For Release Upon Receipt - October 15, 2008
St. Augustine
The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine Campus Main Library will host a week of events in celebration of the 70th birthday of renowned poet and artist Leroy Clarke beginning with the launch of an exhibit Leroy Clarke – Master Artist and Poet on Wednesday 15th October, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Leroy Clarke – Master Artist and Poet will be available for viewing from Thursday 16th to Friday 24th October, 2008, at the West Indiana and Special Collections Division on the Second Floor, Main Library between the hours of 12.00 noon and 6.00 p.m.
Born in Belmont, Port of Spain on November 7th, 1938, Leroy Clarke became a teacher after leaving school. Self-taught as an artist, he left for the United States in 1968 to broaden his experiences in the field. Commonly referred to as a “Master Artist”, his work comprises a collection of paintings and writings that have been described as representative of the deep philosophical and spiritual dimensions of his character.
The exhibit will showcase materials from the library’s own collection and from a selection of material on loan from the artist, such as correspondence to and from Michael and Edna Manley, Edward Kamau Braithwaite and Eric Williams; photographs of the artist and his art; local/international newspaper clippings on the artist and his works; manuscripts of his major works; autograph books featuring dedications from the late Archbishop Anthony Pantin, Eddy Grant, A.N.R. Robinson, Geoffrey Holder, Morgan Freeman; and a collection of essays by J.D. Elder, Lloyd Best, Willi Chen and Lennox Raphael among others.
The celebration continues on Thursday 16th October, 2008 with a lunchtime seminar from 12.30 p.m. – 1.30 p.m. at the Audio Visual Room, Third Floor Main Library.
Kathleen Helenese-Paul