The Zemicon Gallery recently hosted the second Carmichael Art Prize. There’s a new sponsor now, from Canada – the Goldcorp Insurance Company Inc.

The theme for the 2007 competition is ?Food?. The entries had to be very particular paintings, not exceeding 36?x 48? (frame incl.), executed in 2007 and for sale (at a price consistent with the usual pricing of the artist?s work). Only one entry per artist was allowed. At the end of the exhibition, two prizes of BDS $1,000.00 each were awarded. It should be noted, these prizes are awards, and the artwork remains the property of the artist, unless sold during the exhibition. At stake were:

1) The public?s prize based on votes from visitors to the exhibition –
The winner of the public’s prize is an 18 year old student, Darion Marshall.

and

2) The critic?s prize, based on the recommendation of three jurors – “Jamaican Ackees” by Arthur Atkinson, earned the critic’s prize.

Artists submitted works to the Zemicon Gallery in Hincks Street, Bridgetown and the exhibition began December 9^th

Dr. Trevor Carmichael (in whose honor the prize is given) and Mr. James Gardiner of Goldcorp Insurance Co. Inc – the sponsors of the event.

Goldcorp Insurance Company Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldcorp Inc. (of Vancouver BC) – one of the world’s largest gold mining companies.

But to my mind, the selections were rather safe, and as such not very sexy or deserving in choice – FOOD can have so many connotations!

It could be women looking at a buff & ripped construction worker installing a girder – they may look at the man as if he were a steak, so put A1 on his vest as if sauce were added; for further sexual innuendo, what of actually painting a dick or a cunt being eaten out but express it in a manner similar to either Dali or Picasso? The rules seem fairly open to what level of interpretation is applied! I have seen male and female nudes at Zemicon in varying degrees of exposure.

If there was a decided Caribbean twist, there could have been a succouyant sucking out the neck of her victim, and with “I AM LEGEND” at the cinema – this would have been so topical, it cannot be disputed as it is nourishment, no matter the variation!