SPEYSIDE High School, Tobago, collected the bulk of prizes in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts Tourism and Wellness Secondary Schools Art Competition.
Tobago won eight of 24 of the top prizes, as well as special awards.
Teacher Tomley Roberts, who was representing Speyside’s Visual Arts Department, said the students are very competitive and have participated in and won many competitions.
He credited the approach by the department’s three teachers which include himself along with Miss Orr and Mr Thomas, for working as a unit to ensure students are nurtured in the proper way to become successful.
[caption id="attachment_1001442" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Ariella Roopnarine of Naparime Girls’ High School copped first place in the forms one-two category in Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts Tourism and Wellness Secondary Schools Art Competition. -[/caption]
“We have mastered several competitions throughout the island. One of our students also won the solar power competition sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We see these competitions as avenues for our students to be exposed and express their creative abilities.”
The Tobago group was flown to Trinidad courtesy the Ministry of Tourism for the prize-giving function at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando. In her remarks, chief judge and retired teacher Debra Clement encouraged the art students to paint the picture they want to see.
“Because art could never be offensive.”
[caption id="attachment_1001443" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Justin Nanhoo of Presentation College, San Fernando, placed third in the forms one-two category. -[/caption]
In this Carnival period when controversy abounds and people take offense to calypso compositions or costumes, Clement said true art could never be offensive.
“If it is really art – music, dance, calypso – it could never be offensive.”
Several artistes, including Chuck Gordon performed at the prize-giving ceremony and Clement used one of his offerings for 2023, Maths eh Mathsing, to further illustrate the point. Saying while this calypso may be a bit controversial, “It is not offensive. It is calypso. It is entertaining.
[caption id="attachment_1001447" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Three of the top Tobago winners – Israel Melville who placed second in the forms five-six category, left, K’wan Phillips, placed third in the forms three-four category and Tafique Stewart placed second in the forms three-four category. -[/caption]
“That is the point. We encourage young children to experiment with the art so we can really be able to express ourselves. To live your life like you playing mas,” meaning without restraint.
“Art is a language and art expresses what is within you.”
She said while the individual artist may express one thing in his or her painting, others may react differently to what is on the canvas.
“But that is not your statement, it is other people’s statement. If I put it on canvas, it can never be offensive.”
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