The Jamaica 50: Constructing a Nation exhibition, opened to the public on September 23, 2012 amidst the ongoing Jamaica 50 jubilee, with former Prime Minister Edward Seaga being the guest speaker. The timely Exhi-bition seeks to explore the beginnings and continuing de-velopment of Jamaica as a proud and independent nation. Being a collaborative effort, incorporating specimens, art pieces and artefacts from the Museums of History and Ethnography, National Gallery of Jamaica, Natural Histo-ry Museum and the African Caribbean Institute of Jamai-ca, Constructing a Nation takes a multidimensional ap-proach to exploring the last fifty years of our nation’s history. Former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, who played a key part in the nation’s history for more than 50 years, took the audience down memory lane as he shared the role of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in promoting in-dependence for Jamaica. In 1961, the JLP opposed the Federation of the West Indies and called for a referen-dum to decide the future of the country. Subsequent-ly, the party won the referendum, which gave the JLP the impetus to demand independence from Britain.

Constructing a Nation

Take a TourDr. Shani Roper, Curator, explains that “The Exhibi-tion is divided into three major sections: Section one examines Jamaica’s path to independence with the use of various media including: memorabilia, flags, im-ages and audiovisual selections. This section contains a wealth of information about the Federation move-ment, which is a critical part of our national identity.Secondly, the audience will look at the development of the national symbols in fauna and flora that shape our beautiful Jamaican landscape. The third sec-

tion concludes the experience for visitors, who explore how nation building has been advanced through politi-cal engagement as well as visual and performing arts.”Art work from key Jamaican artists, such as Cecil Baugh (Ceramicist), and Sydney McLaren (Painter), form part of the experience for visitors. Here, it is revealed that Jamaican artists – as participants in nation building – grapple with the past in an attempt to wrestle with the is-land’s present and future. There is also a listing of Festival Song Winners 1966 – 2012 for the audience to explore.

Institute of Jamaica - An Agency of the Ministry of Youth and Culture

The Quarterly Newsletter for the Institute of Jamaica Fourth Quarter 2012

(L - R) Dr. Jonathan Greenland, Director of the Museums of History and Ethnography Division looks on as Dr. Shani Roper, Curator gives a tour of the exhibition space to the Hon. Steadman Fuller, Custos of Kingston.

(L - R) Prof. Sir Roy Augier, Hon. Edward Seaga and Hon. Steadman Fuller engaged in conversation after the opening of the exhibition.

Thank you, Mr. Vivian Crawford

Ambassador Burchell Whiteman presents Mr. Crawford with a token, on behalf of the Council and the IOJ Staff.

Lisa Hanna, Minister of Youth and Culture chats with Mr. Crawford and Ambassador Whiteman after the function.

(L - R) Mr. Vivian Crawford (outgoing Executive Director) accepts token of appreciation from Ms. Gillian Corrodus, Deputy Director.

The charismatic and vibrant Vivian Crawford, who has served as Executive Director for the Institute of Jamaica for 12 years, has retired. He is admired for his dedica-tion in preserving and promoting the nation’s history. Though his professional training was not in the arts, he is seen as a “futuristic leader and a true visionary” in the field, notes Ambassador Burchell Whiteman, Chairman of the Council, at a farewell function held on December 27, 2012.

Mr. Crawford’s involvement in arts and culture extended beyond the doors of the Institute of Jamaica. He is one of the finest organists in the island and has been playing in the University Chapel, since 1966. He is a member of the Ward Theatre Foundation and was for many years on the board of the Edna Manley School of Visual and Perform-ing Arts.

We express our gratitude to Mr. Crawford for his years of service and committment to enriching the lives of his members of staff and the Jamaican people.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• Institute Pays Tribute to Barry Chevannes 4

• 2012 Musgrave Award Ceremony 6

• Installation of New IOJ Fellows 8

• The National Herbarium Then and Now 9

• 2012 Aaron Matalon Award Winner 10

• Latest Jamaica Journal 11

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Within our midst, some 93 years, Jamaica was gifted with a spirit who would come to em-body the title “Miss Jamaica” – Louise Bennett. Over the years, she achieved national and inter-national acclaim as an author-ity on and an exponent of folk

Dear Readers,As we embark on a new chapter of service to our visitors and cus-tomers, locally and internation-ally, we extend a big THANK YOU for the support you have offered us over the years. We are motivated by your confidence in the Institute and driven to fa-cilitate programmes that enrich your understanding and appre-ciation of our invaluable cultural heritage.

