‘Fifty Faces’ on at Baltimore Comic fest

The exhibition “Fifty Faces” will be mounted at the 12th annual Baltimore Comic Con which takes place at the Baltimore Convention Centre, Baltimore. The exhibition opened yesterday and closes today. “Fifty Faces” features cultural icons in pan, mas’, calypso, chutney and dance and was first seen in 2008 at Nalis, Port-of-Spain. It shifted to Carnegie Free Library in 2009 as part of its centenary celebrations of library services. Cartoonist Keith Anderson of the Sunday Guardian, who conceptualised the cultural icons caricature, is dedicating the Baltimore showing to two unsung heroes—Hamid Latiff and Ralph Davies. One a silky smooth crooner now under the weather; and the other a jazz pianist. He credits his sister Monica and her husband Michael Robinson and daughter Tamu for making his visit possible.

Gizelle Morris of the Tourism Development Company, a former Guardian employee, saw the exhibition and felt it should be shared with the world especially Trinis in the major capitals. She comes in for high praises. “Fifty Faces” is a tribute to Shadow (Winston Bailey), Brother Valentino (Emrold Phillip), Duke (Kelvin Pope), Brigo (Samuel Abraham), Lennox “Bobby” Mohammed, pannist/arranger and composer, Hamid Latiff and Ralph Davies, two unsung heroes. Over 35 major cartoonists/comic strip artists will be present at the convention, including comic strip icon Stan “The Man” Lee. Lee will be guest of honour.

Organisers expect a massive turn-out as the event has been “over-subscribed.” Panicoms Daisy James Mc Clean and Jason “Peanuts” Isaac, based in Brooklyn, USA are expected to meet and greet visitors at the booth. Jason, will play at 30 minute intervals. Keith is forever grateful to the people at Nalis, his calypso friends Shadow, Brigo and Bro Valentino, pan icons Lennox “Bobby” Mohammed and Bertie Marshall, Pan Trinbago’s president Keith “Bald Head” Diaz, the evergreen John Antoine, his Guardian media fan base and others who have supported him over the years. His new 2011 exhibition Sh_t talk Back In Town is ready, and is expected to go on show in late September/October at Nalis, Port-of-Spain.