Fri | Apr 10, 2026

Cultures collide in St Ann

Published:Sunday | March 4, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Pause
From left: Friends Clifton and Anna Reader and Debbie and Louis Grant came out to support attorney-at-law Aloun Assamba and the Dispute Resolution team at the Grierfield Art Festival last Sunday in St Ann.
Jamaica's high commissioner (designate) to the United Kingdom, Aloun Assamba (second right), cuts her surprise birthday cake with best buddies Pauline Findlay (centre), Donna Parchment-Brown (right) and the 'Women of Ascot', Maria Bryan (left) and Marcia Bulgin-Samuels.- Photos by Janet Silvera
Birthday girl Aloun Assamba (second right) takes pleasure in her gift from her aunt Violet Salmon (right), her mother Gloria Wood (left) and aunt Sylvia Baghaloo
Sharon Thomas (left) and Judy Wedderburn pose for Outlook.
Nirvana Spa's Gaudia Chevannes-Aquart (left) and Dynamic Event Services' Millicent Lynch dancing as if there was no tomorrow.
From left: Carmen Chen, Elaine Dreyer, Millie and Lyndon Braham at the Grierfield Art Festival last Sunday at attorney-at-law Assamba's family home in St. Ann.
The 'Sammy plant piece a corn dung a gully' girls (from left): Barbara Van Aken, Vana Taylor and Rowena Minott.
Custos of St Ann Radcliffe Walters and his wife, Norma, in a jovial mood.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Jean Taylor Bushay's ceramics, Peter Peart's paintings, Ray Jackson's sketches, Lorna Morrison's jewellery, Kay Sullivan's old photos and Aloun Assamba's charm complemented the vistas and mountains that provided the backdrop at Grierfield, St Ann, on Sunday, February 26.

The setting was coined 'cultures colliding' by Custos of St Ann Radcliffe Walters, leaving no doubt that the inaugural Grierfield Art Fest 2012 was a resounding success.

annual event

Possibly, this was a gift from the country's next high commissioner to London, attorney-at-law Aloun Assamba to her community, but one thing was certain, this event would be staged annually, with this year's proceeds going to the Dispute Resolution Foundation.

"What was once influenced and owned by a selected few is now universal. Anyone and everyone can be exposed to art," stated Walters, as he officially opened the event.

In fact, the Grierfield Art Fest showcased several aspects of Jamaica's heritage, history, culture, geography and sociology. For those in attendance, there was enough proof there is a deep connection between life and art. The latter, Walters said, is generally accepted as the signature of civilisation.

The event was highlighted by the appearance of renowned Festival Song Contest winner Roy Rayon, who enhanced what was a beautiful day.

And when Assamba's friends surprised her with a birthday cake, that put the icing on the occasion.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com