TNF “ICE Jamaica” presentation by Kurt Nahar

Kurt Nahar talks about his participation in the international cultural exchange project – ICE 2018 – with DVCAI-team and artists in Jamaica

At the Thursday-Night-Feature (TNF) in Readytex Art Gallery on June 7^th, visual artist Kurt Nahar holds a presentation about his recent experience in Jamaica. From April 18^th until April 27^th, this Surinamese artist was invited to participate in the international exchange project of Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (DVCAI), Miami, led by Rosie Gordon-Wallace, in collaboration with Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica. Ever since his own time studying at Edna Manley College, and his related artist in residence experience at DVCAI in Miami, Kurt has enjoyed an enduring relationship with DVCAI, and with the support of Readytex Art Gallery he was able to participate in several other projects initiated by this organization. For many years now Rosie Gordon-Wallace has been a valuable partner and good friend of Readytex Art Gallery with her DVCAI platform, and as such the two organizations have already collaborated in various art projects.

This exchange project, for which DVCAI received the support of Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, brought artists, curators, writers and cultural workers together for an intensive project of exchange, conversations, exhibition, studio visits and workshops with artists from the Caribbean Diaspora and beyond. Within the exchange project, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston facilitated informal conversations between artists in Jamaica and DVCAI-artists from Miami and guest artist Kurt Nahar from Suriname. The program also included a panel discussion and an exhibition at Edna Manley College that showed art works from the visiting artists as well as from several local artists. The joint exhibition offered the international artists the opportunity to work and converse with local artists, and to present their work to a diverse group of visitors, curators and other interested parties from the Jamaican art scene.

Even though Kurt Nahar is quite familiar with Jamaica, this recent visit together with the team of DVCAI, was a valuable experience for the artist. Participating in such an intense program with a mixed group of artists from various backgrounds and disciplines, is something that Kurt Nahar believes that every artist should experience at least once. Especially the many studio visits to interesting artists living and working in Jamaica and the many conversations and discussions that were part thereof, were very inspiring. In addition to the exhibition ‘Voyaging towards the future’, which opened on April 19^th, and in which Kurt Nahar presented three artworks, Kurt also considered the studio critiques, which the visiting artists were invited to join, an important experience during the exchange. During the studio critiques the work of students from Edna Manley College was evaluated and critiqued by their professors and fellow students.

Within the program Kurt gave a presentation about his work and career, and participated in the exhibition with three mixed media artworks dealing with the theme of sexuality and the associated taboos, all executed in his usual bold and confrontational manner.

At the TNF of Thursday June 7^th, Kurt Nahar talks to visitors about his experiences during ICE 2018 with DVCAI in Jamaica. He will highlight the moments and experiences that he considered most valuable, and through a digital photo presentation he will take the viewers along on his intense and interesting weeklong artistic exploration through Jamaica. The ground floor of the gallery will also display a new collection of artworks by Kurt Nahar, consisting mostly of mixed-media art installations inspired by his recent journey to Jamaica.

At the TNF of June 7^th, guests are free to browse through the diverse collection of artworks displayed throughout the rest of the gallery as well. The doors of Readytex Art Gallery are open from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm on this evening, and the presentation starts at 7:30 pm. Please come enjoy this special presentation of Kurt Nahar together with us!