Institute of Jamaica Hosts ‘Paint It’ to Re-Launch Saturday Openings

The Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), East Street Complex in downtown, Kingston, will once again open to the public on Saturdays, beginning April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This re-launch will take place with a special event entitled, ‘Paint It’, at the East Street Junior Centre from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

‘Paint It’ will feature activities, such as body painting, face painting and henna designing, spearheaded by body artistry designers, Eon + Robby Free Spiriz Jamaica and Henna Threads. The IOJ first introduced Saturday openings on a six-month trial basis last year, which ended in October.

Director of the Programmes Coordination Division at the IOJ, Jacqueline Bushay, told JIS News that the resumption of Saturday openings was another opportunity for the public to have greater access to the IOJ and to allow more people to view the large collection of artefacts and art treasures.

She noted that the trial period was well supported, mostly by persons who were unable to visit the exhibitions on other days.

“The tours of the exhibitions are free of cost on a Saturday. We will ask for a contribution for a particular event that we may have, but the exhibitions are free of cost,” she added.

Mrs. Bushay said visitors will have the opportunity to tour the exhibitions titled, ‘Rastafari’ and ‘Call & Response: Drums, Masques and Spirits’ at the Water Lane and Tower Street galleries, respectively.  She added that the Natural History Museum of Jamaica will highlight the butterfly.

Other activities on the opening day will include henna designing and a presentation by Henna artiste, Mark Samuels.

“We will be doing chalk work with the children, so they can come and do their own design and get involved with design work. It is going to be great fun, learning and events that the entire family can come and be a part of,” she said.