Narcenio "Senor" Gomez will forever stand as a hero in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival.
A master wirebender and costume designer, Gomez’s intense passion for culture and creativity marks an inspirational life that should never be forgotten.
Much like the wire he expertly manipulated to construct stunning costumes, so too have his decades of work laid the foundation of Carnival through traditional mas.
The son of Venezuelan immigrants, Gomez was born on June 11, 1931, in Port of Spain. As a child from “behind the bridge,” he was exposed to the very heart of Carnival during his formative years.
He was always fascinated by Carnival, particularly drawn to the sweetness and edgy allure of the steelbands and the vibrant mas parades on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
His initiation into the art of wirebending came courtesy of Buree Thomas, a skilled mas maker and carpenter. Thomas happened to be the brother-in-law of Gomez's classmate, Allen Mottley, from Nelson Street Boys’ RC School, Port of Spain.
Gomez would often see Thomas at work when he visited Mottley’s house after school. In a 2015 Newsday interview, Gomez said, “I used to see Buree making papier-mâché and bending wire. He saw that I showed and interest and said he would teach me.”
Thus began Gomez’s journey into the world of wirebending – an artform that would eventually define his life’s purpose.
Gomez’s extensive body of work spans over five decades, encompassing designing for his own bands, crafting individual costumes, and being sought after by other bands for his expertise in costume creation.
He had his start with Destination Tokyo then moved onto forming his own steelband/mas band with pan legend Winston “Spree” Simon – called the Johannesburg Fascinators Steel Orchestra. He also worked with Renegades, Blue Diamonds, Jewel Twenty Two, Silver Stars, All Stars, City Syncopators, Kentuckians, and Saldhem.
During this period, a robust cultural collaboration unfolded between the masmen and the steelband, with Gomez playing a pivotal role in this movement. This alliance proved highly successful for Gomez, emerging as one of his most noteworthy achievements.
Panman Oswald “Gold” Piper of Blue Diamonds and Jewel 22, grew up in the same area as Gomez, who he describes as a “father for the neighbourhood.”
As a teen, he would assist Gomez in making costumes in the role of “paperman” – responsible for plastering the wire with papier-mâché to prepare it for the application of decorations. He was amazed by the craftsmanship exhibited by Gomez, who designed a range of pieces such as woodpeckers, birds, horses and boats.
As a member of Blue Diamonds, a steelband established within the community, Piper said it was only natural that they enlisted the services of the “genius” in their midst to design fancy sailor costumes for the band. Over the course of several years, Gomez would outfit the band for Carnival.
“I love sailor mas.” Gomez said in a 2015 Newsday interview. “The sailor outfit is basic, so you have to be creative. I love it.”
His fan
