Showcasing a Barbadian artist
Artiste Winslow ‘Rubytech’ Jordan shows off the sculpture received on behalf of his father, Winston Jordan, from
Anderson Pilgrim (L) in recognition of the elder Jordan’s contribution to Bajan artform. Photo by George Alleyne
Caribbean L BQ ife, April 5–11, 2019 27
By George Alleyne
A recent exhibition of Bajan artist
Winston Jordan brought to life images
of common existence across the Caribbean
from the icon of a cricketing legend
to colourful masqueraders, the revealing
scene of bush bath ritual, and the
quintessential derriere of the Caribbean
woman.
Moving from vibrant colours in crayon
and acrylic to masterful black and
white effect, Jordan’s pieces brought
warmth to a chilly gallery room of the
Exchange Centre of the Central Bank
of Barbados.
The array of ample female haunches
was sure to bring heat under the collar of
some viewers in that cooled room, as the
images were offered up in views bound
to tantalize the imagination while at the
same time reminding one of the expansive
freedoms of Caribbean lifestyle.
Sensuality is further pronounced in
the eerie candle-lit setting of a gentleman,
brandishing a less than gentlemanly
countenance, as he administers a bush
bath to a pleasured female.
There was a bubbling Mother Sally
being looked-up at by an intrigued boy.
Then there is the unmistakable portrait
the Master Blaster, Vivian Richards
— a star among those who brought pride
to the region as a collective - followed by
booklets of cartoons of social commentary
that once told stories in the Barbados
Nation newspaper.
Such an exhibit covering the intertwined
disciplines of artistic presentation
on paper and canvas can belong to a few
people, and one of them has to be artist,
newspaper cartoonist, song writer,
and costume designer, the late Winston
Jordan.
The selected works of Jordan, who
passed away in 2007, were on display
since the beginning of this month and
ended on April 4.
It was part of the Annual Caribbean
Fine Art (CAFA) fair, but while a gallery
was set up for other Barbadian and
regional artistes for five days that ended
on March 10, Jordan’s work was given a
month showcase, reflective of the lasting
impact he made on Barbadian cultural
life.
CAFA director, Anderson Pilgrim said
the exhibition is not just about celebrating
Jordan’s legacy “but it looks at what
he has contributed overall to the various
areas that he operated in, commercial
art, visual art, festival art.”
“He was one of the people who drove
CropOver,” the organiser said, then hurrying
on to make clear that the culturally
imbued designs and promotions of
Jordan in CropOver are, “well, not exactly
what it has become today.”
“He didn’t particularly like the direction
CropOver was going, the skin and
feathers thing.
“He wanted us to portray our culture
and to delve into history.”
Pilgrim reflected that his attention
was first drawn to Jordan as a cartoonist
at the Nation newspaper in the 70s.
“It was a revelation to see Barbadian
culture reflected in cartoons where all
the cartoons that I knew of were done
overseas. Winston captured the Barbadian
essence.”
Caribbean woman at play.Photo by
George Alleyne
West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards.
Photo by George Alleyne
Tantalizing Caribbean female ampleness.
Photo by George Alleyne