US Embassy hosts birthday celebrations for President Lincoln on Jamaican soil

TWO EVENTS are being organized in celebration of the Bicentennial of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-2009). The events slated for April 1, will take place in Montego Bay, by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Public Affairs, in partnership with the Jamaica Library Service and Montego Bay Community College. 

Both events will include discussions with Lincoln scholar and author of the acclaimed “Lincoln: A Life,” Professor Michael Burlingame, Professor Emeritus of History, Connecticut College.  Professor Burlingame will talk about Lincoln’s life and legacy; his role as the “great emancipator” through the abolition of slavery in the United States in 1863; comparisons between Lincoln and Obama; and the relevance of Lincoln’s life and philosophy in the 21^st century.

SCHEDULE 

3:00 pm                Hanover Public Library, Lucea, Hanover

                             A discussion with Professor Michael Burlingame on “Abraham Lincoln: A Legacy of Freedom”

 

5:30 pm                Montego Bay Community College

A public forum with Professor Burlingame on “Lincoln and Obama: From the Emancipation Proclamation to the First African American President”

 

As you are probably aware, President Barack Obama has often invoked President Lincoln’s name, and was sworn in as President on Lincoln’s Bible.  President Obama has been greatly influenced by Lincoln’s political and personal philosophy and there are many comparisons between the two Presidents.  In 2005 he wrote an article for Time magazine, “What I see in Lincoln’s Eyes.”

 

Former Vice President Al Gore said in August 2008:  “The experience Lincoln’s supporters valued most…was his powerful ability to inspire hope in the future at a time of impasse…He was known chiefly as a clear thinker and a great orator, with a passion for justice and a determination to heal the deep divisions of our land.  He insisted on reaching past partisanship and regional divides to exalt our common humanity.  In 2008, once again, we find ourselves at the end of an era with a mandate from history to launch another new beginning.  And once again, we have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition.”

 

Loving Jozza at Gallart, Florida

Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

MIAMI, Florida:

ITS ALL ABOUT love.
No matter where you turn throughout Gallery Art, Aventura, Biscayne Boulevard, Florida, you are bound to be energised by the works of Jozza, from the heart out. He certainly puts his heart in his art as he playfully visualizes the main objects of his affections on several planes. These include nature and animals, but there are certainly some aspects of his own life’s experiences which he relates through his acrylics. Sometimes with Biblical references like from The Garden of Eden. Putting the pop in popular, “Jozza expresses love through animated lines, shapes, happy colors and faces he uses to pattern his budgeted space.” 

His works are for sure inspirational and creative enough to make you fall in love with life and humanity, while enjoying lessons in courtship and reproduction.
See for instance One Love, Kitty in Love, and About Love from almost 48 precision pieces rotated at the Gallery. As if hit by Cupid’s bow, you fall in love with Jozza by the terms of his artscapes.

PROFILEiNbrief

BORN Hilondria, Brazil
STATUS: Married with two children
SELF-TAUGHT
INSPIRED BY His mother Maria
SPECIAL INTERESTS include soccer, law
EXHIBITIONS include Biscayne Tower, downtown Miami, New York Expo

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties uploading photographs. As soon as relating issues are resolved, photographs will be uploaded. Please understand. Thanks in advance and for your continued support.

For more on our art and culture, see also the Gleaner’s art section.

KITE FESTIVAL FOR MOUNTAIN VIEW

Come April 18th, the Negril Education Environment Trust (NEET) will join forces with the Eastern Bell Education Project who will be hosting Mountain View’s first annual kite festival. The festival will be held at the Mountain View Oval, currently being used as a football field, located across from the Excelsior High School.
Jamaicans will have opportunity to vie for awards for their creativity in kite design. In strengthening the winds for the day’s activities, NEET will be giving away over 2,000 educational and leisure books.

 The kite festival, according to Member of Parliament, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett is another step towards improving the image of the Mountain View area, and its immediate environs. It is being staged by the Eastern Bell Education Project, the brainchild of Dr Bartlett, and working within the Mountain View Community.

Detailing the bifocal objective, Dr Bartlett, explains that the festival will first of all expose the Oval as a viable venue for hosting various events. According to him, the venue is ideal for events such as crusades, fun days, aside from its usual use as a football field. Secondly, he envisions the venue as the permanent home of Mountain View¹s annual kite festival, at this time of the year.
Although major sponsorship has not been sought, there have been some contributions made to the event not designed for fund raising. So far, The Tac Printery and the OAaSIS International are two of the four companies supporting with skills and services.
Jamaica Fun Fun has also joined forces to supply a bounceabout and a merry go round for the day.
Other attractions are:
o        Awards for the best, most original and longest staying kite in the air
o        Donation of books to children in the area
o        Clowns and Face-painting
NEET’s contribution is a special thrust towards encouraging reading habits in Jamaicans. NEET is the charity arm of Travellers Beach Resorts, Negril.

