In the context of The 25th Art of Reggae Exhibition, the National Gallery of Jamaica’s Last Sundays programming for March 31, 2019, from 11:00am to 4:00pm, will include the announcement of the winner and top 100 entries for the International Reggae Poster Contest (IRPC) with talks by IRPC founder Maria Papaefstathiou and IRPC board member Carolyn Cooper. The day’s events include a performance by the Pimento Band. The NGJ is located at 12 Ocean Boulevard, Block C, Kingston, Jamaica.

The 25th Art of Reggae Exhibition is hosted by the IRPC, which was founded in 2011 by Michael Thompson (1958-2016) and Maria Papaefstathiou. The contest aims to highlight positive Reggae music and the impact it has had around the globe. The long term goal is to create a Kingston based Reggae Hall of Fame museum and performance center that will facilitate and celebrate Reggae. In addition to that, IRPC aims to gain support for the Alpha Boys School, an vocational institution located in Kingston, founded in 1880 by the Sisters of Mercy. It is geared towards underprivileged youth and has been home to many notable Reggae artists such as Yellowman and Desmond Dekker.

Born in Athens, Greece, Maria Papaefstathiou is a graphic designer who has been practicing since 1996. Her main focus and research is in poster design. She is the founder and editor of the blog Graphic Art News where she selects high quality international works including designs, illustrations and art to teach and inspire other designers. Graphic Art News has been used by many as an educational tool.

A Jamaican author and scholar, Prof. Carolyn Cooper is a consultant on culture and development. A woman of many accolades, Cooper received a scholarship to complete her B.A in English at UWI, Mona and fellowships to complete bother M.A and PhD at the University of Toronto. She has authored the books Sound Clash: Jamaican Dancehall Culture at Large (2004) and Noises in the Blood: Orality, Gender and the ‘Vulgar’ Body of Jamaican Popular Culture (1993). She also initiated the International Reggae Studies Centre at UWI.

The reception will feature a special musical performance by the Pimento Band. The band, though only a little over a year old, features musicians with over thirty years of experience in the local and international music scenes. The roster includes Leebert “Gibby” Morrison, bass player on Peter Tosh’s album’s Mama Africa and the Grammy award winning No Nuclear War, Orlando “Lando” Bolt of the Live Wyya Band, and past student of Alpha Boys Everol “Stingwray” Wray who has been featured on the album The Miseducation of Lauren Hill. The band’s repertoire ranges from Ska to Reggae to a style they have dubbed progressive Mento.

For original post, see https://nationalgalleryofjamaica.wordpress.com/2019/03/20/last-sundays-the-25th-art-of-reggae-exhibition-reception/