Dear Editor,
Recently, with the sad passing of a number of prominent artists, a slew of articles flooded the media. And also just as sad, none of the contributing authors seemed aware of me.
None, including Stanley Greaves, who, along with myself are the last remaining male members of Mr. Edward Rupert Burrowes Working People’s Art Class. Why? Had Stanley’s age blunted his memory of times past when he picked up his pen to write? And the others: are they lacking the knowledge of the country’s art history in their aspiration to be writers? Well! This neglect without fail forces a biting commentary of complaint for their deliberate act of neglect.
Yet, In spite of all that, I choose better to enlighten them. In the year 1960, E. R. Burrowes and Basil Hinds encouraged me to stage a one-man showing of my work, thus being the first local artist to mount a one-man exhibition of paintings. All others worked in groups. Stanley, along with Michael Leila, Ron Savory and Donald Locke was one such group. My exhibition was a complete success: All 40 watercolours were sold in five days including five which were bought by Magistrate Gui Sharpies, himself a most prominent watercolour painter.
When I was growing up in the 1950’s, I first met Mr. Burrowes as he visited with Basil Hinds who was my next yard neighbour.
E.R.B. was surprised at the watercolour painting I had done that day from my afternoon session of sketching. He invited me to join the Working People’s Art Class despite the fact I was in my early teens. What then followed was through my hard work. And by the time the first flush of inspiration saw the WPAC disbanded in the early 60’s, already Guyana had grown up with several prominent artists, with many of us now known around the world.
My work is known the world over, with my first recognition coming from my election to signature membership of the prestigious American Watercolor Society, and the awarding of the Gold Medal of Honour from the Allied Artists of America. I am the only Guyanese, in any field listed in Marques Who’s Who in the World. My work is housed in many worldwide collections, including Kindercare International Investments, the El Paso [Texas, USA] Museum of Art, the Leon Loards Gallery of Art, etc…
And of course, the National Gallery of Art, Guyana.
I have had exhibitions of my works around the world, and more than ten in Guyana. And so it confuses me that I am not known.
I have also received Guyana’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Visual Arts.
Yours faithfully,
Jorge Bowenforbes, AWS, NWS
