An Arts and Crafts Exhibition and a Talent Show constituted a fitting climax to a series of activities in observance of the Month of the Elderly (October), in Anguilla, under the auspices of the Ministry and Department of Social Development.
Both of the above activities were held at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium on Thursday, October 30 – the exhibition in the morning and the talent show in the afternoon.
Mr. Clive F. Smith, Senior Social Worker, with responsibility for the Elderly and the Disabled, spoke to The Anguillian about the twinned activities. “The idea is to display the skills and the talent of senior persons 50 years and up,” he explained. “These are two of the events we said would be part of the activities for the Month of the Elderly.”
Both activities attracted sizeable attendances by persons from throughout the island. While the arts and crafts and the talent show were basically productions by senior citizens and retired persons, a number of younger residents participated as well, thus bridging the age generation gap.
One of those younger persons was Malesia Carty-Petty, an upcoming and promising artist. “Since I was a little child, I always wanted to be an artist,” the very pleasant and perhaps bashful young lady told The Anguillian. “I am always drawing. No one ever taught me anything. Here at the exhibition, we have some Anguillian portraits, other drawings and paintings, a mural of CeBlue Resort, several images of Anguillian history and other artwork. Right now I have all my work at the residence of Mr. John Brooks at Crocus Hill. He has been working very hard to get me out in public and I thank him very much for helping me.”
Her sister, Jessica Lake, commented: “Art was always in my family from smal, and so I also love art and have been doing it as well. My uncle and my cousin are all artists.”
Mr. John Brooks told the newspaper that he first met Melesia when he attended a graduation ceremony at the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School at West End. She was there to present a piece of her artwork to one of the teachers. “Once I saw the presentation, I got hold of her [Malesia] after the function and I asked her to come and help me [draw and paint]. We have been doing this for thirteen months now.”
Mr. Brooks continued: “As you can see, there is a lot on show around us. I am, technically speaking, the manager. I do most of the drawing and Melesia does most of the painting. We go around the island and look for some historic buildings. Over there you will see The Valley Boys School and the East End School [both in original appearance]; the Ebenezer Methodist Church and the old bell which came out of the [original] Methodist Church in 1945. It is still hanging there [on the site]. Most of our paintings are done from my back veranda overlooking Roaches Hill.”
The respected, accomplished and well-attired gentleman, replying to a question touching his background, said: “I spent fifty-seven years in England. I have worked as a soldier for twenty-six years; at Brooklyn’s Nursing Home for twenty years; a Magistrate for twenty years; Mayor of Branbury [in Oxfordshire] for one year; and a Local Councillor. Once I retired, I bought some equipment home with me and I decided that this is how I would spend my spare time.”
Among the displays were copies of Mr. Brooks’ autobiography detailing mainly his work and life in England.
Another exhibitor was Mr. Arnie Harrigan, whose personally-made guitars, over a period of years, filled an entire table. They ranged from his earliest and humble models to a modern, classy and electric guitar which he made for his brother, Rollie Harrigan, who plays at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Arnie told his story about guitar-making. “As a little boy, my father used to make guitars. Somewhere along four or five years old I began making pan guitars and steel pans. When I was about ten years old, there was an exhibition with all the schools participating. I recall that Smitty [Euton Smith of Island Harbour] also made a gun from wood. I made a guitar, a rat trap and a hammer from wood and my school – the East End School – won the exhibition. Smitty and I were tied in first place. I then moved into making acoustic guitars and when I was eighteen or nineteen years, I made the electric guitar. I made all these guitars on display here.”
Arnie added: “I got all of this experience as I continued making guitars. I worked in St. Maarten and every week I made guitars and sold them. I also sold them in Anguilla.”
Other exhibitors were Mrs. Mary Martin-Richardson (Aunt B)” known for her wide variety of craft work; Ms. Bernadine Fleming who specialises in cross stitch; and Mrs. Irenee Edwards, a long-established artist and handicraft producer.
The talent show, which followed the arts and crafts exhibition, involved some twenty-six performers. They comprised a number from the Senior Citizens’ Homes, the Retired Persons Association and others from the general public. Those who presented poems were: Bertha Carty, Aubrey Hennis, Roderick Brooks, Mona Fleming, Ileen Richardson, Hyacinth Hughes, Timothy Hodge and Linda Banks. Those who did monologues were: Malissa Hodge (on behalf of Felix Fleming), Evalie Bradley and Sinclair Buchanan. Others performances (songs, short stories and musical renditions) were by a group of residents from Just Tender Care Home with others being: Agatha Richardson, Rollie Harrigan & Company, Yvette Harrigan, Arnie Harrigan, Terrance Webster, Eugene Fleming, Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch, Keith Gumbs, Don Duncan and Bankie Banx.
The talent show was ably moderated by Dr. O.M. Linda Banks.
