Thanks to P. Diaz for this photo from the edge, titled “Somewhere in Jamaica”, I managed to get out of him that it’s actually somewhere in Portland.
Feel free to email me your photos “from the edge” to yardedge@gmail.com.
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Social Calendar Ja. presents a Digital Photography Workshop in Kingston with instructors Donnette Zacca and Marvin Bartley on May 26 and 27.
I know this is hard to read so check their site for details!
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Mike Michalowicz and Jamaican entrepreneur Khary Sharpe
‘The resume is not the reality.’ This is the message that Mike Michalowicz, U.S entrepreneur, T.V personality and author of ‘Toilet Paper Entrepreneur’, sought to leave with his audience as he shared stories of his entrepreneurial journey to becoming the success he is today.
Caribbean Fortress’ Gale Peart, at the request of Michalowicz, organized the event entitled ‘Entrepreneurial Reflections with Mike Michalowicz’. A friendship spawned when Peart served as his host in 2009, along with sponsors, Mayberry Investments Limited.
This year, affiliate sponsors Social Calendar JA and Karin Wilson and Associates also joined. the event held this time at Liguanea Club in New Kingston.
While explaining to the audience that there is rarely ever an entrepreneurial success without pitfalls, Mike divulged the secrets of building his first computer business including sleeping under conference tables, moving into a retirement village with his young family, and shared a tearjerker of having lost everything soon after landing his first million.
READ MORE »The Alpha Boys School in Kingston has produced some of the finest musicians to come out of Jamaica.
Founded in the 1880s by the Catholic Sisters of Mercy nuns, it has been the nursery for many of the luminaries of Jamaican jazz, ska and reggae.
For more info on the Alpha Boys School and the Alpha Old Boys’ Association
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Check out this link to an interview on RTE Lyric FM (Ireland) with Jamaican architect, Christopher Whyms-Stone talking about the story of Trenchtown and an historical Irishman without whom Bob Marley’s No Woman, No Cry couldn’t have been written. (Part 1 of 2)
In part 2, Chris talks about his Culture Yard project to restore and celebrate a very special 20th century housing project in Trenchtown, Jamaica.
Check out my visit to the Trench Town Culture Yard
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Thanks to YardEdge contributor, Opal Palmer Adisa, for this reflection on being a Jamaican in Paris…
Last August, while alternating between relaxing, meditating and writing in Luxembourg Garden in Paris, I was interrupted from my reverie by a stranger who asked if I were Parisian.
Without a moment’s hesitation I said, no Jamaican, and waited for the customary response, “Oh reggae music, Bob Marley. I love Jamaican culture.” I get this all the time no matter wherein the world I am. Often, to prove how much they know, which often is minuscule, they will hum or sing a bar from one of Marley’s song. It is all well intended, a gesture of commonality, to say, see I know something about where you are from.
But the Eastern European man had no such reference, and merely wanted to talk since he was visiting Paris alone, and like me was inspired by the beautiful garden and what it meant for the city to have such a place for its people. A similar thought had absorbed me earlier about what if there were more such places like this park in Jamaica. Would it help to make us gentler, more peaceful, more compassionate? Would the beauty of nature erode our anger and dispirited souls always on the look out, it seems, for some injustice?
Sitting in that tranquil park, in the cool summer air, far removed from my homeland I pondered the Jamaica that I carried on my back. When I say I am Jamaican in Paris, is it the same as when I say so in Brooklyn or in St Croix? How does the Jamaican that I am, the Jamaica that seems like a cloak affixed to my back show up in the world? And even more importantly do I still have a right to say I am Jamaican since I have not lived there full time for more years that I have lived there?
I remember my American born daughter once asking me if it were a lie to tell her friends that she was Jamaican. I said no because you are; you are raised by a Jamaican; you eat Jamaican food, you have been there many times, and in many ways you are culturally, more Jamaican than you are American.
Then I thought about my second trip to England in the 80’s, and meeting folks in Braxton, who sounded more Jamaican than many Jamaicans I knew, yet had never been to Jamaica, where not born there, but who as a result of parentage had fully embraced and claimed Jamaican heritage.
Then there are others, wannabe-Jamaicans, from different islands or countries in Africa who claim Jamaican heritage because of their identification with Rastafarian culture, or reggae music or that Jamaica is known or the pride and accomplishment they deem an important trait of Jamaicans. How do they carry Jamaica on their backs?
