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Pambazuka - Malawi: President vows to repeal gay ban

The Sculptural Playground Model for the Official Presentation - i2i Innovation Competition - An Exhibition and More

A LOOK AT ART & DESIGN.

THE BOCA LIT. FEST.
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LITERARY FESTIVAL. 2012.

On that day there was the presentation of the book
ART IN THE CARIBBEAN. An Introduction.
author - Anne Walmsley . Stan Greaves.

In the sweetness of the architecture. The National Library of Trinidad and Tobago the festival unfolded with some very interesting panels.
The discussion of formation of nationhood, post colonialism, post independence was the panel before this, after this was another presentation of ritual in two of our religious practices in Trinidad and Tobago.

It was here that the panel presented and the conversation went into very interesting corners of our art landscape. Like the questionable democracy of documenting our art. What can you say when a book is published that tells the story or spins a web of our aesthetics. Sweet, sexy and liberating. But I'm now starved for more, maybe deeper, political,  philosophical discourse about the meaning and symbolism of art. In an interview about the Nostalgia Exhibition, being held at the Art Society Gallery, Federation Park on TV6, the presenter asked, "how did art influence the national space" (my words) and there was a silence that couldn't answer the question. Most of us can't cause we haven't done the research. It is here at the table of the Boca Lit Fest that these question was coming to bear fruit. It will be hoped that we will be willing to confront these questions. Although the question came around the publication, it is a literary festival. But the confrontation of art on the political frame work of our society, from Calypsonians, graphic designers, architects, fashion designers, film makers.   

 The influence of art on how people make decisions, make a line, think about things, about themselves, see themselves and see the other. These question need considerable research by our cultural bodies to set up a project in collaboration with the Cultural Studies Programme at UWI, we can develop a research project that will pull this together and present it to the state and community. Cause all these festivals and projects will come to naught. 

ON THE PANEL

 Marsha Pearce,
Andy Jacob,
Christopher Cozier,
Anne Wamlsley,  
Nicholas Laughlin.

The turn out was good, when I was there the Old Fire Station had a good flow of people, coming and going.

THE i2i - THE IDEA TO INNOVATION COMPETITION.

On this  day I was present for the launch of the innovation competition an extension of the innovation drive and discussion that is happening. By the Ministry of Planning. Which goes in hand with the diversification drive, the Cultural Policy consultation, the THINK Forum, Consitutional Reform, Local Government Reform, Consultation on the formation of the Civil Society Board, ACT activism, Art Society public presentations.

The presentation lecture by the Minister Dr, Tewarie, was something that I never heard from a politician in a long time or never. Ah mean being a Dr. who did his thesis on comparative literature. Is well versed on cultural sophistication and mentioned in his speech culture to power, culture to economics and well being of human being through culture. The barbarity of our society and getting it there, through the understanding both in the government and society that we need surely to restructure our education and understanding of culture in this pursuit of economic and social well being. 

(Please note that fuller information will be available on our website from this Friday May 11, 2012. Therefore, information that is posted on the website will be most up-to-date.)

General Guidelines

The Ministry of Planning and the Economy (MPE), through the Council for Competitiveness and Innovation will identify projects that meet stated criteria related to the characterisation of innovation and its lending principles, using the following guidelines:

• The creation of a new product, service, system design, process;
• The improvement of a new product, service, business process or system;
• A new process of adding value to a Trinidad and Tobago-sourced raw material.
• The products, services or processes should be able to find a market or use in the local or export market.
• Project impact, driving social benefit and creation of sustainable, high quality jobs - target critical areas of national recovery (renewable energy, health & wellness, food security, creative industries).

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must be 18 years of age and over.

2. Individuals, teams or entities from the Diaspora, provided that their projects will be implemented in Trinidad and Tobago and/or provide jobs here.

3. In the case of companies, they must have a majority shareholding (at least 51%) held by nationals/ citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago including companies in the any in the Diaspora.

