art4Dst33t The SAVANNA

PROJECT: art4Dst33t : 1’ to 2’ hand cut stencils -

theme: Traditional Carnival Characters of Trinidad and Tobago

funding: The Ministry of Culture of Trinidad and Tobago

locations: Port-of-Spain and San Fernando

duration of project: Three days

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I learned so much from doing art4Dst33t. First of all, having an idea and then considering how to make it happen is a free flowing moment.

Many thoughts about HOW to do it come up. But also WHY DO IT? How to do it…who can help, what it costs… all are factored into this idea.

In Trinidad and Tobago we have the luxury and challenge of people in authority and the public blankly looking at you and listening to your exciting idea totally poker faced. Nobody cares!

One really has to believe in oneself and one's intentions. Always in the back of your mind you know that you can be completely dismissed by others. So you have to go for your dreams. The opportunity that I see in our Carnival season is its very contradiction. Traditionally the season extends from just after Christmas of the previous year in a gradual buildup that cascades into a frenzy of activity two days before Lent begins.

CARNIVAL

A festival begun with the French Creole Plantocracy which would filter into the Cannes Brulees, (The burning of the Canes) a festive event for the oppressed slaves who then found a pathway for themselves to commingle in the streets. When we in Trinidad and Tobago celebrate this occasion we stir up that past and we revere it in equal measure as much as break ‘way and forget our inhibitions.

We started by mimicking the Colonial Masters then as the years progressed - we confronted the stories of Hollywood movies and then with World War II, the arrival of United States Sailors to our shores.

We added the Stoker, the Fancy Sailors, Cowboys and Indians and we have instinctively honored the latter to this day by depicting them with greatest respect.

We touch on all aspects of social life by mocking human frailties in characters like Dame Lorraine and Baby Doll.

art4Dst33t came from my observation of 'Jouvert' Carnival history and my wanting to celebrate it.

Back in Port-of-Spain in the light of day it was interesting to see the stencils on public spaces amidst the colorful costumes, passers by, vendors, stray dogs, homeless people et al. Carnival as a two day event is transitory. The stencils are also. I was very curious about the life and energy of the images that meant a past history in a present space with its own future disappearance lodged eventually as a vague memory.

At the Savanna where everything Carnival comes together, centering the entire country - art4Dst33t literally returned home.

Some children of vendors who set up on ‘ The Greens’ as this passageway to the Savanna Stage is called - were inquisitive and sent one brave ambassador to ask if he could help. They had so much fun! Looking back at these photographs I always wonder where these now adult men are today. I hope that they think about this project sometimes.

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