Portmore’s “Family Fun Fest” set for Easter

 

ONCE AGAIN the Negril Education Environment Trust (NEET) is on board giving families a great opportunity to read and learn, and have fun together. On Easter Monday, April 13, Jamworld, Portmore will again be the venue for “Family Fun Fest”.

NEET, the charity arm of Travellers Beach Resorts will donate over 4000 books to the day’s success.

Last year Pal Production, in collaboration with Jamaica Fun Fun, hosted the first staging of the event at Jamworld for residents of Portmore. According to CEO of both companies, and the event’s organizer, David Benton, the first staging was a challenge, but well attended enough to make it an annual family event.

Jamaica Fun Fun will offer:

l      Water Slides

l      Rock Climber

l      Go-Kart

l      Bounce-a-Bout (3 types)

l      Clowns and Face-painting

 

To complete this year’s package, top artistes, working with Palz Production, have committed to delivering igniting performances. The 2008 winners of Dancing Dynamites, Granny, comedians Apache Chief and Sarge and Jamaica’s Michael Jackson are slated to perform. Also in the lineup are singers George Nooks, Etana, and Elephant Man. The recently-launched Dance Expressions School will be represented.

Over a million dollars worth of prizes including household items, televisions, x-boxes, videos, and, over 4,000 books, will be given away. Added attractions will be a treasure hunt.

Major Sponsors include:

Kingston Hireage, UDC, Seprod, D&S Auto Parts, Traveller’s Beach Resort, Negril.

 

Caribbean Books Shine at International Children’s Book Fair

 

– BOLOGNA, Italy: 

 When the 4-day Bologna Children’s Book Fair opened yesterday, Monday, March 23^rd, the welcome for Caribbean books went as warm as the island rays. 

A team of electricians, belted the Bob Marley’s  ‘Trench Town Rock’, and glimpsing the hint of the Jamaican flag, shouted “Giamaica is here,” “Prego, Giamaica!” between verses.

In its debut appearance at the Bologna Fair – the largest children’s book fair in the world – a collection of Caribbean children’s books is winning fast fans and high praise.

 

Coordinated by the Caribbean Publisher’s Network (CAPNET), the collection boasts more than 80 children’s books from around the region and by authors and illustrators from the Caribbean Diaspora.  Among the titles are 20 new works from the Jamaican Ministry of Education’s Literary 123 collection. Included are Cricket Is My Game and Max and Me by Barbadian author Jason Cole; Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band, a book and CD project by Grammy® award winning artiste, Shaggy; and many titles from across the region from MacMillan Caribbean.

Publishers Represented at Bologna 2009 include:

Arawak Publishing

Brightwater Press

Carlong Publishers

Ian Randle Publishers

Jackmandora

LMH Publishing

Macmillan Caribbean

Ministry of Education, Jamaica

Reggae Pickney

Southwark Council

 

“We’ve been really well received here,” says CAPNET’s Kellie Magnus, who coordinated the collection for the fair and whose Little Lion series is also part of the exhibit.  “We’ve had a lot of interest from European librarians and teachers who are interested in work that promotes multiculturalism and diversity.”  Among them, Renee van Oosterom, a librarian from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, who remarked that the growing number of black and biracial children in her city, many of whom are of Caribbean descent, had difficulty finding books that reflected their identities. Victoria Hill, a librarian from the Brooklyn Public Library in New York, U.S.A, expressed surprise at the size of the collection and interest in acquiring titles and arranging author visits for the borough’s large Caribbean population.

 

This response, says Magnus, points to the need for Caribbean authors and publishers to showcase their work outside the region.  She took the collection to Bologna on the heels of a similar exhibit in Washington, DC, which introduced the books to the Caribbean Diaspora there.  “There are great children’s books coming out of the Caribbean now,” she says, “but we need to do a better job of promoting them to each other and to the international market.” 

 

The Bologna Book Fair ends Thursday, March 26.  Magnus hopes to replicate and expand the exhibit with shows across the region, and in cities in the U.S. and U.K. with large Caribbean populations.  Plans are already underway for a Family Book Fair in Jamaica in May, to be coordinated by the Authors and Publishers Sub-Cluster of Jamaica Trade and Invest.

