Laura Facey’s UNESCO endorsed Slave Route project, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them” presented at 37th session of UNESCO General Conference

 
Jamaica’s delegation to the 37^th session of the UNESCO General Conference and General Assembly November 5 - 22 in Paris, France was invited to make a presentation on the country’s distinctive art heritage during the final day of the Conference. 
 

The initiative was undertaken by transformational and iconic Jamaican artist, Laura Facey whose work, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them” was the focus of the presentation. The one hour sitting was presented as part of UNESCO’s Open meetings, where delegates were given the opportunity to participate in the interactive session titled, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them: Baring the HeArt of Jamaica’s Heritage”.  

Their Spirits Gone Before Them

Facey’s phenomenal 2006 installation consists of three pieces: a canoe, 16 feet long with the interior fitted with 1,357 resin miniatures of another of the artists’ iconic pieces, Redemption Song monument erected at Jamaica’s Emancipation Park in Kingston; a supporting cradle forms the second part of the installation and the final piece is that of sticks of dried loose sugar cane that are combed into place to simulate a wave. The installation is intended to reflect the history and memory of slavery. Ms. Facey suggests that the aim of the work is, “to inspire wider discussion and activities relating to slavery, thereby bringing closure to the negative patterns and pain wrought by enforced servitude”.

The work received local endorsement from Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture and the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO. Following a review by UNESCO’s International Scientific Committee, the installation was approved and presented with an official support granting the use of UNESCO’s logo “Project supported by the UNESCO Slave Route Project”.

The installation is being heralded as an excellent initiative in support of UNESCO’s Slave Route Project which seeks to provide better knowledge of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery through the perspective of enslaved Africans. Facey has been commended for her use of art as a vehicle to reflect the ethical issues raised by this history.

The presentation was facilitated by Director, Arts and Culture at the University of Technology, Jamaica, Dr. Janice Lindsay and one of two candidates selected to represent Jamaica and the English speaking Caribbean as a member of the prestigious World Heritage Committee.

Redemption Song

Part one of the presentation dubbed, ‘Baring the HeArt of Jamaica’s Heritage’ provided an overview of the relevance of intangible heritage in Jamaica and brought into focus the role of art in safeguarding the island’s diverse cultural heritage. Dr. Lindsay introduced delegates to the concept of artists as Culture Bearers, and explained the importance of art as reference, revisionism and reconciliation. She introduced the works of a number of artists including established and new entrants to Jamaica’s art scene to include Edna Manley, Barrington Watson, Alexander Cooper, Malica Kapo Reynolds, Karl Parboosingh, Judy Ann McMillan, Cecil Baugh, Norma Rhoden, Alvin Marriot, Kay Sullivan, Christopher Gonzales, Dawn Scott and Ebony Patterson.

Part two of the session appropriately titled, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them” included an overview of the significance of UNESCO’s Slave Route Project, background to Facey’s UNESCO endorsed installation and an introduction of the Artist, Laura Facey to include a synopsis of her 40 years a sculptor and outstanding commissions completed to date. Laura’s work in community was also highlighted as a successful feature of her work as a member of Jamaica’s art fraternity. The highlight of the session was a 5 minute virtual presentation done by Facey in which she explains the ‘birth’ of the installation, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them”.

Facey’s objective is to have the installation repeat the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Route, while making exhibition stops. The work has already been exhibited at the World Bank/IDB About Change exhibition in Washington, DC between May 2011 and May 2012. It is anticipated that ‘Their Spirits Gone Before Them’ will travel across the Atlantic to the International Slavery Museum, National Museums Liverpool, England for summer 2014 and then be poised to continue its important reconciliation journey.

The presentation was well received by delegates with queries about the possibility of having the installation make stops in certain jurisdictions, as well as thoughts on how the installation can impact education in the region.  The United Nations Decade for People of African Descent being observed 2013-2022 is also expected to provide opportunities for exhibiting, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them”.

Miniatures of  sculpture pieces from Redemption Song fitted in the Canoe, main feature of Their Spirits Gone Before Them.