From Harvest Home to Crop Over

From Harvest Home to Crop Over
The theme for the 2014 Crop Over Visual Arts Festival

The development of Art and our artists continues to play an important role in the overall Crop Over Festival calendar so says Rodney Ifill, Cultural Officer, Visual Arts. The annual Central Bank sponsored Crop Over Visual Arts Festival, through its themed categories, challenges the creative minds of Barbadian artists in the design of statement pieces that tell a story to the beholder.

Mr. Ifill noted, “This year’s theme commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of the modern Crop Over Festival with a particular focus onits origins, evolution and development.”

In expanding on the topics of focus, he added that the evolution of the Crop Over Festival as a Harvest Festival has its origins embedded in the history of the sugar cane plantations of the colonial period, where Crop Over was formerly referred to as Harvest Home, a name given tothis celebration by the British.  It can be traced as far back as the eighteenth century, where it featured singing and dancing accompanied with shak-shak, banjo, triangle, fiddle, guitar and bones.  There has been major growth and development since its 1974 revival to a modern festival, evidenced throughout the years by the inclusion of various cultural elements in the form of the once practiced burning of the effigy of Mr. Harding to Calypso, Cohobblopot, the King and Queen of de Crop, bacchanal in song and dance, Bridgetown Market, costumed bands, Cavalcades, and of course the art and craft festivals.

For artists, the consideration of themes like these take a lot of detailed research, planning and concept design to achieve that captivating showpiece.  Therefore to ensure that we maintain a certain quality for the Festival, only the work of the highest standard is exhibited.

Mr. Ifill further remarked, “Along with the many cash awards open to persons wishing to participate in this category, including The Central Bank’s Award of Excellence valued at Barbados $ 10,000 – this year a special cash prize will be awarded for the best depiction of the themed component From Harvest Home to Crop Over.”

The exhibition is open to participants who are citizens and residents of Barbados, 18 years and over. The deadline for the submission of entry forms is fast approaching – that date is set for Friday June 6th, 2014.

The public will be able to view the exhibit from Monday, July 7 to Friday, August 8, 2014 at three (3) different sites including: the Grande Salle, Central Bank of Barbados; the Spirit Bond, Wharf Road Bridgetown and the Queens Park Gallery at Pelican situated at Pelican Village.