RIDDIM DRIVEN APPAREL AND OTHER TOP DESIGNERS TO SHOWCASE THEIR BRAND AT “FASHION ON THE BEACH”

New York, NY:

RIDDIM DRIVEN APPAREL a division of powerhouse record company VP Records Music Group has been confirmed to both sponsor and display their line at Fashion on the Beach, this Friday March 20, 8:00p.m at the prestigious Clinton Hotel in Miami Beach.

The latest reggae inspired brand of clothing and accessories from the world’s largest independent label and distributor of Reggae music-VP Records, Riddim Driven Apparel will bring their unique hybrid of culture inspired lifestyle brand with premium boutique edge and quality to the already impressive lineup of designers booked to hit the runway at “Fashion on the Beach.”

Marketing Director of VP Records/Riddim Driven Apparel, Stephanie Chin says her company got on board as a sponsor because “Fashion on the Beach” offers a great opportunity to showcase her company’s commitment to music, people, fashion and culture. When asked why people should go to the show to see the Riddim Driven Brand, Chin said “If they are looking to truly enjoy themselves and to witness a clothing line with a rich history that appeals to a personal style free from the constraints of pre-conceived notions (they should attend).” She went on to say “They will have the chance to view clothing that comes from an inspirational authentic source unlike any other.”

Also added to the lineup is designer Atchlive Dorelien out of Miami. With an impressive resume of achievements that includes working with Jennifer Lopez’s Swimwear line, Enyce, Sean Jean, Ms, Swimwear, Akademiks, Honey Child Maternal Wear, Phat Pharm and Baby Phat owned by Russel Simmons, Dorelien has produced and coordinated numerous fashion shows, coached models and helped style and coordinate Jessica Simpson’s new line of swim wear during Mercedes Benz fashion week. His line consists of “formal, semi-formal and evening wear with a touch of urban accents alongside tropical Caribbean, thus culminating in an eclectic blend of various styles.”

Previously confirmed designers for Fashion on the Beach include 2009 (Jamaican) Youth View Award recipient for favorite clothing brand- La Pluma Negra (The Black Feather), Posche Designs, Keneea Linton Designs who has produced wardrobes for Miss Jamaica Universe, Miss Jamaica World 2008, and Caribbean Fashion Week as well as Veneno by Melvie Tucker, Ketty Hernandez Designs, Jeannine Prats of “J Prats” and Dina Medina Designs.

Embedded in the package is a musical tribute courtesy of a dynamic duo known as “The Last.” The pair will present their unique blend of rock, roots, reggae, pop and hip-hop at what promises to be an exciting and energetic evening of “Fashion on the Beach.”

Expected to gain enormous support from a hip, young, trendy audience as well as media houses from around the world “Fashion on the Beach” presented by Synjen Magazine and VibezzTV promises to deliver on their unique slogan - Our Style, Our Entertainment, Our Culture, Our Vibezz.

Following the energetic display of fashion and music, the official after party will continue at the same location (Clinton Hotel- 825 Washington Ave., Miami Beach-33139) until 5:00 am.

Support for “Fashion on the Beach” is generously provided by Vibezztv.com, Synjenmag.com, John Alessi P.R Firm, Mackenzie Model Agency Inc., Video Media Concepts, Freemindphotography.com, Lasheik Inc., Kelly Mobile Communications, VP RECORDS, Riddim Driven Clothing, Stewart Brothers Inc., Future Roots Jewelry (FRJ), Carl’s Seafood, Transformation Media Group, Ombrage Model Agency, Sheldon B Photography, Brownstone Salon and Day Spa, La Pluma Negra and Star Time Limo Service.

Shhhhhh says Peter Lloyd

By Prism, Contributor

AT A TIME, when the Broadcasting Commission continues to crusade the
airwaves, multi-talented actor/singer/songwriter *Peter Lloyd*, with his
ingenious wits is cleverly pushing the musical envelope with his new
controversial single and video entitled *’Shh’* aka *’The Whisper Song’*.

The video shot on location in New Kingston was mastermind by Lloyd himself
while editing credits went to new kid on the block, *’Richard Lim’*.  *’Shh’
* is a first for *Peter Lloyd*,  **** who is heard deejaying on the track in
a very low tone instead of his usual melodic singing.