Jamaica. This is quite a monu-mental achievement in an era where, sadly as now, elements of our collective identity that are aligned in no uncertain terms with our African heritage were - and are - shunned, questioned and viewed with a discernable ambivalence.In attacking these prevailing views through promoting and celebrating local folk forms, and of our indigenous patois, Miss Lou was a true revolu-tionary. Decades prior to Cas-sidy’s Jamaica Talk or Carolyn Cooper’s articles in patois, and the inexorable public debate on the merits of teaching the local dialect in the public education system, Miss Lou gave us Jamai-can Folkways, Jamaica Singing

I take this opportunity to in-form you that our long standing Executive Director, Mr. Vivian Crawford, who has served our noble institution for 12 years, has retired. Mr. Crawford has earned his reputation as one of the nation’s foremost authori-ties on culture and his passion for the field has not gone un-noticed. Ms. Gillian Corrodus, former Deputy Director, and now Acting Executive Direc-tor succeed him. While we wish Mr. Crawford, success and good health as he enters this new chapter of his life; we assure you that his legacy will continue to

Games (1953) and her signature Jamaica Labrish in 1966. These publications were some of the pio-neering tools she used to educate the Jamaican audience on how to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate – if not to venerate – these sacred forms of our culture. Her methodology was to use cre-ative, yet effective means of instill-ing sensitivity toward our local forms, contrary to the generally erroneous philosophy, that what came from the bowels of the mass-es was less than worthy. Her radio programmes, including those aired on the BBC, the many Pantomimes – which introduced the Jamaican theatre audience to Anansi, Ring Ding – demonstrated the richness and vitality of our intangible heri-tage in tangible ways.

propel us to serve you even better.

In this issue, we recount events from the last quarter, such as the 2012 Musgrave Award ceremony and the Installation of two new Fellows. We also highlight a spe-cial tribute to the late Prof. Barry Chevannes.

Lastly, this issue of IOJ News could not have been possible without the assistance of our hardworking team, namely, Mr. Richard Bel-to, Mr. David Brown, Mr. Keron Campbell, Mr. Marlon Dixon, Dr. Veerle Poupeye, Dr. Shani Roper and Dr. Kim Robinson - Walcott.

Death of a Sales (WO)man - Part 1

Michka McCreathEditor/ Public Relations Officer

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In recognition of the life and work of noted Social Anthropologist, the late

Professor Barry Chevannes, the Institute or-ganized “the Barry Chevannes Day” in his honour at the Grateful Hill Primary School on October 18, 2012.

A graduate of the St. George’s College, Che-vannes attained his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Boston College, his Master’s in Sociology at the University of the West Indies and his Doctorate in Applied Anthropology from Columbia University, where he defended his thesis on the Rasta-fari movement in Jamaica.

Up to the time of his death, he was Chair of the Council of the Institute of Jamaica, Chairman of the Jamaican Justice System Reform Task Force, Co – chair of the CARI-COM Commission on Youth Development and was a member of the Peace Manage-ment Initiative. He also chaired the National Commission on Ganja in 2000 – 2001.

Chevannes championed for years, as the founder of Fathers Incorporated, a parent-ing support group that focuses on develop-

ing and instilling positive values in men. As the Chairman of the Institute of Jamaica, Professor Chevannes’ vision of Caribbean Culture has helped to shape institutions such as the National Gallery, where his input was greatly appreciated in exhibitions such as, Black as Colour (1998) which he opened; The Rainbow Valley: Everald Brown, A Ret-rospective (2004); and Intuitives III (2007).

