SERENDIPITY, a three-week exhibition put on by The Art Gallery, ends Sunday in Lowlands, Tobago.
And the gallery’s founder Martin Superville is again hoping that the display will encourage and promote a greater appreciation for art across the island.
“It’s about keeping the visual arts alive,” he told Sunday Newsday.
“Being the only art gallery on the island from 1995 to now took some doing. But it’s always a pleasure hosting our brothers and sisters in the arts from our twin islands.”
Superville said the exhibition allowed artists to exchange ideas and “move their work forward.”
He added it also provided an opportunity for the public to “be in touch with the creative world, which sometimes can be lost in their busy lifestyles.”
The closing display made way for an event titled Jazz Meets Art, featuring performers Lynette Louis, John Arnold and Michael Boothman.
Serendipity, which began on July 17, showcased the work of seasoned and emerging artists in both Trinidad and Tobago.
Some of the artists whose pieces were on display include Jade Hillaire, Chris Thomas Amber Shaw, Simone Jacelon, Samantha Joseph, Renee Roberts, Duneiski, Jason Nedd, Kerron John, Kay O’ Callaghan and Michael Phillips.
[caption id="attachment_1028986" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Chris Thomas, an art and designer teacher at Speyside High School, show one of his pieces, Caura River at Serendipity, The Art Gallery, Lowlands, Tobago. -[/caption]
Superville usually hosts an art exhibition at the gallery once a year but there are plans to host others, highlighting a variation of different paintings, styles and textures. The gallery has been in existence for the past 28 years.
The theme of this year’s exhibition, Serendipity, was derived from a customer who visited the gallery and used the word to describe the impressiveness of the pieces, Reanese Benjamin-Trim, the gallery’s assistant curator, told Newsday at the launch.
“Martin never heard the term before and we had to explain to him what it meant. He fell in love with it – how things happen by chance – but it gives you a nice calm, happy feeling. That is why we went with the theme so that the people coming will be like ‘wow.’”
She said the exhibition also highlighted pieces depicting some of Tobago’s tourist spots and attractions such as Pigeon Point beach.
Benjamin-Trim urged art lovers to support the artists.
“I want people to buy. The pieces are very reasonable, especially for some of our emerging artists. Normally, art is something that is very expensive but this show creates an avenue for persons.”
She observed many people do not invest in art in Tobago.
“It is not a common thing and I think now is the time where we can change up the art market on the island.”
Benjamin-Trim also noticed that art is not held in the same regard as the academics.
[caption id="attachment_1028988" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Reanese Benjamin Trim assistant curator, shows a piece done by Simone Jacole to a visitor from the United Kingdom at Serendipity, The Art Galle
