"What you want to do art for?" These are words Graphic Artist Dexter Jacobs will never forget as he continues his journey through life. Educated solely in T&T, graphic designer Dexter Jacobs is a true son of the soil, and this 24-year-old artist wants to be the propelling force that will open up the art community to a country that is, for the most, part underexposed to creativity in it's most basic form. Jacobs uses his artistic abilities in a non-traditional forum, doing designs for popular brands such as Holiday Snacks, Hennessey and Johnny Walker. He is making his art work for him in a big way, and his goal for the Starving Artists Project (SAP) is to help others to do the same with emphasis on their aim, Inspiration, Development and Exposure. A self-taught artist, he is no stranger to going beyond expectations as he attempts to take art in T&T to where he thinks it should be; outside of the box. The purpose of his movement is to put the spotlight on artists in T&T and allow artists to shine by assisting in their positive development and exposure.
Inspire
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
The SAP movement inspires simply by being in existence. "The problem with art in T&T is the exclusivity of the society and the lack of willingness from the established artists to lend a hand." Jacobs seeks to change all that, and is not only investing his ideas but also his time and experience in order to give back to a community that he feels is in dire need. He recollects the struggles he faced while trying to pursue a career in art, the lack of guidance and mentorship, the complete absence of educational programmes tailored to those who excel in the arts and the absolute lack of respect for up and coming artists. What the SAP seeks to do is break down the barriers, engaging art, instead of restricting it to between four walls. "Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not eliminating our weaknesses."
Jacobs and the SAP Crew definitely aren't just talk though, as they have a definite game plan along with the right strategies to turn a novice into a fully equipped professional. "We'll have seminars and workshops as well as development through competition, which will be used to promote excellence and interaction in art..."The development of art through competitive avenues will raise the level of creativity encouraging artists to surpass even their own expectations," said Dexter. The plan is to advise artists on ways to manage their crafts, in terms of contracts and business ethics. The programme doesn't just offer ways to improve art work but also avenues to market art. Also in the works are mentorship programmes for students at the secondary school level, and CXC preparation help for students taking O Level art.
Expose
"True art stems from exposure, both decent and indecent." Today's media and communication avenues should make exposure easy, but not everyone knows how to take advantage of these forums. The SAP crew will bring exposure to the artists in their programme through Facebook, city enhancement projects, and a completely interactive Web site, expected to launch fully in July 2011. Jacobs said: "It will be the ideal site for employers or businesses to find creative professionals for projects or jobs of an artistic nature. "It will be a site where artists each have their own space to display their work, a vault for art. I can't leave out the various expos and exposure through competitions that will take featured art work to the public." Jacobs admits that his endeavor is a lot of responsibility but with his team, he sees the SAP as the trigger point for a movement that is sure to make an impact. The SAP will launch its official Web site on June 11 and is making a call for all young budding artists to take advantage of numerous opportunities that they will be presenting.