Pree Jamaica

Tru-Juice calls on Jamaicans to run for a cause

admin — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:26:53 +0000

On Sunday, June 2, the lively town of Bog Walk in St. Catherine will welcome scores of runners when Tru-Juice presents its inaugural “Run for Your Cause” charity race. The event features a 5K Run/Walk, which begins at 7:00 am, and a mountain bicycle race that commences at 8:30 am. Only mountain bikes that meet certain specifications will be permitted to enter for the safety of patrons. The event promises to serve up a variety of activities to keep the entire family entertained.

As more Jamaicans become health conscious, road races have gained in popularity, and have proven to be an effective option to raise funds for charity. Trade Winds Citrus Limited, manufacturers of Tru-Juice, is adding its own spin to the road race concept and is offering the winning team a cash prize for the charity of its choosing. This is unlike other events where charities are pre-determined by the organisers.

Trade Winds Citrus’ Managing Director, Peter McConnell, is encouraging Jamaicans to take up the challenge for the benefit of their cause. “We hope the event will grow exponentially and deliver assistance to the needy. We invite families to support this inaugural event while sharing in the beauty of our Bog Walk orchard,” he said.

McConnell also revealed that neighbouring schools have been given special treatment. This event is designed to positively touch lives and as such we have sought to involve the surrounding communities by extending invitations to all high schools in St Catherine to participate with team of a minimum of five persons at no cost to them.”

The beautiful Trade Winds Citrus property will provide the backdrop for the 5K. The course will take participants through the company’s lush orange groves where the river and the orchards will provide a beautiful tropical setting. With cool temperatures synonymous with the area, participants are sure to register excellent times and find the endeavor less exhausting than other road races.

Alfred “Frano” Francis, Race Director of the event, believes this event is dynamic. “We are very happy to be associated with the Trade Winds Citrus Run For Your Cause event, presented by Tru-Juice. This is significant for Running Events Limited, as it will be the first time we are involved with a fund raising event that allows the winning team to name the charity of their choice. This will give competing teams the perfect opportunity to raise funds for their favorite charity. The addition of a cycle component and a beautiful course through the orange groves should make this particularly enjoyable for the participants as well as the organizers,” Francis explained.

Registration for this event being coordinated by Running Events can be done online at www.runningeventsja.com. Registration for the event is JMD$1,000.00 per person. Participants are encouraged to enjoy the beauty of the natural environment including a swim in the river after a gruelling course.

Source: Breakthrough Communications

Conquering Forest Trek 2013

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:03:43 +0000

The embrace of the early morning sunlight warms the hikers as they journey through the cool hills of Gordon Town with staff in hand, and proceed along the banks of the Hope River through Penfield before hitting the first rest stop of Forest Trek 2013 at Redlight. Beyond this point, the mettle of hikers with less than reasonable levels of fitness is sternly tested, and the climb through the forest along the Greenwich Trail breaks the resolve of many who eventually seek refuge in the embarrassingly labelled “Pop Dung Bus”.

Only the strong continue, toiling upward like the pine trees that majestically stretch skyward along the trail. Exotic plants, flowers, fruits and the occasional bird stir the senses out of the stupor induced by fatigue, and soon the trail delivers the hikers to the road that leads to the Holywell Recreational Park– the final destination of the trek located some 3,000 feet above sea level. At this point, it’s still a fair walk to the park, which is located in the Blue Mountain Forest Reserve. The hikers who managed to walk through the entrance on their own steam enjoyed the privilege of proudly boasting that they completed the 10K and conquered the Forest Trek.

Oganised by the Forestry Department, Forest Trek took place on April 27. The trek takes hikers through the forest from Gordon Town to the Holywell, traversing a number of communities such as Penfield, Mount Industry and Redlight along the way. The Blue Mountain Forest Reserve is co-managed by the Forestry Department and the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT). The Holywell Recreational Park is managed by the JCDT.

Hot Rides Link Up at Princeville

admin — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:13:54 +0000

Enthusiasts from the local tuner scene rolled out to Princeville Plaza on Constant Spring Road on Saturday, May 11 for a night of camaraderie, cars and chicks at the Hot Rides Link Up staged by the BMW Innovation Club. The event, which was sponsored by Sound City, attracted wicked whips from Team Myzery, Tezza World, Skunk Nation and, of course, the BMW Innovation Club. The Tempa Chicks kept things sizzling with wide array of dance moves that thoroughly entertained the gathering.

