Religious leaders have expressed the hope that more churches across Jamaica would recognise the value of art in deepening spiritual reflection and make greater use of local artists in the life of the church. The call followed the opening of a one-man exhibition by renowned Jamaican artist Karl Parboosingh at the John Peartree Gallery. Rev Fr Robert Thompson, who had commissioned Parboosingh’s mural The Resurrection for the Church of the Resurrection in Duhaney Park, praised the artist’s contribution to worship through religious imagery, and encouraged greater inclusion of the arts in church life.

Published Saturday, April 19,1975 

Parboosingh art opens at the Peartree

Popular Jamaican artist Karl Parboosingh is currently staging his second major one-man exhibition of paintings at the John Peartree Gallery. The exhibition was officially opened on Wednesday night, April 16, by the Rev Fr Robert Thompson, pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Duhaney Park.
The Rev Mr Thompson, who had commissioned Mr Parboosingh to paint a mural, The Resurrection, for the church, spoke of the artist as one who had played a great role in his field by providing religious symbols and paintings which would eventually become the focal point of worship.
This was good, he said, because most of our artists received their inspiration from God and, as a result of this, art — like music — should become an integral part of church worship. He expressed the hope that the Church in Jamaica would utilise its artists a great deal more in the religious movement.
Some of the exhibits have been shown before but are on show again for the benefit of the Caribbean heads of government who will arrive in Jamaica soon for their conference.
Mr Parboosingh is currently working on a mural for the Norman Manley Law School at Mona, which will be opened by Queen Elizabeth during her visit to the island, which begins on April 27.

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