The perspectives varied, including one looking up at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, but all views were a celebration of the magnificence of one of Port of Spain’s oldest buildings.
Sixteen pieces of art, including three by Jackie Hinkson and two by late artist and cultural icon Pat Bishop, formed Mama: An Exhibition of Art of the Cathedral.
While this is a part of the church’s wider commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral, it is also part of its fundraising drive to raise approximately $58 million for repairs after 2018’s 6.9 earthquake. The quake caused structural damage to the historic building, including cracked buttresses, damaged finials and a twisted orb and cross on the bell tower.
The other artists whose works form the current exhibition are Ankia Plowden-Corentin, Gerald Hinds, Debra Bartholomew, Keron Soomarie, Shirvaughn Tedica Simmons, KW, Rachel Rochford, Stephanie Preudhomme, Nelia Manmohan, Karl Doyle, Sonia Alexis and Roberts.
Roberts said he was asked to include a number of artists of different ages and stages for Mama.
The two Pat Bishop paintings come from 14 done of the Stations of the Cross that were formerly in the church, butd had to be removed, as it is closed. Those are not for sale, but are a part of the history of the church, Roberts said.
The 16 paintings are of the cathedral, church and spirituality and were done in a variety of media such as acrylics, oils and mixed media.
The cathedral forms part of Roberts’ family history, like many others in the country.
He recalled that it was his mother Hilda Mitchell, nee Roberts, who advocated for toilets at the cathedral.
“Trinity Cathedral did not have toilets for years and that was a sore point for my mom. She is now deceased.
"Knolly Clarke was a friend…he was a visitor of our home. When he became dean, I guess, that gave her licence to pester him…The toilets were built during his tenure. Whether it was because of her bothering him or not is not important to me.
"So my painting is from the view from the back of the toilet looking towards the church.
“It gave me an opportunity to reward my mother for her persistence and faith,” he said.
The exhibition was initially planned for October last year, and the process of curation began in March 2022.
It ran from November 5-10 at the Old Fire Station Conference Centre, Port of Spain, and moves to Tobago at the Tobago Library Services, 11-13 Garden Side Street, Scarborough, from November 14-18.
[caption id="attachment_1044875" align="alignnone" width="682"] Mama: An exhbition of art of the Trinity Cathedral's curator Patrick Roberts' photo gives the view of the church from its toilets. The toilets were significant for Roberts as his mother Hilda Mitchell nee Roberts advocated for the toilets' construction. -[/caption]
While the exhibition will not raise all money the church needs for its repairs, Roberts hopes it generates renewed interest in the church’s cause.
“Five years down the road, with all the things that is happening in life
