THIRTY years after Amina Baksh chucked in her paintbrushes, because original art was not a bestseller, to seek more viable ways to explore her creative spirit, the pull of her passion for art drew her right back in.
Two years ago, when a medical diagnosis threatened to plunge her into a world of darkness and depression, painting brought her freedom from pain and gave her an opportunity to live again through the strokes of the brush.
[caption id="attachment_1089814" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Artist Amina Baksh with her high schoolteacher Hilma Smith Barnes, who helped her developed her love for art at Palo Seco Secondary School. She still consults with Barnes. - Photo by Yvonne Webb[/caption]
Baksh, who recently celebrated her 60th birthday, staged her first art exhibition at Arnim’s Art Galleria Ltd, Bamboo Bay Road, Gulf View, La Romaine on June 3. The exhibition continues until June 20.
A decent turn out, consisting of mainly family and friends, viewed the 55 pieces she created over the past two years, admiring the concept as well as the vibrancy of the acrylic paints which lit up the small space.
[caption id="attachment_1089815" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Simone Awardy, right, and her daughter Shalize have their eyes on The Waves Echoes at Amina Baksh's art exhibition, Nature's Hands at Arnim's Art Galleria Ltd, Bamboo Bay Road, Gulf View, La Romaine. - Photo by Yvonne Webb[/caption]
Among those in attendance were her Spanish teacher from her days at Palo Secondary School, Marilyn Shand-Brown and, the woman who inculcated in her, her excitement and obsession with art, Hilma Smith Barnes.
Barnes shared her pride and joy in seeing Baksh return to the easel.'
[caption id="attachment_1089816" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Fareeda Baksh peers into the painting taking her Into the Distance by Amina Baksh. - Photo by Yvonne Webb[/caption]
“I can’t express how proud I am of Amina. I taught at Palo Secondary for 29 years. I was the only art teacher there, so for 29 years I taught every child who attended that school during that period of time. I taught some of them for three years and others like Amina, for five years. Although I had two daughters, she became my daughter," Barnes told Newsday.
“I ended up with many daughters and sons I taught and who have remained in touch with me. Many of my students are artists. Many of them are qualified art teachers. In fact, when I retired and left, I was replaced by a former student.”
[caption id="attachment_1089817" align="alignnone" width="576"] Amina Baksh shares a fun moment with her granddaughter Emelia Brown by one of her favourite pieces of a scene from Mikisew Park, Canada, at Arnim's Art Galleria Ltd, Bamboo Bay Road, Gulf View, La Romaine. - Photo by Yvonne Webb[/caption]
Barnes, a Jamaican national who has embraced Trinidad as her home, revealed that although Baksh had migrated to Canada, she would send, via WhatsApp messages, every painting she did for her approval.
Baksh confirmed her love for art began in high school under the