Liguanea Art Festival’s 10-year anniversary

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 01:12:38 +0000

The Liguanea Art Festival celebrated its 10th staging on April 21 at its lifelong home at Liguanea Plaza on Old Hope Road. The threat of rain did not deter many patrons of the arts from attending the event, which showcased exquisite works from established and upcoming painters, artists, sculptors, ceramists, photographers, jewellers and potters. Among the participating artists at the festival were Gene Pearson, Allison Sinclair, Franz Marzouca, Howard Moo Young, Jeremy Francis, Phillip Supersad, Charl Baker, Alphanso Blake, Lennox Coke, Natasha Pasmore, Atira Robinson, Jeffrey Perry and Laura Facey.

Sculpture by Gene Pearson

Art by Damian Cunningham

Damian Cunningham holding one of his pieces

Art by Lennox Coke

Kai Watson and his art

Art by Alphanso Blake

Atira Robinson

Nakazzi Hutchinson

Art by Janiene Facey

Sinclair's ceramics

Kemoy Morgan

Sezi brings the heat with ‘Slow Burn’

admin — Sun, 05 May 2013 21:34:43 +0000

Her sound is nothing like the music one would expect from an artist coming out of the Caribbean. Singer/songwriter Sarah “Sezi” Silvera, who was born in Jamaica and raised in Trinidad, has an eclectic sound that embraces multiple genres while at the same time rebelling against the inevitable attempts at categorisation. She describes her recently released four-track debut EP “Slow Burn” as the “opening spark” in her torch movement – “a unique interaction between singer, melody, performance and the audience”.

Sezi's "Slow Burn" EP cover

An intimate audience was treated to this experience at the launch of the EP in March at the Redbones Blues Café, where Sezi performed all four tracks. Expertly produced by Wayne Armond of Chalice fame, the EP explores themes of love, heartbreak, relationships and loss through mature songwriting and emotive vocal delivery. Below are photos from the launch…

Sezi (centre) is flanked by sibling singers Tessanne Chin (left) and Tami Chynn (right)

Sezi and Wayne Armond, producer of her debut EP "Slow Burn"

Cathi Levy’s ‘IMAGINE’ set to amaze audiences

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:03:35 +0000

A fusion of unique and fascinating art forms, Cathi Levy’s “IMAGINE” promises to deliver a kaleidoscopic theatrical experience of light, colour and movement that has never before been witnessed in Jamaica. Scheduled for May 10 – 12 and 17 – 19 at the National Indoor Sports Centre, the show will feature amazing “theatre-in-black” with black light puppetry; “choreosign” – a synthesis of hands and bodies communicating in sign language; movement and mosaic; and “Pantomime” – the art of silent fantasy.

Cathi Levy

Operating under the umbrella of repertory company Storybook Theatre Productions Limited, staging and production manager Cathi Levy, a former Miss Jamaica, is supported by choreographers Paula Shaw and Onaje Bell, soundtrack creator Jon Williams, music composer/arranger Michael Sean Harris, master props creator Jeremy Thorpe of A&E Puppets (Sesame Street Live, Disney), scenic designer Ron Steger and leading flying effects company ZFX.

With a brilliant cast of 30 hearing and deaf performers, “IMAGINE” offers an eclectic programme of 14 awe-inspiring works drawn from the repertoire of the Cathi Levy Players, a seminal musical theatre company founded by Levy in 1984, as well as a number of new works including tributes to Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and John Lennon. The show promises to be a treat that is “not magic…but magical”.

Costumes and props

Yard Girl Jewelry fuses art and culture

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:30:17 +0000

Erice Reid’s new Yard Girl Jewelry line, which consists of gold and rhodium plated fashion jewelry, is inspired by her twin passions of art and culture, as well as life’s colourful moments. Her signature map of Jamaica necklace and two exquisite earrings are currently available, and her sights are firmly fixed on completing the line of affordable and quality fashion accessories in time for summer.

