Liguanea Art Festival serves up variety

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

On a regular business day, vehicular access to the Liguanea Drug and Garden Centre requires a left turn from Hope Road into the plaza where it is located. Sunday was not a regular day, however, as there were no cars making the required turn - although the parking lot was full.

And in that parking lot there were some temporary road signs to reinforce its changed purpose for a day, as Liguanea Drug and Garden presented the 2011 staging of its popular Liguanea Art Festival. So there was Brushstroke Way, Snapshot Alley and Potters' Way, the individual booths tastefully tagged with the names of the artists, who wore identifying buttons.

In addition to those booths, there was an Art Workshop where children got to try their little hands at brush and canvas, with Wray and Nephew, CB Chicken and First Global among the corporate entities which put their wares and services on offer.

And there were a lot of prospective takers, the high proportion of children underscoring the family-day-out orientation of the Liguanea Art Festival.

On Potters' Way, Andrenique Morgan told The Gleaner that it was his fifth time at the Liguanea Art Festival. From the first outing "it was good. I could see what people were looking for in terms of the quality of the work. It was a new experience for me. As the years progress, it seems to get better. I can see familiar faces coming, but also some new ones."

Morgan said sales were better this year than 2010. "I can say people know me. They look forward to seeing me," Morgan said.

Morgan teaches at the Eltham High School in Spanish Town, St Catherine, and says getting out to the Liguanea Art Festival allows him to build his clientele and "you see how people react to your work".

On the other hand, Kemoy Morgan said at her second consecutive outing to the festival, although "it was great" sales were slower than last year, although she had more pieces on offer and the prices remained at last year's level. Still, the goldsmith said the response of the people was very encouraging, as at other fairs, prospective clients are often put off by the prices. At the Liguanea Art Festival, though, "they are more appreciative of art".

fine jewellery pieces

So in preparing for the festival, Morgan is able to go back to her sketch pad and make fine jewellery pieces, which were only at the conceptual stage previously.

Garfield Morgan made his Liguanea Art Festival debut on Sunday and said he got involved "because I figure it is a different kind of exposure", pointing out that anyone can walk in to the event and thus engage with art. In addition, he said, "I like that it seemed to be well organised ... I like the fact that they have an adjudication system," this ensuring that a high standard is maintained.

On Sunday, Garfield had drawings, woodcuts and paintings and also used tar and rust. "I tried to get in a range in terms of media," he said. He says he had a good day, although "some people have never seen stuff like this, but they appreciate the work, the effort".

It was also painter David Muir's first time as a participant, although he had visited the Liguanea Art Festival previously. While sales on the day are an important aspect of the festival, Muir said, "I made a lot of contacts with people ... I have a feeling I will hear from a lot of people ... I have got a lot of good response."

Liguanea Art Festival serves up

variety

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