Artist Bernard Hoyes in review
Jamaican-born Bernard Hoyes, is among the numbered Caribbean nationals who have served their countries well in foreign soil, as Art & Culture Ambassador at large. Now residing in California , Hoyes is among the most widely collected and exhibited cotemporary artists internationally. Through his art, many have been able to become deeply connected with the traditions and additions to Jamaica 's culture, it's people and in perceptive to the history of Afro America.
He is painter, sculptor and recently adds etching to his explorations. Through his intimate interpretations and play with his subjects mostly the strains of African lifstyle, and with balance on the elements of his art, Hoyes claimed favourable criticism from noted critics. He reflects on the influences on the development of his art.
Born 1951, Hoyes existed in a close-knit family during his youth. From age nine he was defined as an artist - he already had an understanding of painting, carvings, he was set to become an artist. The mayhem days of Jamaica 's tourism during the 1950s and 1960s in which Hoyes was privileged to experience were among his first real influences on his prolific skills.
He was caught in the lifestyles of the market and fishing villages to balance his exposure to Jamaica 's cults and religions especially the Rastafarians. Meanwhile, Hoyes had to contend with crime in Jamaica 's capital city, especially the results of political turmoil and violence after independence from Great Britain. These images including gang wars, economic poverty, imbalance in justice and social standings made it even easier for the artists to write staunch image essays with his paint brush.
Learning common street sense sharpened his wits and made his ability to interpret his surroundings even stronger and more focused. He remembers an active client list of his water colours and carvings from then, which was the result of a mother who worked for the Jamaica Tourist Board. He studied at the Junior Art Centre of the Institute of Jamaica and at 15 he was off to his New York life with his dad, which totally revolutionized his work. After settling into formal art training in New York , his vivid images earned for him more than he imagined. By 1968, he received a Ford Foundation Scholarship.
Soon he would earn BFA at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland . He also learnt at Vermont Academy in Putney. Hoyes had his fair share of challenges to overcome in becoming a master painter. The racial barriers especially experienced in the US , and the immersion into an entirely new Black culture, esp mid-20th century which he now had to combine into his Jamaican imageries. Spiritual tensions, social issues around Los Angeles were also issues faced.
By 1980s to 1990s, Hoyes achieved because of his keynote interpretating and combining his influences from Jamaica , African Caribbean roots, his immersion into the Black American culture. Now 3 decades later, he has earned the rank of master creating his own distinct style to be adopted by younger artists. Although the subject matter of his work is centered around the intense out of revivalism, he uses very vibrant colours in reflecting the high energy of this Jamaican habit.
Anthea McGibbon is an arts and communication consultant.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
