The Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that seeks to encourage and support women’s participation in the field of visual arts.
Formed in September of 1987, GWAA had Marjorie Broodhagen A.A. (1912 – 2000) as its first president and an executive committee, which included Stephanie Correia A.A. (d.2000), Agnes Jones A.A. (d. 2008), and other prominent artists and art educators of that time. In April of the following year, the Association mounted its first exhibition, in retrospect.
In 1989 a travelling GWAA exhibition was mounted at the National Museum in Barbados, sponsored by the Guyana/Barbados Association. This exhibition later travelled to England to be part of the St. Albans Annual Caribbean Festival and finally on to the Commonwealth Institute in London.
In 2002 GWAA facilitated an artist’s workshop, which resulted in a mural painting “Pride Of My Ancestors” by 22 participants. This workshop was funded by the IADB, and the mural is now on display at the Guyana Red Cross.
GWAA’s current president is Guyanese artist Aiesha Scotland.
Presently, the members of GWAA have an exceptional display of creative pieces, including hand painted textile; ‘upcycled’ accessories (made from bottles, plastic bags, beads, among other materials); paintings; handmade jewellery; and artistic postcards, in the compound of the Sacred Heart Church.
Some pieces on display were done by Guyanese artist, Anna Correia-Bevaun. Anna attended Sacred Heart Primary School and later St. Rose’s High School. After finishing school in 1980, she went on to work at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, the New Building Society and Customs House.
She was influenced by the art that was always around her, done by her mother Stephanie Correia, a renowned Guyanese artist, and her brothers. Even though she did not pursue art in high school at the GCE level, she learned about colour mixing from her mother. After her second child was born in 1987, Anna decided to stay home to focus on raising her family.
In 1988, the Anna began her art career as a ceramist under the tutelage of her mother. She began by exploring Amerindian designs she had researched.
Clay was the principle medium of expression for young Correia until she began taking short courses in Design, Batik and Discharge, Vedic Art and Watercolour Painting (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively).
As her artistic range grew, so did her confidence, and in 2007, Correia copped both second and third place at the Biennial National Watercolour Competition. Correia would once again perform remarkably, this time winning first and second place at the same competition two years later. The extensive list of exhibitions which she has participated in spans an incredible 16-year period.
Since becoming a member of GWAA, Correia has held several posts on the Association’s executive body, including secretary (1996-1999), president (2004-2008) and vice president (2003-2010).
She continues to explore the challenging watercolour medium and her signature pen and ink drawings.
Another artist featured at the art sale is Jennifer Gibson, a Barbadian-born Textile Artist/Designer who has made Guyana her home. The artist specialises in the Tulus batik technique, which she has been working with for over three decades.
Jennifer has taught textile decorating extensively in Barbados, Suriname and Guyana. She has participated in several fashion and craft shows, exhibitions and expositions across the Caribbean, including Barbados Investment Development Corporation (BIDC) National exhibitions in 1984; 1985 (where she won the Most Outstanding Award and Blue Ribbon); 1987 (bronze medal); and 1989 (first prize).
Additionally, she has participated in a number of regional exhibitions in countries such as Antigua, St Lucia, Jamaica and Suriname (early 90s to mid 2000). Gibson has exhibited in GWAA’s Annual Exhibitions in 2008, 2010, 2011-15, and the Feminition Exhibition at the Guyana National Stadium in 2011. She was awarded best in the area of Textile (Art Guyana) by UNESCO in 2012.
“My inspiration and motivation is drawn mainly from nature and experiences. I see art as a personal appreciation of God’s creation, and elevation for my life in general. I hope to showcase the diversity, and variations of the batik art form through my work,” expressed Jennifer.
Textile pieces by Tara Bentinck are also astonishing. In 2002, Tara graduated from the E. R. Burrowes School of Art and was awarded Best Student. Though her areas of specialty were Ceramics and Textile Designs, Tara is a competent painter, and also has experience using leather as an artistic medium.
She has worked in collaboration with the E. R. Burrowes School of Art and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for eight years (2001-2009) conducting art workshops during the August holidays for both adults and children.
The artist’s creations have been showcased at the Side Walk Café, the Sophia Exhibition Complex and several GWAA exhibitions between 2003 and 2007.
The years following her graduation from the art school have heralded a new fascination with fabric, and this has been her main medium of artistic expression since. Tara’s constant exploration of the use of synthetic and natural dyes has produced some impressive functional and decorative fabrics.
“As a fabric designer I enjoy taking a plain fabric and creating an attractive piece. Whether it is design using the method of tie-dye, batik, stenciling, hand painting or printing, my aspiration is to become like the great Chinese fabric designers,” Tara declared.
GWAA continues to seek opportunities that allow participation of its members in the form of exhibitions and other activities, aimed at raising the association’s profile and enhancing the quality of local art production.
The sale starts at 10am to 5pm and will conclude on Monday, May 30. It will be closed today (Sunday, May 29), so visit the Sacred Heart Church on Main Street, Georgetown,tomorrow and support our local women artists.
For more information on the artists, visit https://gwaa1987.wordpress.com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
