5 artists in Patchwork Revolution

THE work of five talented artists will make up Patchwork Revolution: a joint exhibition, hosted at Horizons Art Gallery.

The exhibition comprising the work of Devonte Mansano, Helen Gohlke, Esther Griffith, Jemima Charles and Amber Shaw will have a virtual opening which can be viewed online via Facebook on September 22 at 6.30 pm. This will be a live interactive event and viewers are encouraged to participate via message to join the conversation from anywhere in the world, said a media release.

Mansano's art is inspired by human nature and the realities of life, whether the past or future, the release said. The combination of charcoal pencil and acrylic paint gives him the opportunity to express those two worlds. His work has a strong narrative element and each collection is peopled with characters which live and breathe in the artist's imagination.

Gohlke has drawn inspiration from her time spent travelling and residing in the United States, Greece, Island of Crete and TT. She is a mixed media artist that uses acrylics, watercolours, thread, textiles, paper, self-produced botanical prints and pencils. Her favourite subjects are flowers, birds, the human form and abstract ideas. Inspiration from other artists and the world around also drives her to further her skills and grow her passion for creating art.

Oil painting is Griffith’s greatest passion. She enjoys exploring the visual language of colour and form. She is drawn to earth's landforms and geomorphology; this inspires her expressive mark making and unconventional application of media, in order to obtain unpredictable and exciting results. Her paintings are usually portraits where hyper-realism is juxtaposed against the abstract. The colours are vibrant and expressive, building up layer upon layer for rich results.

Charles calls her work culturally integrated neo-Caribbean art. The work deals with identity, culture, and storytelling, and is predominantly expressed in printmaking and sculptural installations. Her work has exhibited both locally and internationally, places such as Colombia, Japan and the US. She received her MFA in printmaking from Savannah College of Art and Design, receiving the Kala scholarship for outstanding student.

Shaw’s work is inspired by simple, everyday things, much of which is a reflection of the rich tapestry of Tobago’s culture, the island she calls home. Her first displayed work was a piece that depicted the Buccoo Reef, exhibited at the Tobago Heritage Museum in Fort George, Tobago. She works in a variety of media, including pastels, paint, colour pencils, as well as wood, wire papier mache, plastic and cloth for her sculpture.

The exhibition can also be viewed at the gallery 37 Mucurapo Road, St James until October 3. Opening hours are 9 am-5.30 pm Mondays to Fridays, and 9 am- 1 pm on Saturdays.