the growth, development of art in the Caribbean as well as the expansion and crosspollination of ideas between Caribbean artists. Fast forward to Sunday July 22nd and I am standing in Sheena Rose’s backyard, surrounded by a pulsating crowd of people who were all gathered for the “Also Us” art party. This party not only marked the culmination of a two week artist residency by Trinidadian photographer, Rodell Warner but it also celebrated the one year anniversary of Projects and Space. To describe this event in one word would prove to be difficult, however if I were to place it in the context of Cozier’s idea concerning art and artists in the Caribbean the singular word that comes to mind is “fulfillment.”
It welcomed poets, musicians, spoken word artists, writers, visual artists, jewelers and others who support the work of Projects and Space as it seeks to create a vibrant network for local, regional and international artists to connect and collaborate. Who was not congregating around the two running projector installations displaying works of Mark King and Rodell Warner found themselves perusing the book table covered with everything from comic books to the recently the published Caribbean contemporary photography book, Pictures From Paradise. Those involved in neither activity were either checking out the jewelry display, enthralled by the music of DJ Mainframe or were checking out the wall installations made from the collaborative effort of King, Rose and Warner. Throughout the entire night there was a constant hum of conversation as individuals greeted and gathered exchanging, thoughts and ideas about art and life.
The regional vision of Projects and Space was manifested in the presence of Rodell Warner, the artist in residence, a contemporary photographer from Trinidad. Across the street on an empty house lot, the product of Warner’s residency was projected onto a simple plywood screen. As it shone through the evening and night, there was always as small crowd huddle around it mesmerized by the colours and movement of Warner’s image of seaweed floating on water. This was Warner’s first time coming to Barbados and as such he had been given much information and stories concerning the island prior to his residency. He said “All the time everybody just kept telling me to check out the beach. You have to see the beaches. So when I came to Barbados, I thought I will check out the beaches but I never thought that it would become the focus of my work here.” Though the beach captured Warner’s attention, there was something else which piqued his interest more as he examined the landscape of Barbados. What could be so visually compelling for Warner that even our seas had to take a backseat when it came to his creative inspiration? In two words the answer to this question is, “THE BUSH.”
“All yuh have a lot ah bush, even in the sea” was the first thing Warner said to me when I asked him about his short film, the final product of his residency with Projects and Space.
Here is a picture of my face when I first heard that
:O
From a Barbadian perspective, bush is something bad, right? Look at our obsession with controlled and coiffed lawns, hedges and manicured roundabouts. Bush creates such contempt in the Barbadian psyche that the government has an entire department dedicated to de-bushing vacant lots and areas. Yes, I know that this is mainly for health reasons, however for the most part, to an average Barbadian wild natural landscapes often referred to as “bush” are deemed as eyesores which need to be eradicated. Conversely, tamed manicured landscapes are associated with beauty and are seen as contributing to the overall aesthetic charm of a place. So why would the bush of Barbados capture this photographer’s eye? Where the general Barbadian eye would have seen an ugly nuisance, Warner was able to see and capture the beauty of this aquatic bush that would have otherwise been cursed and scorned for threatening Barbados’s tourism reputation as a place of “pristine beaches.” Warner states “ When I first saw it, I was blown away, your beaches are mad beautiful but when I saw the seaweed, and the gold of it in the sunlight I just thought that this thing was so beautiful and I had to capture it.” By facilitating the relationship between Barbados and Trinidad, Projects and Space allowed the fresh eyes of Rodell Warner to not only create beautiful photographs and films but it gave him the opportunity to share with Barbados the idea that even in the things that we would deem scornful and would rather kill that there is also beauty.
Similar to Warner’s experience, when Mark King, a contemporary Barbadian photography went to Alice Yard in Trinidad for his own residency he also went with stories of Trinidad that he had heard. He was also able to place these stories in the physical context of their subjects in order to come up with his own artistic perspective. Specifically, King mentioned that he was constantly being told about the women of Trinidad. However, when he arrived at Alice Yard and began to explore the landscape of Trinidad, his mind rested on the plethora of birds on the island and formed a correlation between the Trinidadian woman and the idea of her being like a caged bird. The film projected on the side of Rose’s house at the “Also Us” party was not the product of this idea, rather it chronicled the process behind making such an idea into a work of art. The film was a compilation of all the interesting things he captured during his time in Trinidad as well as the set up and breakdown of the set he used to stage his artistic concept. Through both Warner’s and King’s experience art can be likened to a journey which starts one place but inevitably leads to someplace completely different but just as interesting.
Though the simultaneous timing of the two residencies may seem coincidental the relationship between Projects and Space in Barbados and Alice Yard in Trinidad is not. From the vision and projects of Alice Yard, Rose was inspired to create Projects and Space. Therefore the crisscross relationship between the two groups should be viewed not as merely coincidence but as a signal to the growing interconnectivity that is occurring as Caribbean artists reach out to each other in every way possible in order to encourage the growth and development of a regional community bonded by art.
In its very name and being the “Also Us” party reflected this inclusive process concerning the creation and expansion of art in the Caribbean. As Rose opened her home and her yard, she created a space for a usually separated artistic community to unite and become one. It is no doubt that the work which Projects and Space does is necessary for Barbados and the wider region, however it is a large vision for just one person to carry. From the imagery Cozier used in the quote which begins this piece, Projects and Space can be viewed as a boat. It is not a vessel made for one; Rose is always adamant to state that this group is not about her but it is about all of us. Therefore if we come together to help build the group, one day we will be able to launch our art from our own shores and into the wider world. However, if we don’t, there is a good chance that most of us will be stuck on our own tiny artistic islands, suffering from the isolation and frustration that is so common among Caribbean artist. Though it has only just past its first year, the inroads which Projects and Space has made in terms of connecting artists everywhere has been significant. Through this group many artists have found an embracing community from which to launch and expand their careers. (Ahemm- just look at yours truly if you want proof. I am a writer who got a chance to write this article just by being connected to Projects and Space.) This goes to show that Projects and Space is a viable investment opportunity for any artist who wants to widen the scope for his/her art. Therefore, I please continue to support the vision of Projects and Space. Whether this is coming up with a new project for the group, participating in or supporting already existing projects or simply contributing financially to the Projects and Space donation tot that is present at every event you can help ensure the continuation of this life-giving initiative. Finally, let us all wish, Projects and Space a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May you grown into a sturdy and seaworthy ship that not only brings others to us but also us to others!
P.S for the “Also Us” Party-
- Those fish cakes were on and popping. Big thanks to Sheena Rose’s family and friends who helped to cater the event and make it a big success. This sure shows that making art is a community effort.
- There were more than 50 maybe up to 70 people, I saw come in and out of the party over the evening into the night and boy could they boogie. Chama chama chama cham chameleon!!! BWAHAHAHA!
- A local poetry group, League of Extraordinary Poets (LXP) joined their usual Sunday session to the party and was in good attendance for Projects and Space’s Birthday. How awesome is that? If we don’t support each other as artists who will.
- What’s the next project? Where’s the next space? Let’s keep going people. We’re building our own ships instead of watching others sail by.
A very big crowd of artists, writers, fashion designers, poets, photographers, dancers and many more were all there attended the “Also Us!” Art Party
