The Art A[u]ction for Haiti Committee, in association with the Edna Manley Foundation, the National Gallery of Jamaica, Hi-Qo Galleries, Harmony Hall, the Mutual Gallery and Art Centre, and Roktowa, is pleased to present: Art A[u]ction for Haiti, a fundraiser to assist with the recovery of the Haitian art world.

Included in the auction will be prints by FIRST photographers Peter Dean Rickards and Marlon ‘Biggybigz’ Reid.

The proceeds of this benefit will support the reconstruction and revival of the Centre d’Art, and the sculptors’ collective of the Grand Rue inner city community, which had in December 2009 hosted the Ghetto Biennale in which Jamaica’s Ebony Patterson participated. A portion of the proceeds will also go the upcoming residency of nine Haitian artists, including three Grand Rue sculptors, at the Roktowa studio facility in West Kingston.

The sale section consists of works of art that will be offered at fixed price and that will be on view at the National Gallery, along with the auction preview, from Wednesday, April 14 to Sunday, April 18. Viewing and sales hours are: Wednesday and Thursday: 10 am to 4:30 pm, Friday: 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 3 pm, Sunday: 11 am to 3 pm.

See the National Gallery of Jamaica blog for the full catalogue.

More from FIRST’s trip to Haiti:

VIDEO: Return to the Trembling Heart: Grand Rue, Port-au-Prince
PHOTO-ESSAY: Into the Trembling Heart: Five hours in Port-au-Prince

Three months after the earthquake that devastated our neighbouring island of Haiti, 22-year-old Haitian writer/filmmaker Claudel ‘Zaka’ Chery takes FIRST on a short tour around Grand Rue, a main street running through the heart of the commercial district in Port au Prince.

Zaka is part of a collective of Haitian artists who have been chosen to work on The Trembling Heart, which is a limited edition book of sculptural artwork – just 20 copies will be created. The book is intended to serve as a historical testimonial of the cataclysmic events in Port-au-Prince following the earthquake and its’ aftermath.

Each page will be executed by some of the most respected contemporary artists in Haiti today. Jean-Euphele Milce (Alphabet of the Night, Pushkin Press) is writing 20 original short stories based on personal experiences of the cataclysm of January 12 2010. The accompanying pages will be wrought from metal (Sculptor’s of the Gran Rue, Guyodo and Cheby) Wood (Lionel St Eloi, Jean Frederic and Nathalie Fanfan) and Beads (Myrlande Constant, Drapo Artist).

During the creation of the work interviews with the artists and studio sessions will be broadcast online to build anticipation for the auction of the completed work. The proceeds of the auction will be split with 50 per cent going towards a permanent residency programme for Haitian and Caribbean cultural exchange and the remaining 50 per cent divided amongst the participating artists.

In its completed form the giant book will be a freestanding work of art which will stand on sculptural legs and be targeted for inclusion in museum collections around the world.

For more information about the Trembling Heart Project contact: Melinda@rocktower.org

More from FIRST’s trip to Haiti:

PHOTO-ESSAY: Into the Trembling Heart: Five hours in Port-au-Prince
MORE PHOTOS: Port-au-Prince: In Living Colour

Previously on First People

March 11: Marlon ‘Biggy Bigz’ Reid and A Picture Called Death
February 23: Rosina Casserly (on Jamaica)
February 16: Devon Gordon’s Art of Extreme Patience

Photography, video/film development and advertising from the same people who create this magazine – under one roof in Stony Hill, Jamaica.

http://first-studio.net/
Tel: +876.756.2893

First Magazine was started in Kingston, Jamaica in December 2004 as a 7×7-inch print magazine.

Thanks to the the vision and assistance of Lithographic Printers in Kingston, First published four issues and 40,000 copies of the 7×7 inch magazine. The magazine was critically acclaimed and impossible to duplicate since it was structure-less; dependent on the unique and unpredictable nature of daily life as opposed to themes or subjects aimed at target groups.

The magazine stopped printing in 2005 after four issues. With a shift towards a blog, the new First remains true to its original intent while providing a powerful new platform for new contributors drawn from around the world–but all leading back to the foundation in Kingston.

As before, the magazine will reflect upon modern life in Jamaica, and like Jamaicans themselves, it will continually look outward – observing, absorbing and reinventing the world surrounding it.

You can email us at info@first-magazine.net or reach us via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Welcome back.

First Magazine is pleased to welcome our newest sponsor, the creators of the Grand Theft Auto series – Rockstar Games (and not a moment too soon…we’ve been stealing gas out the neighbour’s SUV).

For us, the partnership signals the beginning of a new chapter for the magazine as we move aggressively to establish First as a important media source in Jamaica, the region, and eventually the world.

Yes, we’re serious, but now for a little boasting.

Although this isn’t the first time Rockstar has invested in Jamaica (Mavado’s involvement in the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack made news here some weeks ago),this is the first time a Jamaican-based website has featured an ad from the company.

Local advertisers take note: get global…fast.

Nobody likes a goody-twoshoes, especially if they drink nothing but bottled water and won’t to help you steal a car (even if you really, really need one).

They cry when you kick the dog or push Grandfather down the stairs, and they’re always spoiling things with their everlasting advise; just when you’re starting to feel your buzz: dropping things, spilling food on people and flooring it when the cops ask you to step out of the vehicle.

Life’s too short, after all, to be stuck with Sandra Dee when you know damn well that she will never wear those panties you saw on channel 88.

To hell with Mother Teresa, more booze for us.

If you liked this, check:

March 26: Oreinthia Russell
March 12: Sabina
February 26: The Quiet Racquel Jones
February 19: Candice McCalla X Lime Cay
February 12: Bianca Carr
And… A Beautiful Nerd (with Oreinthia)
Not forgetting… Yendi Phillips
Racquel again… The Devil and Miss Jones

You have to admit, they pretty much beat out everyone in the proverbial Department of Weird.

See more consensual humiliation HERE