Divi Southwinds Resort will host the 5th Edition of Caribbean Fine Art (CaFA) Fair – Barbados to be held March 11-15, 2015. CaFA Fair opens on Wednesday, March 11, 6-9 pm with a Gala Reception featuring a live musical performance by Terry “Mexican” Arthur, and presentation of the CaFA Fair Special Award of Merit to veteran Barbadian collector and arts advocate Kathy Yearwood.

This year the Fair will present over 45 exhibitors of paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, original limited edition prints and new media exploring the cultural traditions of the Caribbean and the African Diaspora.

This 5th anniversary edition of CaFA Fair Barbados will feature 2 special exhibitions: “Diaspora Dialogue II” an exhibition of works by artists Khuumba Ama, S. Ross Browne, Sadikisha Collier, JW Ford, Anthony Romain, Danny Simmons, and Shenna Vaughn from the USA; Ernani Silva – Brazil; and TAFA – Ghana.

This exhibition will explore the African influence on contemporary Diaspora artistic expression and investigates the position of Caribbean art in the broader Diaspora conversation. “Our Caribbean Home” will feature works by 3 accomplished artists born in northern lands, who have become enthralled with the Caribbean way of life. The USA’s Hedy Klineman, UK born Dave M. Todd, and Canadian Maureen Tracey all now make their homes in Barbados.

Thursday evening, March 12, Barbadian and other Caribbean designers will be featured in a Caribbean Fashion Showcase. Barbadian Author Cher Antoinette will sign copies of her new book “Architects of Destiny” during the afternoon, while USA artist, poet and art entrepreneur Danny Simmons will host an evening of spoken word performances by Barbadian artistes and special guest UK’s Victor Richards on Friday, March 13.

Caribbean Art Symposium, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, will present a panel discussion with the Harlem Needle Arts group made up of artists with their origins in Barbados, Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago; a painting session with American artist S. Ross Browne; and an interactive presentation by Founder and Director of Prizm Miami, Mikhaile Solomon. CaFA Fair will close on Sunday, March 15 with a Caribbean film presentation and discussion with Grenadian born Director of “Absence of Love“, Billy Gerard Frank; Barbados Video & Film Association; Alex Daniel and NY based Barbadian Tyson Hall.

CaFA Fair will showcase works of art by over 45 internationally and regionally acclaimed artists including Ras Ishi Butcher, Jamal Ince, Carlton Murrell, Rosemary Parkinson, and Ras Akyem I Ramsay – Barbados; Earl Etienne and Shimoda – Dominica; Coronado Print Studio Group – Dominican Republic; Joseph Brown and Frankie Francis – Grenada; Carl F. Anderson – Guyana; Patricia Brintle, Francks Deceus and Patrick Icart-Pierre -Haiti; Bernard Hoyes – Jamaica; Diogenes Ballester, Puerto Rico; Laura Gadson and Robert Reid – Trinidad & Tobago; Afreekan Southwell and Ademola Olugebefola – USVI. Several talented emerging artists will be on show including Cher Antoinette – Barbados; Ziggy Bruney – Dominica; Jesma Noel and Michael Paryag – Grenada; Beatrice Mellinger – Martinique; and Robert Joyette – St. Vincent.

Event partners include Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.; National Cultural Foundation; COT; Divi Southwinds; Intimate Hotels of Barbados; Laparkan Shipping and MQI/BMW.

CaFA Fair was created with the primary mission of increasing awareness and appreciation of Caribbean culture through the presentation of works of art and the distribution of information. For updates please visit event website www.cafafair.com or call 646-267-8831.