National Gallery receives major donation

The National Gallery of Jamaica recently received the John Pringle Collection, a major donation of 23 paintings by the Jamaican Intuitive master, Mallica 'Kapo' Reynolds.

The inaugural exhibition of the John Pringle Collection is currently on view at the Montego Bay Civic Centre, and members of the public are invited to attend.

Hotelier and founder of the famed Round Hill resort, John Pringle was Jamaica's first director of culture and, after he left Jamaica for England in 1967, continued to play an important role in the promotion of Jamaican tourism and the economy. Pringle had always been strongly interested in Jamaican art and culture, and the important role it should play in sustainable tourism, but started collecting Jamaican art in earnest after he left Jamaica.

As his daughter Shawn Tower has argued, this allowed him to maintain his deep connection with his home country. While he also collected other artists such as Milton George, Omari Ra and Laura Facey, Pringle assembled a particularly fine group of paintings by Mallica 'Kapo' Reynolds and had expressed the desire for this to be returned to Jamaica after his death.

He passed away in 2006 and his Estate subsequently offered the group of 23 Kapo paintings we now call the John Pringle Collection to the National Gallery of Jamaica - a very generous donation to the Gallery's collection and important instance of cultural repatriation.

The John Pringle Collection is a must-see for residents of western Jamaica and visitors alike, and will be on public view at the Montego Bay Civic Centre, Sam Sharpe Square, until Saturday, June 25. Viewing hours are: Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: $100 for adults and $50 for children under 16 and students with ID.