Scenic Jamaican Art for Sale

On a fine day in 1992 I kept an appointment with Cardiologist Donald Christian. As was normal my appointment came and went without my being seen. When his receptionist finally called my name, he opened the door and greeted me in as he went out the door and was gone for ten minutes or more. He returned and apologised for my wait, noticed I had taken interest in and scanning paintings on the wall. He pointed to one and said. “This young man just graduated art school and already is making a name for himself. If you are serious about collecting. You had best grab a few pieces of this guy’s work, before they get priced out of your reach. I mean this guy is not good, he’s dam good. Come here, look at this piece. Touch right there. You feel the tree trunk?. You get the rustic look of an aged tree and you also get the feel of it. I’m telling you Gloglen, it doesn’t get better than this. Look him up. So how are you feeling since…..”.

Up to then I had been buying pieces from itinerant artists and a young man who painted and exhibited on Trafalgar Road by the British High Commission’s office fence. I went to see the young artist recommended by Don Christian, his name is Webster Campbell. We struck up a good relationship, which had me spending weekends at his newly acquired home in South West St. Catherine plains. His studio was littered with unfinished pieces, which he would only commit to finishing if and when he was guaranteed a sale. Since I was being given special accommodation, I pointed out existence of a cart before the horse situation. He laughed and asked which piece I found interesting. I told him, practically all of them. More so those depicting old buildings, which I recognised were in advanced stage of derelict and would soon be gone. So began a collection process that ended in 1995 when I migrated to the USA. More than half the pieces bought have been lost to theft.

It will be noted that one piece in particular is dated over two years. These are some of Webster’s earliest works between years 1992-1994. Some landmarks no longer exists and even if they did, would probably be unrecognizable. You are invited to browse the collection and make your selection, in pursuit of that inner gratification. Only true connoisseurs as undoubtedly you are, can experience.

Thank you.

Gloglen L. Owen