I have stood aside and listened, with amusement and indignation, as one or the other wannabe-Jamaicans, replete with fake accent, profess to others their Jamaicanness. In the past I would say or ask something that would blow their cover, but now I just look on amused.
Identity is a personal choice as well as a cultural cross owing to birth. While traveling through Europe last summer, as in the past, it was important that I was seen as a Jamaican. I often thought of myself as representing the island, and therefore, just like I tell my children, your actions reflect back on me, I wanted to project a positive Jamaica.
The Yugoslavian man in Luxembourg Garden learned about my Jamaica, the Jamaica of writers and artists, spectacular sites that serve as respite to me, the titillating aroma of steam fish and bammi at Port Royal, peppered shrimp in Black River and the soulful, positive vibes of Tarrus Riley and the culturally relevant rhythms, of Queen Ifrica.
As I bid him adieu and resumed by writing these words poured forth:
not cloak but skin
home that colors
the landscape of my knowing
all that i am and will ever be
the rolling-calf stories
from childhood still
cloud my head
green stains my hands
volcanic emerging
to form land and cane
brought people and rum
made us douens
but the yellowing hope
prevails
one people/one land
nanny/garvey/manely
one voice intoning
this is fi me island
this is fi me land
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Mike Michalowicz (pronounced mi-CAL-o-wits) started his first business at the age of 24, moving his young family to the only safe place he could afford – a retirement building. With no experience, no contacts and no savings he systematically bootstrapped a multi-million dollar business.
Then he did it again. And again. Now he is doing it for other entrepreneurs.
Michalowicz is a U.S television personality on MSNBC including Your Business and Bail Out! coupled with CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch; is the small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and the president of Obsidian Launch, a small business consulting firm.
His newest book, The Pumpkin Plan, will be released on July 5, 2012 by Penguin Books. In the words of Guy Kawasaki, Author of Enchantment & Art of The Start, “Another great read from Mike Michalowicz! Mike’s off-the-cuff sense of humor and business savvy ensure that The Pumpkin Plan is a book that entrepreneurs should read for years to come.
Order tickets via eventbrite or upon arrival at our welcome desk: http://mikeinkingston.eventbrite.com/
Hosted by: Caribbean Fortress
Affiliate Sponsors: SocialCalendarJa, KW+A
NOTE: One (1) lucky person will win a FREE copy at this May 5 event in Kingston.
See how you could participate in a fun, worldwide scavenger hunt too at Mike Michalowicz Fan Page
Event Hashtag: #PumpkinPlanJA
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Gene Pearson (in white)
Here are some of the sights from the Liguanea Art Festival 2012 held last Sunday in Liguanea, Kingston.
This year things were a little different with some new artists present including well known Jamaican artist, Laura Facey, along with many other artists regularly seen at the fair.
As usual, the fair was well laid out, organized and well supported. There was a shuttle service to the Festival from St. Peter and Paul and Mail Pack which in my experience worked well. There was an art workshop for kids as well as a jonkanoo parade and drummers.
Thankfully, there was mostly no rain (though I think it sprinkled for a bit).
As in past years, there was an amazing array of great Jamaican art including paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics and jewelry.
Here’s a small selection of what was there…
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Rootz Underground will be in concert this Saturday, May 5!
Come out and support Live Music in Kingston as well as the Rootz Releaf Programme.
Pre-sale tickets are available at Bookophilia, Spartan Health Club and Hope Gardens.
Ticket prices are $1500 pre-sold and $2,500 at the gate. V.I.P. tickets are are $3,500. Patrons will receive a tree sapling to plant (whiles supplies last). Gate prizes will include a three month membership to Spartan Health Club.
Rootz Releaf & La Reserva Foundation present “Lions in the Garden”, the second event of five concerts under the “Rootz Garden” banner scheduled in 2012 to benefit several charities- the Nature Preservation Foundation Jamaica, The McCam Child Development Centre, Jamaica School for the Deaf and the Rootz Releaf Program.
The first event held in February, “It’s Growing” featured special guests Toots and the Maytals, Dubtonic Kru, Prophecy & The Band of Reggae w/ Iba Mahr & Droop Lion.
“Lions In the Garden” will be held at The Sunken Garden at Hope Gardens with gates at 7pm and ending at 1am.
The event features the original “Gangalee” Louie Culture who will bring his DJ skills to the garden party, as well as the return of the Mystic Revealers, the foundation roots and culture band who have not performed in Jamaica since the late 1990′s, this performance marks their return to the live scene.