4. Applicants wishing to participate as Small and Medium-sized firms must have minimum asset base of $25,000 dedicated for this project. Start-up companies and teams are exempted from this stipulation but must provide justification and supporting documents on the ability to sustain their projects.

5. A work programme and timeline (submission guideline 7) must be also provided indicating the intended use of the funds and associated time periods for expenditure.

6. The project proposal should contain elements of technological and business innovation leading to commercialization of innovative products, processes and services.

7. The project should essentially be for the development of new, or improvements on existing products, processes or services with the potential for commercialization. Projects or products which are in the research stage or are ready for production or commercialization are not eligible.

8. The project team, partnership or entity should provide evidence of technical competency to undertake the proposed activity.

9. Submission from an individual must accompanied by supporting letter from a referee i.e. from an independent person who has been associated with him/her and so qualified to indicate his/her ability to undertake the project.

10. Applicant must be a registered Cooperative or registered Government recognized Community Organization / Group, including non-governmental organisations in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

11. Applicant from Small and Medium enterprises must show proof of financial capability that they can fund the portion of project costs not funded under the IFF.

12. Projects must be undertaken in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

13. All successful participants must commit to a maximum of 30 hours of assistance after completing the process and implementing their projects towards successful enterprises or ventures to give back to future participants as mentors or coaches.

Definitions

• All business entities/ companies are eligible to participate once they have up to TT$50million in sales turnover.
• Individuals, sole proprietors, micro-enterprises are definitely eligible to participate but do not normally require turnover amount above.
• Teams / partnerships: projects teams and/or partnerships can be constituted as follows

Teams: A small group of no more than 5 individuals, who have come together for the purpose of this competition, but remain together until the full implementation of projects or geared towards the establishment of an enterprise. Funding can discontinue and team considered as no longer eligible if any member(s) dissent(s).

Partnership: A partnership exists among no more than 5 representatives of different companies/institutions/organisations which have formed a union/joint venture for the purpose of collaborating in this competition. Registered business partnerships are also included.

Prospective participants/innovators are invited to submit inventions and creative initiatives in the following activity areas, including but not limited to:

• Manufacturing and Manufacturing-related
• Services
• Primary Agriculture and agro-processing activities
• Bio-technology
• Creative Industries
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• Alternative/Remedial Energy/Energy Efficiency
• Environment (Clean Technologies, Eco-related Activities)
• Bio-waste and Other Waste (including Recycling Activities)
• Tourism

Note: Submissions can be made in other fields but these would be considered on a case-by-case basis on their own merit (nature, economic or social value, commercialization prospect etc.) once they meet the programmeʼs scope and overall objectives.

Submission guidelines

1. Name of project or invention
2. What is the project?
3. Objectives
4. Activity(ies) identified
5. Location (if applicable)
6. Target market/clientele
7. Timeline/ Work programme indicating estimates of funds required at specific periods and associated expenditure needs
8. What makes this idea unique or original?
9. How will it transform the lives of people and the country?

10. Identification of benefits and desirable outcomes for end users

Associated Documents

Applicants must submit the following documents with their submission:

• Copies of National ID, passport bio-data page, or driver’s permit, or naturalization documents.
• Certificate of Incorporation as proof of company/ business/non-profit registration (if applicable) to operate in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Partnership or Project Agreement (for project teams or legal or joint partnerships) – this agreement must indicate that the participating members or parties have agreed in writing to commit and undertake the project for the extent of its full duration.
• Certified letter from auditors for mid-sized to large companies indicating their sales turnover fall within the stipulated limit.
• Copy of Stock certificate for companies not wholly owned by Trinidad and Tobago citizens indicating that they possess at least 51% of ownership in the company.
• Reference letter from a professional/organisation associated with the individual in a professional capacity for a period of at least 3 years. Letters from family members or friends are not accepted.

