Art & music: Sustaining each other

The convergence of art and music is nothing new for 28-year-old North Carolina native Cammeron Alekzandra Batanides. But history was created when she partnered with Jamaica-born reggae star Edge Michael to paint his performance live while he toured the United States.

No other Jamaican reggae entertainer has ever had their performance documented live through art, something Edge Michael revealed is indicative of how reggae artistes can tap into another market and add value to their brand.

"Music is an art form and when you can combine actual painting as you perform, it adds a lot to the dynamics of entertainment. It is something really different and the excitement that patrons get from seeing the live painting while you perform is just beyond what anyone could imagine. I wanted to do something different on tour this year, and the fans loved it," the entertainer told Outlook.

Edge Michael, whose name is Oral Durloo, is known for hits such as Deep River Woman, Delilah, Killsome City, among others, and is the nephew of famed reggae icon Peter Tosh. He is also a philanthropist who participates in feeding the homeless in Kingston and Montego Bay and donates supplies to the Blossom Garden Children's Home.

In an exclusive interview with Outlook, Batanides confessed that Edge was the first reggae artiste she has ever worked with, and it helped to fuel a deeper appreciation for the Jamaican culture and people.

"Edge and I met at his music video premiere in Wilmington, North Carolina (where I currently live). After spending time together, I realised that he upholds a lot of the same values that I do - his involvement in philanthropy and dedication to his music, as do I with my art. We have a lot in common so it just made sense to work together", the artist explained. While she has done live paintings for other genres in the past, this was her first time working with a reggae artiste.

Batanides has been creating art since she was two years old. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, she works predominantly in watercolours, acrylics and charcoal. She was one of 14 artists (from around the world) to be chosen for her work to be displayed on a billboard and group exhibit in New Orleans for Jazz Festival and French Quarters Festival.

Her work can be seen in several galleries across the United States and she is also the author and illustrator of her children's book, Meet Panda.

In discussing the inspiration behind painting musicians as they perform live, she outlined that "the music itself is a large part of my inspiration. It is very powerful. Inspiration also comes from crowd interaction. Another aspect of painting while musicians perform that I enjoy is the ability to paint in the moment. Painting live, you must paint faster than if you were at home. You don't have the time to step away from a piece and come back to it later. This results in having to allow yourself to be more free and spontaneous with your work. It can be extremely challenging. Not all artists are comfortable doing it. You must be extremely confident with yourself and your work to do it in front of a crowd," she smiled.

Most of Batanides' paintings encompass musical undertones. This, she said, is because "the series that I have been touring with over the past few years is titled A World of the Creative. It is a celebration and preservation of the arts. Music is very dominant in my pieces, but I also include visual arts, dance, theatre and literature."

It is a celebration and preservation of the arts. Music is very dominant in my pieces, but I also include visual arts, dance, theatre and literature."