Art Exhibition at Jamaican Embassy in Washington Marks Independence

The Jamaican Embassy in Washington D.C. has been transformed into a beautiful art gallery with paintings by Jamaican artists Webster and Charlene Campbell on display as part of activities to celebrate the country’s 51^st anniversary of Independence.

The exhibition, entitled ‘Back When…’ had its official opening on August 5 and will run throughout the week until August 9.

Addressing the launch, Jamaica’s Ambassador His Excellency, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, commended the husband and wife team on the evocative nature of their work, pointing out that the more than 30 paintings and 50 prints on display provide memorable glimpses of life in Jamaica.

“These pieces which feature aspects of Jamaica’s geography, history and culture, which in some cases give us a fascinating perspective on life in the present, represent the best of Jamaica,” said Ambassador Vasciannie.

The artists invited the large gathering of more than 75 Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica, to reflect on the country’s history and traditions and they expressed a desire to pass on their historical and artistic knowledge to future generations.

The ‘Back When…’ exhibition also incorporates photography from the Resolution Project of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), which is designed to encourage Jamaican students to appreciate their environment and to reflect on social challenges.  This has resulted in outstanding photographs from various parishes of Jamaica.

Among the images on display are: ‘The Old Iron Bridge, St. Catherine’; ‘Bruckins Party’; ‘View from Firefly, St. Mary’; ‘Mento Band’; and ‘The Alley Church, Clarendon’.

Among those in attendance were Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin; Barbados Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency John Beale; former Jamaican Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Curtis Ward and Mrs. Ward; renowned Jamaican artist and attorney, Donnette Cooper; author and hand-writing expert Beverly East; and Dean at Morgan State University, Professor Joseph Whittaker.

The Washington based Independence celebrations commenced on August 3 with the Jamaica Association of Maryland (JAM) Independence Ball followed by a service of thanksgiving on Sunday, August 4 at Howard University Dunbarton Chapel in Washington DC. The activities will end on August 11 with JAM’s annual independence thanksgiving service at the Baltimore Central New Testament Church of God, commencing at 5:00 p.m. with the guest preacher being Bishop Stanley Murray.