The song inherits a lot of sexual undertones which are subliminally hidden
using metaphoric references as in the lines,
*”my girl mi want lean you gainst the wall
plant me tree and mek it grow tall”*

The controversial single written and co-produced by *Lloyd* **for the *Black
Light* label is sure to sparks a few debates with its captivating lyrics
bolstered by the sensual visuals. Ironically the video does not feature the
usual panoramic scenery which *Peter’s* directing usually highlights.

The project was shot as a mini-video, even though the original song is
almost four minutes *(4:00)* in length. Lloyd explained that he wanted to
take an unorthodox approach instead of the normal full length video format
to which the industry is accustomed. The video is slated for release in the
coming weeks.

CIDA DONATES SHAGGY CURRICULUM BOOK TO BASIC SCHOOLS

“It’s great to get the awards, but there is no greater reward than seeing the smiles on the children’s faces!” was Grammy Winning Artiste Shaggy’s response when he received praises today, March 11, 2009 at the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust. Shaggy was witnessing the presentation ceremony of almost 700 copies of his children’s CD and Storybook, “Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band” featuring the voice of Shaggy, to corporate area early childhood institutions (ECI’s).

 

Children and Principals from the Escarpment Road Basic School, the Mona Commons Basic School, the Providence Methodist Basic School and the Hermitage Basic School happily received copies of the books from donors, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) represented by Counselor and Head of Development for CIDA, Mrs. Lorraine Belisle.

With the addition of the book to the Early Childhood Curriculum Resource List for Jamaica, a CIDA Programme - the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) -facilitated the donation of the books and the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust. The books will be distributed to the ECI’s.

Mrs. Lorraine Belisle expressed her pleasure in approving the CA$10,000.00 purchase, stating that the Canadian Government has played a long and important role in ensuring the provision of quality education and care to children worldwide. “It is our hope that the success of this unique educational product will pave the way for other edu-tainment materials that enable kids to play while learning. “Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band” exemplifies the best use of Jamaican talent and skills for the learning process.”

Mrs. Ceceile Minott, Project Director of the Trust said, “This is an exciting moment for us, as we have come a long way since this project was started two years ago. We thank you Shaggy and hope you continue to do more to get good children’s learning material like this one into the school system.” 

Mrs. Dorna Wright, a senior education officer in the Early Childhood Unit offered her deep gratitude to the star, stating, “It is an exceptionally special occasion for us at the Early Childhood Unit, when multidisciplinary forces, such as the production team on this project come in to help us deliver quality education to the children of Jamaica.”

Shaggy thanked the directors of Reggae Pickney Ltd., siblings, Jana and Rupert Bent III, for their hard work and perseverance in producing the book with accompanying narration and music CD. “Between my recent activities and this book, I feel a new sense of purpose with my work and life. Part proceeds of this book will also go to the Bustamante Hospital for Children.”

 

Artistes to gather to ‘Unite the people’

Unite the People

 

ON SATURDAY, APRIL 4, entertainers will come together again for Unite the People at the Wayz Beach, Negril.

The event is being put on by Kings of Kings International, in association with Seawind Resort – Negril and Edonna Promotions for the fourth year.

Unite the People is an annual event to benefit numerous charities such as Haile Selassie School, Maxfield Park Children’s Home and Chester Castle All Age School in Hanover.  This year the event will feature some of Jamaica’s most prominent and more promising entertainers such as Beres Hammond, Coco Tea, Queen Ifrica, Digicel Rising Star winners – Cameal Davis and Khalil.

 

 

 - Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

Art workshops for Jamaicans

 

THE VISUAL AND Performing Arts Cluster of Jamaica (VPAJ) has been instrumental in the staging of a series of Specialized Stained Glass workshops (specifically Painting on Glass & Glass Fusing). The workshops, which are being conducted at Revolution Gallery ( 44 Lady Musgrave Road , Kingston 10), come to an end tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, March 11.

 

Some 55 individuals took part in the mix of 1-day, 2-day & 3-day workshops under the guidance of UK tutors Norman Attwood & Louise Watson, who, between them, have approximately 64 years of experience in the discipline – as well as the organizational & creative involvement of VPAJ member Charmaine Thompson who is one of Jamaica ’s most accomplished stained glass practitioners. All three have noted their delight with both the turnout and the application displayed by their students who have included both practising artists and relative newcomers. So much so that both the tutors and the participants have decided to have a one-day display of the works produced in both workshop streams…

 

You are therefore cordially invited to visit the Revolution Gallery between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 13^th March, to view their workshop results.