He was a source of counsel on matters per-taining to popular art and culture, race and gender and, of course, Rastafari. Barry Chevannes also contributed to the field of music, as song composer and a singer, ac-claimed for his excellent baritone.

Professor Chevannes was the recipient of many awards including the Institute of Ja-maica Centenary Medal for work in the field of culture (1979); the Norman Man-ley Award for Excellence in the field of so-cial development (1997); the UWI Guild of Graduates Pelican Award for contribu-tion in the field of anthropology (1998); the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in research, training, University Service and Commander of Distinction.

Institute Pays Tribute to Barry Chevannes

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Highlights from the Grateful Hill Primary School

Students and teachers from the Grateful Hill Primary School engage in a moment of silence with IOJ staff to honour the life and work of Prof. Barry Chevannes.

Pauletta Chevannes receives an Award on behalf of her late husband.

Ras JaJa donates a copy of his book to the school’s library.

(L-R) Pauletta Chevannes, widow of Barry Chevannes; Mrs. Gloria Lewis, Chairman of School Board; and Mr. George Moodie unveil plaque of outstanding acheivers.

Ras JaJa, poet, entertains the audience with a poem from his recently published anthology titled “The Vibes.”

Mr. Vivian Crawford, Executive Director and Mr. Bernard Jankee, Director of ACIJ/JMB share smiles with students. 5

For his contribution to Medical Sciences, the Council of the Insti-tute of Jamaica is pleased to award Prof. Horace Fletcher the Gold Musgrave Medal.

For his contribution to Art and Art Education, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica is pleased to award Prof. Bryan McFarlane the Silver Musgrave Medal.

For its contribution to Literature, the Council is pleased to award The Calabash Literary Festival the Silver Musgrave Medal.

For her contribution to Linguistics, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica is pleased to award Dr. Pauline Christie the Silver Musgrave Medal.

For her contribution to Library Development, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica is pleased to award Mrs. Arlene Patricia Ononaiwu the Bronze Musgrave Medal.

For its contribution to Music, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica is pleased to award the Herbert Morrison Technical High School Band the Silver Musgrave Medal.

2012 Musgrave Awardees

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For her contribution to Science, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica is pleased to award Dr. Ellen Campbell - Grizzle the Bronze Musgrave Medal.

For its contribution to Literature, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica is pleased to award The Poetry Society of Jamaica the Bronze Musgrave Medal.

For his contribution to Entrepreneurship, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica is pleased to award Mr. Richaydo Farquharson the Youth Musgrave Medal.

Absent were: Gold Musgrave Medal recipient Prof. Emeritus Edward Baugh recognised for his contribution to Literature; Silver Musgrave Medal recipients Mr. Emmanuel “Rico” Rodriguez for his contribution to Music and Mr. John Henry Thompson for his contribution to Science; Bronze Musgrave Medal recipients Ebony G. Patterson for her contribution to Art and Dr. Donald “Don” Shirley for his contribution to Music.

His Excellency The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen and Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna stands with the awardees present for the 2012 Musgrave Award Cermony, held on October 9, 2012.

2012 Musgrave Awardees

His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen conferred upon Dr. Barbara Gloudon and Professor Sylvia Wynter, the title “Fellow of the Institute of Jamaica,” in a ceremony held at the Little Theatre

on October 29, 2012. Elected by the Council of the Institute, Dr. Gloudon and Professor Wynter have earned their places as honorary members of Council and are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Council.

Dr. Barbara Gloudon or “Mrs. G,” as she is affectionately called is one of Jamaica’s most respected senior jour-nalists. For her contribution to journalism and the arts, she was awarded the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the Order of Distinction (OD), and an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt), from the University of the West Indies.

Professor Sylvia Wynter is a Jamaican novelist, dramatist, critic and writer of essays. In 2010, she was awarded the Order of Jamaica (OJ) for services in the fields of education, history and culture. She is one of the founders of the Jamaica Journal, the premier publication of the Institute of Jamaica. In the absence of Professor Wynter at the installation ceremony, her son Christopher Carew accepted the award instrument and replied on her behalf.

