Speaking to The Scene recently at his East Street, Georgetown residence where he is “settling in” after returning to Guyana from the United States where he had been living for 43 years, Jorge Bowenforbes said the need to fulfil his natural talent was the reason he left Guyana in 1962 for the US.
He said there were no art schools here at the time and he knew even as a pre-teen that he had the potential to feature among the best, since his “world would be useless” if he does not paint. He told The Scene that prior to leaving these shores, he had won several awards; one at the age of 14. He recalled the late Janet Jagan patronising him for one his pieces back then.
Bownforbes’ arrival in the US saw him entering an artistic environment which was new to him but one where his talent was evident — the greeting cards field. He was successful in landing a job with the American Greeting Cards company in Cleveland, Ohio where he had settled initially. He said it was a field which was new to him but he thought the company recognized his talent. He said he returned home for a brief period but since he could not live here, he returned to the US and continued from where he left off with the American Greeting Cards company. He left that company in 1971.
- Medals which Jorge Bowenforbes received for his achievements on display at his home recently.
Soon after, he found a job with Hallmark in Kansas and he said he enjoyed his time at Hallmark and even introduced to the company a new line of designs featuring the black person. He said at first the company was hesitant about the line but soon after its introduction to the market, they realized that persons were buying cards featuring the new design.
In the evenings after work, he said that he would free-lance with other greeting cards companies since his work professional designer, was beginning to be recognized. He then took a bold step and formed his own company in 1972, under the name Lotus Greeting Cards, but according to Bowenforbes, he could not compete with his competitors.
However, he continued painting and for a three-year period following that, he submitted several entries at competitions in the US but could not feature.
With determination and always thinking he is number one Bowenforbes left Kansas for New York to view art shows there, specifically one undertaken by the American Water Color Society (AWCS), one of the oldest in the US which is held annually. He said after viewing the pieces on display at that event he soon realized where his shortcomings were.
- A Jorge Bowenforbes depiction of St George’s Cathedral in its olden days, on display at his home recently.
He said he went back home and worked assiduously at his paintings, and after practicing for hours to get things right, he struck gold.
In 1989, he received a letter from the AWCS informing him that his entry for that year’s competition, entitled Sentinels, was shortlisted for the show. He said he was elated that out of 20,000 submissions by artists worldwide, his would have been featuring among the 175 pieces which would have appeared in the galleries at the event. A few days later, Bowenforbes said, he collected a mail from his mailbox and while driving from his home opened the mail with his eyes fixed on its contents as he drove. He said he was stunned when he read that he won the gold medal for his entry.
Bowenforbes said the award was one of many to come as he knew then that his work was recognized among the best in the world. He won several awards thereafter including a gold award in 1975 and silver in 1978 for entries into annual competitions carried out by the Allied Arts of America (AAA). He is the only person to win gold and silver awards through the AAA to date.
He said his paintings were usually requested by museums and corporations in the US adding that he was in a position where he could say he was a success. He explained that when a collector plans to purchase someone’s work and that collector is quoted a price, s/he would inevitably ask, “So who are you?” He said the artist would then be able to display his/her awards and “show them”. Bowenforbes features in the book, International Who is Who of Twentieth Century Achievement, 1998-89 Edition, for his contribution to the arts.
Bowenforbes said his family life was always a priority noting that his loved ones have always been there to support him. He said that at an event in New York in 1997 he was persuaded by Mrs Jagan to return home to showcase his talents. He said the late Denis Williams, an acclaimed artist here, also persuaded him to return home as Williams told him his work would not be worth much if he did not showcase his talent locally. He said over the years he had been in close contact with others in the field including the renowned Phillip Moore.
Asked for his views on the arts here, Bowenforbes stated that there has been a “huge advancement” of the discipline over the years and he posited that this may be one of the benefits of the establishment of the Burrowes School of Art. He said the school is an asset to Guyana since persons are able to be trained to nurture their artistic talent. His advice to upcoming artists and those within the field is to get commercial training and to improve their fine art background since according to him, with a commercial background, one is able to get a job and a weekly paycheck for their efforts.
Bowenforbes returned home permanently last November and he plans to continue to showcase his talent in the field. He said he would be re-opening his greeting card company, Lotus, as well as a gallery showcasing his paintings over the years. He will be holding an exhibition at Castellani House during Independence celebrations in May.
Anyone who wishes to contact Bowenforbes can visit him at his Lot 303, East Street, South Cummingsburg location or by telephone number 223-0850 or 611-7128.