Nomaddz will perform their unique brand of dub poetry accompanied by music that crosses multiple genres as well as Di Blueprint band who will bring their soul-fused one drop riddims and conscious messaging to the party.
READ MORE »Here’s Episode 1 of MI A GO FOREIGN – Moving to NYC.
Enjoy this sit(dance) com dancehall style with Hanna Herbertson and Cindy Claes!
For more info on what this is all about see Mi a go foreign.
READ MORE »Dancehall dancer and choreographer, Hanna Herbertson teams up with Cindy Claes on MI A GO FOREIGN.
A Work In Progress by Claes and Herbertson, the sit(dance)com is not a finished product but both artists are looking to secure additional funding and support in the near future to take the project to the next level.
Here’s more info on the project…
THE STORY:
Two European girls dream of fame. They are determined to make it and move to NYC. Emigration and immigration come with their ups and downs though. Through unexpected challenges, surprising encounters, moments of doubt and moments of awe, “Carla” (Hanna Herbertson) & “Chicha” (Cindy Claes) forged a strong friendship the very first day they moved to the Big Apple…
THE ARTISTS:
Hanna Herbertson – international dancehall activist who has for years been striving to spread the knowledge and beauty of this culture through music and dance (did we also mention she is a DJ?).
Cindy Claes is passionate about Hip-Hop Theatre and tells stories through dance. She is a dance backpacker, and fell in love with Krumping and Dancehall many years ago.
HOW THE COLLABORATION CAME ABOUT:
Both dancers were hungry for growth and thirsty to expand worldwide. In 2005, Hanna moved from Sweden to NYC and Cindy moved from Belgium to London.
When they left home, their dreams were big. The reality they faced was sometimes difficult, but mostly breath-taking and jaw-dropping. Today they have a whole collection of funny memories, from renting their first room, to misunderstanding voicemails due to language barriers.
They remember falling in love and looking for jobs in cities full of… surprises!!!
PS: In real life, Hanna and Cindy met in Brussels 10 years ago…
They were finally able to collaborate on the project while Cindy came to live in NYC for a few months in 2011.
STAY TUNED FOR EPISODE 1!
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YardEdge again welcomes writer Opal Palmer Adisa for this article on Jamaican American Maurice Ashley, International Chess Grandmaster, a fitting story to celebrate Jamaica 50!
The first ten years of a child’s life defines and imprints him. Wherever he goes thereafter, whatever he becomes is somehow influenced by those initial defining years.
Maurice Ashley spent his formative years in Jamaica, Tower Hill in Kingston, specifically where he was raised by his grandmother, until he and his siblings were reunited with his mother in Brooklyn, New York, where she had gone to make a way a for them.
Ashley attended Seaward Elementary, then Wolmer’s High School for Boys, where he completed first form before migrating to the USA at the age of twelve. Like many Jamaicans he loves ackee and salt-fish with roast breadfruit and jerk chicken. It was his older brother who introduced him to chess, while he was still in Jamaica, but he had no idea where that game would take him
“Chess is an intellectual discipline masking as a game,” says Maurice Ashley, who is touted as the first African-American International Chess Grandmaster in the history of the game. But Ashley is actually Jamaican, and still claims Jamaican citizenship.
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Come check out the Liguanea Art Festival -The perfect way to spend Sunday!
See images from Art Festival-2010
Date: Sunday, 29th April 2012. Time: 10am-8pm.
Liguanea Plaza. 134 Old Hope Road, Kgn 6.
FREE Admission, Parking and Shuttle Bus Service.
Parking: Sts. Peter & Paul Church or MailPac – Hope Road.
For more info see website: liguaneafestival.com
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Artist Juliet Thorburn discussing her paintings with her friend and guest Paulette Terrels
“Mystical Madonnas” by Jamaican artist Juliet Thorburn opened on Friday April 6th at the Willow On State Gallery in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Juliet’s collection of 22 vibrant and colourful oil paintings pay tribute to the female figure in all her true essence and glory.
Many people turned out for this event which also included the works of artist Richard Remenick.
There was live music, refreshments and Tarot readings throughout the night and Thorburn received many compliments and praise about her pieces on display.
The works are for sale and the show will continue for another two months and are also available for viewing at Juliet Thorburn.
See YardEdge interview with Juliet Thorburn part 1 and part 2.
Younger patrons Nneka, Chanz & Lauren enjoying the live music with the musicians
Patrons at the show with live music going on
Artist Juliet Thorburn with gallery part-owner Sandy Mayer
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