A Poor Show – An Aghast Public
Bland, or should I say just downright tasteless. That was the response from most persons who attended the opening of the final year visual arts students show at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and preforming Arts. Not to mention the disappointment and outward, verbal display of anger of those who were apt to be more open and vocal without fear or hypocrisy.
I too was disappointed, disgusted, angry, just plain unadulterated sick to the core. I found myself wandering from room to room hoping to rest my eyes on something that would say “come” or “yes!!!. But my eyes would be sorely disappointed as room after room after room had nothing of substance – excepting textiles of course, which had some well thought out and executed batik and screen printed designs on fabric. The clothing line from the various artists were of reasonable merit.
As for painting- my idea of painting, well that was nonexistent. But then someone took the time out to explain, or should I say give me a “schooling” as to what painting really is in the now – “Painting is no longer painting in the sense of painting because art has evolved.” No wonder Images cut from cartridge paper and pasted along the full length of a 20 feet wall was accepted as painting from a final year painting student who had the gall – the guts – the audacity to mount it and parade in front of the scores of attendees with pride-less, pretentious poise –‘I am an artist. I guess even the keepers of The Museum of Modern Art would smile joyfully – they would need no excuse to reject the inexcusable “things” being shown at the college-no need to add to the rubbish they already have.
It is obvious that the useless, the filthy, the ordinary, the mundane, and the scatological are now the remit of art from an institution of “higher learning.” It is also obvious that the institution has no direction, and seem to be operating unpiloted. Obvious too is the fact that both instructors and students are inept to produce art which is effectual.
Oh my, oh my! The department of jewelry was empty and there was also no showing for ceramics- suffice it to say the ceramic instructor seemed very unperturbed by the absence of graduate student from his department and actually articulated happiness and went on to say it “afforded him some needed rest.” How pathetic. A lame defense in the face of an obvious breakdown in the ability of the department and the institution to attract students.
Looking at the show made it difficult to tell if the students had any talent or whether the talent they might have had was taken away, wiped from their hard drives and then inputted with junk for some schizoid substance which made them hallucinate a fantasy world wherein art patrons will spend their money on rubbish; or to make them think that what they have done will be impressive enough that they will be able to survive in the world doing those things as art.
How could I fail to mention the lack of good presentation. Poor, very poor. Large canvasses pasted on walls with unrefined edges, some mounted lean and out of balance, oh, and there was a display in one of the “Visual Communication” rooms that was falling off the wall. The displays in the sculpture rooms were of non effect with even one room so dark attendees had to be using the light from their cell phones to light their way and to get a glimpse of what was displayed. Such a travesty of art and an iniquitous act perpetrated against the student whose work was there on display.
The institution needs to take both a retrospective and an introspective look. It needs to define its role as an art institution of higher learning. It needs to discard its selfish, myopic vision of art and look at the trends and needs of society far and beyond the now. It needs to put the empowerment of students and the creative development of society first. For too long it has put on display the incompetence of the teachers and the laziness of students, imposing on the public works and ideas which are of little or no merit.
If Jamaica is to realize it’s true creative potential, our young people will need a complete and competitive education in the field of visual arts. They will need an arts education that includes deep expansive knowledge in the arts. They will need the ability to think critically and creatively. They will need the ability to reason analytically and to communicate effectively.
If Edna Manley College is to assist in these areas it has to once again become an educational institutions with primary focus on the visual arts – illustration, painting, sculpture, photography, and the graphic arts. If in the very near future and starting now it fails to adjust and function as such, I would suggest, for the benefit of our society, that we revert to the master and apprentice system which, in former years yielded extraordinary and praiseworthy results.
Art students need praxis. It is therefore instructive that those persons who have the necessary technical skills and a penchant for pedagogy, should open ateliers to train those who are apt in art.
I here suggest, that if Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts is to be respected and remain relevant in a forward moving society, the administrators and teachers need to be pragmatic. They need to accept the fact that the institution, like a ship that has veered off course, has run aground, has sprung a leak and is in need of urgent attention if it is to float and sail again. Patching will not be adequate, it would sooner sink than float; an overhaul is a must. Only then will the institution produce anything praiseworthy.
As for those students who have just graduated – my heart is with them as I wish them all the best. To those who are still enrolled and those to enroll, do demand the highest standard of art education, that’s what you are paying for.
Written by:
Mortimer McPherson
Fine Artist/Art Educator