Jonathan Guy-Gladding was one of the first Caribbean artists to have a website and in the early days of Simiya when there were only a hand full of featured links, Jonathan’s works would be displayed every few days. The use of vivid color in life settings the Caribbean is slowly losing and the exploration of new themes from the region was both nostalgically comforting and inspiring.
A recent email exchange turned into an interview, here is what he had to say.
Simiya: When did you get your first inspiration to become an artist?
JAG: From when I was a small child I loved to draw, but I didn’t really see it as a career. It was in high school that I decided I wanted to be a painter. I used to watch those PBS programs like the Joy of Painting which made painting look really fun and interesting. I assumed I’d have to do something else to make a living, like teach. It was during my second and final year as a Peace Corps volunteer that I decided I try to be a full time artist. I think if I was still at my full time job as a computer artist in new york I’d have been too cautious to give up a steady paycheck and health benefits and be a full time artist but knowing that my Peace Corps service was coming to an end and I’d be out of a job anyway made it easier to take the plunge.
Simiya: Are there any interesting stories from this early part of your career? How can aspiring artists use these in developing their work?
JAG: I had pretty low expectations when I embarked on my career as a painter. I had my first show in August of 2001 in St. Lucia which went really well and I was encouraged by that. Then a month later 9/11 happened and the economy took a turn, along with tourism in the caribbean, and the gallery I worked with closed up. But I kept painting and also learned about making prints, which became my bread and butter. I had a Jamaican friend back in New York who liked art and organized little print exhibitions at her home and invited other West Indian friends who appreciated my work and bought my prints. Those little sales added up and helped out a lot. Starting my art career at a bad time for the economy and slowing growing little by little, year by year was a great way to do it. It made me thrifty and practical, and helped me appreciate opportunities and ideas that might otherwise have gone overlooked. I loved what I was doing and making some money at it seemed like a bonus. I think if you do something you love and have talent in, that love will show in your work, and there will always be people who will pay you for that. There’s a saying, do what you love and the money will follow. I think there’s a lot of truth in that.
Simiya: You have experimented with Cubism and now work with more realism. In what ways has your style changed over the years and why?
JAG: In art school there is a big emphasis on style and self expression, too much of an emphasis if you ask me. So when I was in college I felt like I had to take up a style, and cubism appealed to me aesthetically. Eventually I stopped painting because I didn’t have any subject matter that interested me much. When I came to St. Lucia I had a lot of free time so I started painting again. My first question was what style should I paint in? Finally I just decided that what I saw around me had so much beauty just as it was that the best thing I could do was paint it in such a way that it looked as close to reality as possible.
Simiya: You were living in New York and now are based in St. Lucia. What made you visit the Caribbean for the first time and what made you stay?
JAG: I had a great job as a computer artist at Sesame Street in New York, but after five years I was thinking about broadening my horizons and although I liked my job I didn’t to spend the rest of my life doing it. I wanted an important life experience where I could contribute and also grow from the challenges it presented, so I joined the Peace Corps and was sent to St. Lucia. I think it was the character of life in Laborie, the village I was assigned to, that made me want to stay. I’d never felt so involved and so much a part of a community as in Laborie. I’ve received so much support from the people there, not to mention a steady supply of inspiration and subject matter.
Simiya: What provides your inspiration for your work now? How do you go about seeking it?
JAG: I’d say it’s the people, especially the children, inspire me. That youthful energy, hightened activity and freshness of spirit are really engaging. And I think childhood and all that goes with it is something everyone can relate to and be nostalgic about. Being in a small village where I’m often involved with projects at the schools allow me to get a lot of material for paintings. I’m lucky to have more volunteers to be in paintings than I have time to paint!
Simiya: What areas would you like to explore next?
JAG: Lately I’ve been thinking about painting more murals. I’ve done a few outdoor murals in the village but I think I’d like to do some indoor mural projects, both public and private.
Simiya: Are there other Caribbean artists you admire? What should visitors to their websites look for in their work that makes the difference?
JAG: I think my favourite Caribbean artist is the Trinidadian painter Boscoe Holder, who passed away a few years ago. I loved the way he painted people, particularly woman. There’s a wonderful directness and freshness to his brushstrokes and his figures still achieve a pictorial likeness, and a great sense of design to his compositions.
Simiya: You clearly have a love for St. Lucia. Are there other islands in the Caribbean that you like to visit and why?
JAG: It’s mostly the smaller islands that I’m familiar with, but I’ve always wanted to visit Jamaica which I’d read about since I was a teenager, and Cuba seems like a fascinating place with its unique history and development, old buildings, etc. And there are a few small islands that I haven’t seen but have heard a lot about, like Tobago, to name one.
Simiya: What are the three most moving pieces that you have done and why?
JAG: That’s a tough one. I’m not sure if I can call one of my own paintings “moving”. That’s probably someone else’s call. But if I had to choose three of my best I think I’d have to choose at least a couple of my paintings with schoolchildren. One would be Standpipe. That’s one of those iconic Caribbean images. I think many can remember hot days and going to a standpipe to quench their thirst. Water is always a great subject, and there is a nice play of sunlight in the picture too. Another would be Madras 2. That’s a class picture with the children dressed in their traditional costume. The madras fabrics are a challenge to paint but they symbolize the culture and are a treat for anyone who loves colour. There are about twenty individuals in the painting and each little figure tells a story. The third would be Pon Lepotek. That’s the name of a section of the village and what you see in the painting is a typical late afternoon scene in many Caribbean villages. People sitting outside chatting, plaiting hair, carrying water, children at play. The lighting is great that time of day and I loved the way it filtered through the trees and onto the houses and people. It’s an ordinary scene but a beautiful one.
Simiya: How has the internet changed your work and that of other artists in the Caribbean?
JAG: The internet and technology in general has been great for artists. In the case of the internet, it’s now easy for someone in virtually any part of the world to view my paintings or any other artist’s work who has a website or paintings at a gallery that has a website. This exposure can lead to more sales, which is always a good thing but it’s also a great opportunity for an artist to get positive feedback. We often work in isolation and don’t always get to share our work with many or any people in person. But we need to feel that feedback sometimes, that gratifying feeling when we realise that something we made connects with someone else. It’s so rewarding to hear that somebody likes what you did and tells you so. The internet makes this more possible and commonplace than ever. It also helps build a sense of community among artists. I don’t think we’ve even begun to take full advantage its potential in that respect. Simiya is a great step in that direction and we’re lucky to have a place where we can look at different work from artists all over the Caribbean. Thanks for that!
Simiya: Opportunities to know more about the thoughts of Caribbean artists are rare. Jonathan, thanks for taking the time to respond and we wish you all the best for the future.
