Art gallery organises field trip for students

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

One of St James' best-known art practitioners is now on an ambitious campaign to use visual arts as a learning tool for students of all ages, in a bold bid to expand their creativity and critical thinking.

Last Wednesday, Tamika Williams of the Ahh...Ras Natango Gallery and Garden hosted an art workshop and field trip to help students from Junior Plus Preparatory School, also in Montego Bay, to understand more about art and science in a relaxed and interactive setting.

"We want more students to come and experience how we can use art in an interactive way to learn more about the environment, social issues, culture, and our history," said Williams. "The students loved the interactivity of the session, and I am sure they left with a deeper appreciation for the surroundings through what they learnt while they were here."

ENVIRONMENTALIST PARADISE

Ras Natango Gallery is an ecotourism property, which was established four years ago. It boosts a collection of fine paintings by the renowned artist Ian Williams. The property is also an environmentalist's paradise as their botanical garden is a haven for several different types of birds.

Tamika and her husband have long been campaigning that history has proven that visual arts have been used to document the history of many countries, while noting that Jamaica is lagging behind in that regard.

"There are not enough art exhibitions about our culture" Williams (Tamika) explained in an interview with the Western Focus. "Besides, there is the creativity and the potential business opportunities persons benefit from. In any civilised culture, a huge focus is placed on visual arts and it is used to tell the history of a nation."

The recent exercise with the children from Junior Plus Preparatory School is not the only investment in time and effort that the Williams have made in regards to teaching visual arts to students. Ahh... Ras Natango Gallery has adopted the Buckingham Primary School, which is located in Camrose district, St James. It has an ongoing art programme for the students.

"More visual arts should be taught in our schools and practised in our communities," said Williams. "We offer our location to host field trips to learn more about this craft while allowing the process of learning to be interactive" added Williams.