Stella Seh, Dr. Gloudon’s anthology of the highly satirical “Stella” columns that flourished through the 1970s, is the first column to use the Jamaican Creole on a regular basis. Her personal use of both the stan-dard form of English and Jamaican Creole is testimony to the fact that both can and should happily co – exist.

Theatrical productions such as, Moonshine Anansi, Hail Columbus, Pirate Princess, Trash, and the ground-breaking “Augus Mawnin,” serve to reinforce her be-lief in the critical need for Jamaicans to recognize, preserve, and celebrate Jamaica’s cultural heritage.

Professor Wynter’s career is a synthesis of aesthetic and intellectual concerns, emanating from her roles as actress, dancer, playwright, novelist, academic and cultural theorist. On graduating from the Kings College London, she contributed radio dramas for the BBC’s “Caribbean Voices” and “Third Programme.”

In Jamaica, she worked to develop a local tradi-tion of theatre arts. She also wrote a radio adapta-tion of Roger Mais’ novel, Brother Man. Her only novel, The Hills of Hebron was published by Simon and Schuster in 1962, the year of our independence.

Installation of New IOJ Fellows

Dr. the Hon. Barbara Gloudon, OJ, OD Professor Sylvia Wynter, OJ

The Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ), originally the Science Museum and subse-quently the Natural History Di-vision, is one of the original divi-sions of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) from its inception in 1879. The NHMJ is the scientific arm of IOJ and presently houses both the national botanical collections and the zoological collections. The National Botanical Collec-tions (or National Herbarium IJ) possesses over 130,000 botanical specimens representing all plant groups as well as a seed, fruit and wood collection.

The National Herbarium Then and Now

In 1962, the year of our Indepen-dence, the national botanical col-lections housed approximately 47,000 specimens, with the ma-jority of the collections represent-ing flowering plants and ferns. Since then our collections have been significantly increased by around 275 percent. The national herbarium is now one of the fin-est for West Indian Plants and is internationally acclaimed. Speci-mens in the collections are pre-dominantly Jamaican but it also consists of specimens from most Caribbean countries as well as other countries in the Americas.

Technological advancements have strengthened the department, which is now engaged in the de-velopment of a database of the entire collections. Additionally, we are employing GIS to enhance the understanding of plant distri-bution and mapping. Jamaica is a biodiversity hotspot that boasts almost 30 percent endemism with respect to its flora and this is a tes-tament of its importance in the

Caribbean region, especially the Greater Antilles. The her-barium is therefore credited for its invaluable research potential and remains a relevant resource for studying and understanding the flora of the region. Bota-nists and Naturalists, have been visiting Jamaica and collect-ing natural history specimens long before 1879. Notably, Sir Hans Sloane’s collections from Jamaica formed the nucleus of the collections at the world renowned British Museum of

Natural History. Today, the staff of the herbarium continues to collect, store, pre-serve, research, investigate and disseminate information on our natural history. They have been involved in local and interna-tionally funded research projects that focus on Jamaican flora. In the present dispensation where species are becoming extinct at alarming rates across the world; the importance of the national collections is solidified as it helps to paint the backdrop upon which Jamaica has evolved and informs critical decisions on environmen-tal policies and issues.

The Way Forward

Specimen of Sloanea jamaicensis (Break -axe Tree) named in honour of Sir Hans Sloane.

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“Over time my work has been expanding in scale and so one of the pieces is a wall piece 10 feet long, titled Dreaming Backwards. This piece brings together many of the recurring themes in my work, referencing our collective history/memory, and is realized in materials which are environmentally relevant [such as a palm frond, bird feathers and man-made found objects]. The second piece traverses the defined boundaries of jewellery and sculpture [and] is titled Alchemy of Promise. It is crafted in local mahogany and bronze with wearable [jewellery accents] and jumbie beads. It represents a meditation on the way forward,” states Thomas – Girvan in a recent interview about her work in the 2012 National Biennial.

