There's a new art exhibit which only just opened today at the Image Factory Art Foundation in Belize City.
Belizean Artists Katie Numi Usher and Mercy Sabal have teamed up in their first-ever collaboration to create the exhibit entitled "Mothers of Creation".
7News stopped by today to talk to the artists about the inspiration for the pieces, and they told us that Sabal's ongoing appreciation for her Garifuna heritage features prominently:
Katie Numi Usher - Artist
"When I was in 6th Form, I took a class with Mr. Yasser Musa called Understanding Art at SJC, and I saw Miss Mercy's work for the first time. I was very intrigued by her work. It was very familiar to me, easy for me to grasp. And so, I went to study art in Mexico, never got my degree, came back. But, last year, I was doing some research and I was looking, and I didn't see enough Mercy Sabal, and I realize that was an issue because a big artist like this is supposed to be on every google search. Thankfully, we had Belize Mek Wih Go, and I saw her on it. So, I begged Uncle Gilvano. I said, Mr. Swasey, I need to get Ms. Sabal's number. I would be honoured if she would do an exhibit with me. Thankfully, she said yes. Very persistent, I am somebody that when I bite it I chew. And I keep chewing until I get what I want. So, that's where we are today."
Mercy Sabal
"I told myself, I will never do an exhibition again, and there comes a lady by the name of Katie Numi Usher, who started disturbing me about an exhibition. And I told myself I don't want to make an exhibition, and I won't make any money because I am already not making any. So, I was trying to find the reason why she wanted this exhibition, why she wants a connection with her and me. Then I got to find out that the connection is deeper than only the exhibition. So, I promote my Garifuna culture. I was born there; I grew up there; I will die there. So, I realize that after all these years, it is time again to bring the Garifuna culture alive."
Katie Numi Usher
"I think your eyes are things that receive colour before your brain starts to receive concepts. But definitely, Mercy Sabal, since she was 15 years old, has been very insistent on showing Garifuna culture, Garifuna Livity, [and] Garifuna spiritually. And that's something that permeates through all of her pieces. And so, that's what you'll see in this show. Like Mothers of Creation, there's a profile of a Maya face. There's also a silhouette of a black face with mitochondrial DNA, right. So, in my pieces, I tried to go into the idea and understanding of blackness, especially black womanhood, mirroring the work of Miss Sabal."
Mercy Sabal
"I have small dolls that represent children, and they have either a mortar or a grater. Each one of my dolls tells a story. So, you will find small girls'; then you'll find the mothers. Yes, I have a few men's dolls also because you have to put men in. They can't deal with us, but they can't do without us. And it goes vice versa. They're included. And then, I have the dancing girls because, in my Garifuna culture, there are ladies that when you want to have entertainment, like a birthday party or so, and you want a culture in it, I can always get them together, and I enjoy paying them because you get your money's worth. So then, I have my dancing girls. Then I have my reversible girls."
Katie Numi Usher
"We didn't choose the name. Miss Mercy came up with the name. She developed the name of the Show, Mothers of Creation. It is also one of the major pieces in the show. There's a quilt called Mothers of Creation."
Mercy Sabal
"The origin of that art piece came from Yasser. That came from Yasser Musa. He said, Mercy, this is depicting that it doesn't matter what colour you are. You come from B-L-A-C-K. So, you can run; you can hide. You could do anything you want, but underneath, you're still black, and I respect that."
The Mothers of Creation exhibit will be available for the viewing public up until August 5th.
Another COVID Death
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is reporting tonight that there was one new COVID-related death, the second in less than a week.
With today's casualty, the country's total has now increased to 332. Also, out of 1 thousand and 23 tests that were completed, 31 new patients have been identified. Here's a more detailed look at today's COVID snapshot from one of the Ministry's communications officers:
Gayle: The Suppressions Strategy Only Works In Slavery
Social Violence Anthropologist Dr Herbert Gayle has written the authoritative study on gang violence in Belize. He did so in 2012 and published it as a book called "Like Bushfire" in 2016.
Last night he appeared on Uncut via Zoom to discuss urban violence and we asked him about the Briceno Administration's plan to enlist 4,000 police officers:
Smirnoff Bottled in Belize Headed For Caribbean
Smirnoff Ice is an alcoholic beverage that is the favorite of many Belizeans and will now be produced in-country. Starting this month, the Belize Brewing Company will be making it for local consumption as well as for export to several Caribbean Countries. According to a release from the company, quote, "This undertaking expands BBCo's relationship with Diageo…"
Bowen already produces Guinness Stout in Belize for Diageo.