Letters of Reference must be on official letter heads and mailed or delivered directly from the Referee to CCI's offices addressed as follows:

REFERENCE LETTER for John Doe - i2i Competition

ATTN: Mr. Keston Perry

Programme Coordinator, i2i Competition

Council for Competitiveness and Innovation (CCI),

Ministry of Planning and the Economy

Level 17, Tower D, 1A Wrightson Road,

Port-of-Spain

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION please e-mail: keston.perry@phe.gov.tt orcci.trinbago@gmail.com or call the i2i hotline at 800-2444.

We will advise shortly where the additional documents can be dropped off.

 FUND RAISER FOR ANIMATOR ANTHONY BAPTISTE
Venue - Medula Gallery.

Right after the Innovation launch there was a fund raiser for a very talented animator from the Animation Department, University of Trinidad and Tobago, UTT. He has been accepted into the very prestigious animation programme at Sheridan University, Canada.

They are still seeking funds so if you want to support a young artist journey to call the Medula Gallery  



He presented two of his animations,
which was well structured.
I could understand him getting into the programme.

Any one of us who have gone to study abroad will understand the predicament of financial stress dat he must be going through. Why not drop a line to Mario Lewis or the Medula Gallery and see if we can get him there.





Mario Lewis and Anthony Baptiste

Anthony explains to the crowd present
how he goes about
creating his animations.

They were impressed.
Where was our artists?

Thanks Medulla!



 THE SCULPTURAL PLAYGROUND PROJECT -
MODEL FOR THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION CEREMONY.

LOCATION - Orange Grove Savannah, Tacarigua.

Materials

• 1/2"x4'x8' ply.
• Galvanize Poles.
• Paint - white.
• Clear Plastic or Green.
• Linen.
• Metal.
• Wood Poles.

The design is a fragile assemblage of materials that takes it's idea of the falling apart house, that propped and prodded by sticks, held together by twine and wire, bamboo, shaded by paper and plastic. Simple materials that people find to create home.

Dimension -
2D Gallery- 8'x12'x8'
3D Gallery - 10'x16'x10'
FOOD COURT - 12'X12'X10'
PRESENTATION HALL - 60'X30'X15'

TOP VIEW

SIDE VIEW. WEST

SIDE VIEW - WEST AGAIN.

SOUTH VIEW

WEST VIEW.

NORTH VIEW.

TOP VIEW.

JUST LOVE THE TOP VIEW

the idea here is to create a flow from the car-park
to the South walk onto the Green Pathway
into the 2d Gallery to the 3d Gallery to the
Food Court and into the presentation gallery,
where the official presentation will be held.

 TEDX SALON

On the Sunday 20 May in the Diego Martin Valley, gathered like minded people ready to share thoughts and concerns about our city and what we can do to contribute to the humanizing of our space.

We looked at two TedX presentations - One told the personal story of a Afro- American woman living in Brooklyn. Her story was one of activism and her and her community of people to rage against the system in a way that brought meaning to there space, in a very sustainable way. Which brings and create green economic = green is the new black.

The other was of a design team that was able to design sustainable in their space. One project that struck me was their design of the City Council - using the idea of the periscope, people from outside will be able to see inside the Parliament meeting hall and from the hall the politicians will be able to see outside, when they are about to make important decisions.  After the presentation we broke up into groups, introduced ourselves and brought our concerns to the table.

  

 Then we broke up and went to another group this went for about three times or so. The people came from various back rounds. It was obviously middle class. There were allot of ideas and people where obviously concerned.
Education was the official concern.

 NOSTALGIA - The Old Inspire The New.
ART SOCIETY GALLERY - 19May - 1 June 2012.

When will we get a proper gallery in this town. There is obvious need for a gallery that can hold properly the work of the membership without it having to be on top of each other unless that is the requirement. First of all who allowed for such a gallery to be built, it seem that it was for a house up on the North Cost and somebody say, Hey dat could be we gallery.....Well it cant. Time to raise some funds, consult a proper professionals, who will design a proper gallery for the Member of the Art Society. 