Though she is best known as a jeweller, Jasmine’s recent work has moved beyond the conventional jewellery formats. Her work reflects poetically – and ironically – on the human condition and current events, with specific reference to the Caribbean. With its exquisite juxtaposition of found and hand-crafted objects, Jasmine’s work relies on the combined poetic resonance of image, object and material and it often exists in dialogue with liter-ary sources: Dreaming Backwards, for instance, has inscribed the following excerpt from a poem by Octavio Paz:

Jasmine Thomas-Girvan, jeweller and sculptor, has been awarded the 2012 Aaron Matalon Award for being deemed the artist who made the most outstand-ing contribution to the National Biennial, exhibiting at the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ). The award was granted by NGJ’s Exhibitions and Acquisitions Committee, who opined that Jasmine’s two mixed media sculptures: Dream-ing Backwards, a wall-based assemblage, and Occupy (Alchemy of Promise), which is freestanding; are truly indicative of recent developments in Jamaican art.

Jasmine Thomas-Girvan was born 1961 in Jamaica. She attended the Par-sons School of Design in New York, where she received a BFA in Jewellery and Textile Design and was awarded the Tiffany Honour Award for Excellence. She also received a Prime Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Jamaica, and she was the recipient of a Commonwealth Foundation Arts award in 1996. Jasmine has also made a number of public commissions, one of which was presented to the Queen of England. Her work has been exhibited in the USA, Jamaica, Trinidad, Venezuela and Mexico, and she recently had a solo exhibition, titled Resonance, at Hi-Qo Gallery in Kingston. She currently lives and works in Trinidad.

JASMINE THOMAS-GIRVAN WINS 2012 AARON MATALON AWARD

We must dream backwards,Towards the source,We must row back up theCenturies, beyond infancy,Beyond the beginning,Beyond the waters of beyond

We must break down the wallBetween man and manAnd reunite what wasSurrendered

While the image of the man rowing against the forward-moving forces of the world may seem like a symbol of human futility, it is in effect a hopeful image of self-discovery and reconciliation.

Thomas - Girvan’s Occupy (Alchemy of Promise), mixed media detail with bronze and wood.

Dreaming Backwards, Mixed media detail with bronze, wood, found objects and feathers. 10

This special issue of the Jamaica Journal com-memorates the fiftieth anniversary of the coun-try’s independence by exploring different ways in which Jamaica has had an influence on the world. The lead article, “Sports in Jamaica since Indepen-dence: A Panoramic View” by Patrick Robinson, celebrates the country’s outstanding achievements in that international arena. This theme is reflected in the Books and Writers section where we feature an extract from Valerie Wint’s book on her cel-ebrated Olympic medallist father, Arthur Wint. There is also an extract from Diane Browne’s chil-dren’s book Island Princess in Brooklyn where a Jamaican child describes to her American school-mates the experience of watching an Olympics race on TV back home in Jamaica.

Two articles feature different aspects of the influ-ences of Jamaica’s foreign policy: Holger Henke examines “Jamaica’s International Relations – Be-tween the West and the Rest”; and Dr. Carlton Da-vis writes on “Michael Manley’s Foreign Policy of

Now Available: Jamaica Journal vol. 34, nos. 1-2JAMAICA GONE ABROAD, PART 3: TO THE WORLD

Non-alignment”. Extracts of interviews with the late Ambassador Dudley Thompson, who played a pivotal role in the Pan-African movement, and with internationally renowned performer/hu-man rights activist Harry Belafonte, continue this theme. Meanwhile Dale Robinson’s account of his recent visit to Malawi tells of the surprisingly in-tense admiration of the Jamaican culture that he encountered among the people there. Novelist, Gillian Royes entertainingly describes how she reinvented herself as a writer in order to “pierce” the mainstream American publishing market, by landing a contract with one of the USA’s largest publishing houses.

Articles in the general section include Omar Da-vies’ “Top 100 Jamaican Songs 1957-2007”, a study by Summer Ragosta and co-authors of “Historical Influences on the Development of Indigenous Ja-maican Maroon Ethnomedicine”, and the first in-stalment of a two-part article by Andrew Pearson and colleagues on Hellshire.

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