Meraki 6 artists show off their craft

Meraki 6 is the sixth annual exhibition of the group of artists brought together by Leon Bayne and Damien Leach.

Meraki is a Greek word that means to do something with soul, creativity or love; to put something of yourself in your work.

For the group of six that came together, it means to make art. The group exhibition at Fitzroy Hoyte’s Think Art Work Studio, 11 Cipriani Boulevard, Port of Spain, shows individual styles and directions but common dedication to making art. It runs until December 9, a media release said.

The other participating artistes are Denise Cobham, Chris Thomas, Deborah Clement and Evan Samuel.

Cobham returned to Trinidad in the late 1980s. She came to teach art at Mucurapo Secondary. In 1990, she started making quilts using materials closest to hand, scraps and used clothing. She had elected sewing for O'levels at Bishop Anstey High School and always shopped for fabric and made her own clothes. She learned that quilts sewn by hand have considerable value.

Bayne is a graphic designer at the Equal Opportunities Commission. He paints in his spare time.

Leach is a geomatics engineer. He lives in Tobago and operates a consultancy, Vision Dynamics. He is showing a selection of giclee prints from his photography as well as studies based on colour and texture.

From Tobago as well is Thomas whose large paintings of waterfalls, and boys at play on the beach feature realistic details – like Larry Mosca’s verdant scenics – in idealised settings.

Clement taught art at secondary school in El Dorado. Since retiring, she has been experimenting with the techniques that she taught her students: frottage (taking rubbings off raised surfaces) and collage.

Samuel makes useful items from wood in his Chaguanas studio. Occasionally, he finds unusual creatures waiting to emerge from bits of tree and root.

Meraki is a group that has been mentored by Jacob who curated this show. It is a fascinating and eclectic representation of styles and expressions that come together so easily in TT, a media release said. In Hoyte’s space, you’ll almost certainly enjoy seeing some of Bunty O’Connor’s pottery and Colin Gill’s fancy sailors. Meraki 6 closes on December 9.