Mind you the space allows you to wander through the space freely, except when you reach one of the several corners your piece end up on this throws you off ass know you have to step back and you just don't get the view you need. Looking at art is a spiritual thing and when we build spaces to view art we must consider this. Those four cricks just creates a hamper in the space, unless you give the body enough leg room to step back and get that "look". That sweet spot view that is needed for advancing the contemplation needed.

I'm not sure about the title, Nostalgia -  The Old Inspire the New, needed to be rethought. Here was an opportunity to look at how older works or art not only inspired a new generation of artist, but people, society, carnival, architecture. An all important title in the eve of our 50th anniversary. As the banner showed much support. This needed more contemplation. Cause if you ask me as an artists of the my inspiration I will say people like Earl Lovelace- writer, Peter Minshall, Leo Glasglow, Leroy Clarke - Poems and Paintings, Embah - Paintings and words, Issiah Boodhoo and the list goes on.

In a corner of the gallery hung Codallo, Cazabon, Anthony C. Lewis and Amerindian pottery. It disappeared, it was there obviously to create a link to the bigger story.

What is it that influences the artists, style, form, politics, spirituality, economics. What?


that was what I missed in this presentation the what?

That questioned was put forward in an interview and wasn't able to be answered.
How does art influence our society? is a hard question. Cause we have never done the research to pin point it.  






A WEEK IN A WEEK. things happen that have nothing to do with me and everthing to do with me.

SHOOTING A SHORT FILM

This was an interesting experience of making something out of bare bones reasoning of wanting to get a dream done. There was a cooperative sense that was experienced and put together by all, even by standing by the guys gate talking film for about an hour, to sitting in the edit suit by Edmond who lent his time and advice, to the taxi man and the lady by the shop and the girl who wanted to be in the video, to the other girl who when ecplained, she was willing to help out. It was a nice warm experience of creating, socialism man!

Stepping through the landscape from Port of Spain to St. Augustine, we moved light, small, cheap.

There was the confrontation of capturing of  people's identity on camera in public. planning and developing ideas before you got to the streets. There is allot to say about that as to the jump into the deep end and swim.

But that can work to, eh, if one has the capacity to pull it off.

There are other threads that came that will all make us maturer humans beings when it is addressed, it the ethic of street confrontation.

I look forward to the final edit.........eh Josimar and Stef.

A MEETING IN ARIPO.
April 15 2012.
There was a meeting in the Heights of Aripo concerning the organization of a much more formal group that will assist in the reorganization of the space, through activities - excursions, community activities, community structural projects. This isn't to say that there arnt any other groups doing this. What it says for this small space of 500-600 people there are to many groups. Which dilute efforts and strangle hold projects to fulfill their best intentions.
below are my notes from that meeting, it speaks about what should happen when we try to bridge the gaps that exist in our spaces. The man there is Michael Alves of the Toco Foundation. I will say, one of the most progressive community groups in this country. 

THE NOTES - division, political arena, alignment. Coming to terms, coming to an emotional connection. Communication. This alters the state of fraction within community.

How do you create that democracy? WOMEN! - It was mentioned - utilize your women in the group and within your community they have the ability to mobilize.





Before the mobilization of Toco Foundation there was 3years of conversations. Through these conversation things evolved about what the community wanted and what they were about.
Through projects you build unity, you bound the fracture. you build trust.

ASK PEOPLE - FEMALE IDEAS - PEACE IS A FEMALE IDEA.

DELEGATE WORK.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

GET PEOPLE TO SAY WHAT THEY LIKE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.

PRINT IT - SPREAD IT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.

THIS WILL ALLOW FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.

DON'T RELY ON THE STATE!

COMMUNITY HAVE RIGHTS.

WITH RIGHTS THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.

STAND UP FOR RIGHTS

DON'T ALLOW AGENCIES TO PUSH YOU AROUND - be clear what you want - don't let them tell you what you want.

