Three to show Artistcalypse at Art Society gallery

While preparing for his customary Carnival exhibition, painter Anthony Timothy was inspired to exchange audiences with two other artists. He teamed up with mixed-media artist Gabriella D’Arbreau and botanical artist Caroline Williams.

From today until Thursday, Timothy’s audiences will be exposed to the work of two artists whose work he both admires and owns. D’Arbreau’s and Williams’ audiences will also be exposed to Timothy’s work during the joint exhibition, Artistcalypse. 

The word joint is misleading, however. Artistcalypse is not one joint exhibition but three individual exhibitions in one. Timothy will install screens from his art studio in the Art Society gallery. Patrons will be able to move seamlessly through the work of each artist. The exhibition title also draws some inspiration from the idea of the Apocalypse. “Around the time we were planning, people were talking about the Apocalypse and I was intrigued by the whole idea of the old dying and something new beginning,” said Timothy.  

D’Arbreau says this is something new for a joint exhibit. “Usually people try to make the work look the same in joint exhibits, but we’re not trying to make it fit. We each have our own distinct style and you’ll be able to identify each,” she said in a telephone interview. The three artists are certainly different. Timothy is a watercolorist; D’Arbreau works with mixed media; and Caroline Williams’ art uses natural flowers, leaves and foliage to create pictures. All three exhibits will include old and new pieces from the artists.

Even though the exhibit opens during the heart of Carnival, there won’t be many paintings of masqueraders and parties. “A lot of artists are afraid of showing their work at Carnival time because there’s so much going on, but what we’ve tried to do is focus on the tourists and make art part of their Carnival experience in T&T,” Timothy said. He sees this as an alternative to the traditional Carnival activities.

The Brush Dances
Timothy’s exhibit is called The Brush Dances and features a series of paintings created at parties, functions and events. Timothy has coined the term “live painting” to describe the work and his process for creating them. Although the paintings are fashioned in his trademark watercolour, the series is strikingly different from much of his past work, which focused on local historical architecture and, more sombrely, the 1990 coup. Timothy describes the Brush Dances as “true expressions of joy, excitement and happy vibes.”

Timothy is a self-taught artist with more than 25 years of experience whose work has been featured in numerous solo and joint exhibitions. His work can be found in private, corporate and Government collections and his mural Birth of a People is in the lobby of the Treasury Building in Port-of-Spain. He is also the creator of a signature collection of 18 paintings entitled the Coup Collection depicting the 1990 attempted coup. Timothy also filmed a documentary on the coup called Port-of-Spain 1990.

Floral Rhapsody 
Caroline Williams uses a technique she calls botanical art in which flowers, leaves and foliage serve as paint. For Artistcalypse, Williams will be showcasing this signature style in Floral Rhapsody—a series of work based on nature. Williams has been working with natural materials for more than 12 years and has hosted numerous solo exhibitions in addition to participating in joint shows both locally and internationally. Williams is an active member of the group Women in Art as well as the Art Society.

Abstract
D’Arbreau said working on the exhibit with Timothy and Williams was akin to a mentoring programme. She considers both artists veterans and is honoured to be featured in the show with them. As a young artist, who only had her first solo exhibit last September, D’Arbreau said her work will still continue to focus on self-discovery. “Most of my new work had been focused on female themes like depictions of Mother Nature and femininity, but I’m also interested in experimentation with different media like coloured pencils and markers and just playing around with art in general,” she said. 

D’Arbreau studied illustration at St John’s University in New York and graduated with honours in May 2010. She is an executive member of the Art Society and sits on the exhibitions committee. She’s won several awards, including an award from the St John’s University Art Department. Since 2011, D’Arbreau has been working as a graphic artist in the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism.