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Carlisle Harris received his art training at Howard University and
at present is the Vice Principal of John S. Donaldson Technical
Institute, and the Vice President of Trinidad Art Society.
He works primarily in acrylic on
canvas, but frequently mixes the media using sand, modeling paste
and oil based sprays.
Recently, he has been doing more
sculpture in metal and plaster of paris and to a lesser extent in
ceramics. He intends to continue to explore these mediums.
Carlisle’s work has a definite
affinity to spiritual announcements both in their subject matters
and in their titles.
Artist Statement
I have been working around a central
theme for a number of years in an effort to resolve fully my
expressions. This theme always related to peoples’ inner strength
and their sustained faith. This perforce has involved
articulation of inter personal relationship and the value therein
to society. I firmly believe that society suffers without faith,
inner strength and good relations.
People have discerned a close
affinity to spiritual pronouncements in my depictions, no doubt
because of the pictorial vocabulary that I have developed over
time. This employs icons and symbols of that nature so that the
“palm frond”, the “shepherd’s crook”, and the “ankh” and “olive
branch” appear time and time again in my work. There are several
others that I juxtapose with figures, all in an effort to
emphasize my concepts. I attempt to develop a dialogue with the
viewer that is long lasting, and as a result, the entire canvas is
worked up with statements, hints and questions. There are hardly
now any broad areas of colour, as I have once employed. There was
a hint of African design, which I at one time used as a
springboard, but there is no longer any deliberate attempt at that
sort of device. I had since been exposed to many other cultures
and artistic expressions. I have worked mainly in Acrylic and
Canvas, but in recent years I have also been mixing the media,
using sand and modeling paste, also in oil based sprays. I have
also found more time for sculpture (metal and plaster of paris)
and ceramics, which I am doing on a limited scale. It has also
been noted by some, that sculptural inclinations are apparent in
my paintings. I certainly would be embarking on a body of
sculptural works in the near future. |
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