#TBT | Throwing it back to the mesmerizing Seven Women Artists Exhibit at National Gallery West in 2015. Here’s a little art enthusiast captivated by Judith Salmon’s ‘Twenty Benches.’ 
Curated by Chief Curator O’Neil Lawrence, this showcase featured outstanding work by incredible female artists. To dive deeper into this artistic journey, search: ‘Seven Women Artists’. #TBT #ArtfulMemories #NGWExhibit
National Gallery West (NG West), the Montego Bay branch of the National Gallery of Jamaica, is pleased to present the exhibition Surreal Black. The exhibition will premier with a virtual tour on the NG West YouTube channel, on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 1:30pm. Surreal Black references varying stylistic approaches explored by featured artists, Carl Abrahams, Marvin Bartley, David Boxer, Leonard Daley, Colin Garland, Christopher Gonzalez, William “Woody” Josephs, Omari Ra, Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds and Osmond Watson. To view the virtual tour of the exhibition Surreal Black, please click on the following link:
NG West YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF9hUo9IyTPiRE5W0awHCfw.
The featured works reflect the use of images of dreamlike or irrational juxtapositions and abstract expressionism, to symbolize and critique real world phenomena, which – through this exhibition – are now being interpreted to inform discourse around topics relevant to the experience of people of the African Diaspora, including systemic racism and the resurgence to greater public prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. The works of art produced by artists in Jamaica are not static historical documents; their depictions of the black body are part of the narrative of our lives past and future, but particularly in this hopefully more socially aware moment.
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary closure of the museum since March, the National Gallery West continues to enhance its online offerings in response, as well as to continue our exhibition programming and serve our communities. This means that unfortunately, the usual physical opening activities for the Exhibitions, will continue to be suspended until further notice.
For additional information, please visit our website, www.montegobayculturalcentre.org or contact our office at (876) 940-6402 /971-3920
Today’s throwback features highlights from the Opening Reception of the ‘Spirit of Budhai’ exhibition which opened on November 17, 2019. The exhibition explored the works of Cuban born artist, Neville Budhai (1928-2001) which was curated by National Gallery West’s very own Assistant Curator, Monique Gilpin as her first major curatorial project.
The opening reception saw a slew of patrons who were quite elated to view the artistry of a man many, remembered to be a very humble and insightful individual . He created colourful interpretations of past and present Jamaican life, most of which were sublimely outlined with Indian ink and eventually saw himself as a full-fledged Jamaican.
Click here to read more: https://nationalgallerywest.wordpress.com/2019/11/06/spirit-of-budhai-opens-on-november-17-2019/
Click here to view more photos:https://nationalgallerywest.wordpress.com/2019/11/26/spirit-of-budhai-opening-reception-november-17-2019/
#TuesdayTips
Social distancing, quarantine and self isolation may begin to make us feel disconnected, disillusioned and lonely. The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ mental health hotline is available for those of us feeling the mental and emotional strains of the COVID crisis to call for support.
Mental Health Hotline: 888-NEW-LIFE (888-693-5433).
Monique Gilpin – Porcelain Disposition I, 2015 (detail).
Our throwback Thursday post is featuring behind the scenes shots of the installation of I Shall Return Again exhibition, one of our past exhibitions staged at National Gallery West in September 2018. The exhibition explored the work of five young Jamaican artists who have been making an impact on the local and international art scene, who all hail from Western Jamaica. It featured many new and recent paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography and film by the following artists: Monique Gilpin, Leasho Johnson, Nile Saulter, Storm Saulter and Cosmo Whyte.
To read more about I Shall Return Again, click the following link:
https://nationalgallerywest.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/i-shall-return-again-opens-september-9/
National Gallery West 