CONVERSATION - INVITE PEOPLE IN.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS. NATURE.

 BUILDING A FRAME.
APRIL 15 2012.We built 7 frames.

21 DRESSED TREATED PITCH PINE 1x3x12, unit price 22.5, total = $543.30
WOOD GLUE = 40.00.
15 1/4 ROUND, MOULDING STRIPS = $262.50
SCREWS 31/4 INCH = $200
LABOR @ 300 PER DAY X 2DAYS = $600.00
CANVAS - 7YDS- UNIT PRICE 150.00 = 1050.00

TOTAL - 2,695.30


What I like about this is the control of production the energy of tools, the studio doing what it needs to be a production area.

The studio is getting there.

there is a community.
Anthony is from the community, the other guy who helped was from Grenada.

IT WAS INTO THE NIGHT.
THE LATE START THING NEEDS TO WORKED ON.
MAN DEM FELLAS COULD START LATE.

THE THINK FORUM.
APRIL 20TH, 9A.M-5P.M
NOTES FROM THE NOTE BOOK.

WORDS THAT POPPED OUT.
MARGINALIZATION.
CENTRAL PILLARS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
SUPPORT + RESOURCES.
TRAINING FACILITIES.

THE ART CITIZEN

CARNIVAL 4% TO GDP
PEOPLE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT.

CAMPUS MUSEUM!

CAMPUS ART SPACE!?

THECNOLOGY THAT MAKES YOU HUNCH OVER LOOKING DOWN.

IF THE PREMISE IS WRONG THE BUILDING WILL FALL.

STRONG FOUNDATION IS NEEDED.

STRONG IDENTITY MUST COME FROM THE CULTURAL POLICY.

HOW CAN WE BE WHO WE WANT TO BE AND DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR SPACE.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

NEED FOR AN EDUCATION POLICY.

STRIP IT DOWN & BUILD IT BACK AGAIN!

OUR EDUCATION SUCKS!

POLICY DOESN'T CREATE ACTION,

POLICY MUST ENHANCES ACTION.

THE YARD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOME.

YARD IS HOME...

CULTURAL CLUSTERS.

7 PRIORITY SECTORS.

THERE IS GROWTH WITHIN THE CULTURAL SECTOR AT THE SAME TIME CULTURE IS BEING REPLACED BY A MATERIALIST SIMULACRUM OF OUR CULTURE.

HOW DO TRADE AGREEMENTS PROTECTING THIS.

THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE NEEDS TO BE A
HARD MINISTRY.

HARD MINISTRIES VS SOFT MINISTRIES.

THERE IS A CAMP WITHIN THE CAMP.

CONCLUSION.

ALL THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT,

ALL THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID.

For the past two years there have been more meetings on cultural direction than I could remember, being held by the state, activist groups, artists coalitions, and by artists themselves.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

1.CONSTITUTION REFORM.

2. THE COMING TOGETHER OF THE TWO GROUPS THAT ARE DEVELOPING THE CULTURAL POLICY - ACT & THE THINK FORUM.

 3. PROPER ARTICULATION OF THE NEW EDUCATION MODEL, WHICH WILL DRIVE THE NEW CULTURE.

4. WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE?

5. HOW WILL IT OPERATE?

6. WHAT SHOULD OUR SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE IN OUR COMMUNITIES? THE NEW DESIGN OF OUR SCHOOLS

7. WHAT WILL OUR COMMUNITIES LOOK LIKE IN THIS NEW CONSTITUTION & CULTURAL REFORMATION PROCLAMATION SENSATION THAT HAVE US TALKING MUCH MUCH MUCH.

THE IDEA IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL DRIVE CULTURAL CLUSTERS. AT THIS MOMENT THE CLUSTER THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ARE CORRUPTED OR SUFFER FROM INSTITUTIONAL TIREDNESS AND LACK OF IMFORMATION AND FORMATION.