London, England:
Jamaica House 2012 will be celebrating Jamaica’s 50th year of independence with a special art exhibition titled ‘Art Jamaica in Fashion’ from Jamaican art curator Mrs. Theresa Roberts and fashion designer Sharmain Forde scheduled for Independence Day, Monday August 6th in the North Greenwich Arena, London.
The ‘Art Jamaica in Fashion’ show presents an exhibition of fashion inspired by art, staged by Art Jamaica in collaboration with Sharmain Forde Couture. The exhibition celebrates elements of Jamaican culture which are world class, but rarely exposed outside of Jamaica. Sharmain Forde has created 20 pieces each inspired by a different work in the Art Jamaica collection.
Jamaica House 2012, taking place from August 3 -12, is the official national house for the country in London and serves as the base of Jamaica’s National Olympic Committee. The initiative seeks to capture Brand Jamaica in every way when the eyes of the world are focused on Jamaica during the London 2012 Summer Olympics. With the addition of ‘Art Jamaica in Fashion’, Jamaica House will truly capture the island’s cultural entirety.
According to Theresa Roberts, particular emphasis was placed on choosing pieces of art that represented different eras in Jamaica's progress as an independent country for the creation of the collection. The result of this careful planning has resulted in an art and fashion show which joyfully celebrates and demonstrates Jamaica's rich post-colonial cultural heritage.
"I am honoured to have been given this wonderful opportunity by my country to showcase the best of Jamaican culture to the world,” Mrs. Roberts added.
Mrs. Roberts is involved in numerous United Kingdom arts projects such as: DRIFT - installations on the River Thames; New Hall Art Collection, Cambridge University - a permanent collection of modern and contemporary art by women artists, with the exhibition of Jamaican women artists at Murray Edwards College in 2010; and the establishment of the International Slavery Museum, forming part of Liverpool's National Museums. Ms. Roberts has also launched her own commercial gallery, ‘Black Circle’ to give exposure to Jamaican artists currently under represented in Europe.
Sharmain Forde is a fashion and interior designer of Jamaican heritage who has embraced a wide range of influences, defying traditional limitations and creating new forms in fashion and design. Born in London, Jamaica has been a 'touchstone' throughout her career, influencing her colour, texture and silhouette choices. "Jamaican Independence is my independence", Forde expressed.
The Jamaica House 2012 initiative is organized by JAMPRO, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Jamaica 50 Secretariat.

'SPIRIT OF JAMAICA'
The opening exhibition features the work of its Jamaican artists, Monique Lofters, Kristina M. Rowe, Laura Hamilton, Philip Thomas and Laura Facey Cooper.
The Spirit of Jamaica exhibition curated to coincide with the launch of Black Circle Gallery is a natural starting point for a gallery conceived to represent artists from countries which are underrepresented in Europe.

Superficial notions of Jamaican culture which are portrayed in the mainstream media in Europe fail to take into account the sophisticated visual arts community which exists in the country. This diverse and dynamic arts scene is in no small part due to the legacy of "the Mother of Jamaican Art” Edna Manley (a contemporary of Barbara Hepworth, wife of Chief Minister Norman Manley and mother of Prime Minister Michael Manley) who established disciplines and infrastructures in the country which would be immediately recognisable to the Anglo-Saxon eye but which have evolved over the 50 years since independence to become uniquely Jamaican in character. The artists in the show represent the best of the new wave of artists following in the footsteps of past masters such as Albert Huie,Barrington Watson and John Dunkley all of whom have established reputations beyond the West Indies. Although crudely categorised as a new wave of artists the individuals do,of course,represent talent at different stages of maturity and at different points in their careers.

Monique Lofters and Kristina Rowe were the undoubted stars of the Edna Manley Art College final year show in 200[9].These are two young women who have a huge amount to say about the role of women in Jamaica today.The Island has long been a matriarchal society but it is telling that women are well represented in this show despite there being no recognised Jamaican woman "Old Master" other than Edna Manley. Laura Facey and Lara Hamilton are,in contrast,established and popular artists in Jamaica who have also exhibited overseas and are starting to gain international reputations.Laura Facey's sculpture ["Slave Ship"] has been exhibited in museums outside Jamaica and has created international interest befitting its subject matter and the quality of its execution. Philip Thomas is the rising star of Jamaican Art.An articulate and thoughtful individual he is already represented by a dealer in New York and we feel privileged to have been able to represent him in the UK.Philip deals with the place of black culture in Europe through his depictions of recognisably European figures from history with "blackness" imposed upon them.This technique forces us (sometimes uncomfortably) to question the way in which "European" culture and history has been presented to us.In addition the uneasy relationship between beauty and brutality are another recurring theme.

Black Circle Gallery is a dynamic new gallery funded by Theresa Roberts to promote artists from countries which are underrepresented in Europe. Theresa Roberts is a Jamaican by birth and this first exhibition showcasing young Jamaican talent is a natural starting point reflecting her heritage.

> Read also the online article in Press Jamaican Observer

Details of the Artists are as follows:

Monique Lofters
Born in Jamaica in 1987
Attended Edna Manley School of Visual Arts

Kristina M. Rowe
Born in Jamaica in 1986
Attended Edna Manley School of Visual Arts

Laura Hamilton
Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1964
Attended Central School of Art, London UK & Kingston Polytechnic, London UK

Phillip Thomas
Born in 1980
Attended the Edna Manley School of Visual Arts and has won several awards

Laura Facey Cooper
Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1954
Attended Jamaica School of Art Kingston, Jamaica and also West Surrey College of Art and Design, England. She has received several awards including a commission of sculpture for Emancipation Park, Kingston.