Green enamel and clear cz's stainless steel lever back earrings

“I’ve always loved art and culture, specifically the Jamaican culture. My free-time is usually spent painting and creating mixed medium art on canvas. Many of my pieces are abstract or inspired by the African culture. Yard Girl Jewelry is my way of combining these two passions,” stated Reid, who currently resides in the US and teaches high school English.

“The first piece in the jewelry line, our map of Jamaican necklace, was designed in commemoration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence. The necklace is available in our national colors – green, black and gold. It is also available in pink, which would suit the woman who is a little less traditional,” she explained.

Rhodium plated enamel necklace accented with a cubic zirconia marking the capital, available in green, yellow, black, or pink enamel. This pendant is available on an eighteen inch rhodium plated chain.

Although the line is inspired by her culture, Reid is hoping that the beauty and simplicity of the pieces will appeal to all women. She revealed that once the line becomes established in a year or two, she plans to tie each collection to a charity or non-profit.

“A percentage of the profits earned would go toward bringing awareness to various social and economic issues in countries within our Diaspora,” stated Reid. For more information on Yard Girl Jewelry, visit www.yardgirljewelry.com.

Earrings inspired by Rasta colours, made with stainless steel, enamel and top grade cubic zirconia studs.

The ‘Evolution’ of Dubtonic Kru

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:09:53 +0000

Dubtonic Kru and roots singjay Jah Sun out of California have teamed up for portions of the U.S. Spring leg of “The Journey Part 3″, which will see the band performing tracks from their upcoming album “Evolution”. The album is set for release on May 28 and marks an important chapter in the musical journey of the band. Other friends slated to perform on spot dates during the tour, which runs from March 22 to May 8, are the DJ Kool Johnny Kool and Nikki Davis.

‘Art Fresh’ unveils young talent

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:14:49 +0000

The future of Jamaica art is on show at the 2013 staging of “Art Fresh” at the Mutual Gallery, which opened on March 21. The group exhibition and competition cast the spotlight on 15 young artists, most of whom are graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMC). Renowned artist Carol Crichton, the Visual Arts Director at EMC, Miriam Hinds, who is also an artist in her own right, and Gilou Bauer, Director and Curator of the Mutual Gallery, are this year’s judges.

: Guests examine Cavel Johnson’s “Most Wanted”

: A photograph by Marc Thomas is the topic of discussion at the March 21 opening of Art Fresh 2013.

Artists included in the exhibition are Amanda Gibson, Aundre France, Shediene Fletcher, Cavel Johnson, Christopher James, Corey Breneisen, Esther Chin, Jermaine Morgan, Leo Rhule, Lisa Golding, Marc Thomas, Nicholas Rose, Rohan Cargill, Sashawana Buckland and Stacy-Ann Hyde. The exhibition, which will close near the end of April, is sponsored by NCB, Carreras Group, Super Plus, Ideal Portfolio Services, RBC, JN General Insurance, J Wray & Nephew, Island Mist Spring Water, BCIC and KOOL 97 FM.

"Kingston Harbour" by Aundre France

Gilou Bauer, director and curator of the Mutual Gallery, holds a copy of the Art Fresh catalogue.

Leo Rhule (right) and his significant other flank one of the pieces from his "Study of Rest" series.

"Study of Rest #2" by Leo Rhule

This art lover gets a closer look at "Under Skin" by Jermaine Morgan

Artist Stacy-Ann Hyde stands next to her work.

Sashawana Buckland (left) greets fellow artist Leasho Johnson against the backdrop of her artwork.

Volleyball action at the UWI Sands

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:32:17 +0000

The Jamaican duo of Shedeiky Hamilton-Barnes and Kai Wright of the Venus Volleyball Club emerged as the top female team at the second annual University of the West Indies (UWI)/Pelican Beach Volleyball Invitational tournament, which was held on April 13 and 14 at the UWI Sands on the Mona Campus. Hamilton Barnes and Wright defeated fellow Jamaicans Nardrake Hutchinson and Renae Temple of the Fusion team in the finals.

Richard Campbell and Shervin Rankin of the Cayman Islands emerged victorious in the men’s competition, beating the Jamaican pair of Ryck Webb and Gatasheu Bonner from the Fusion team. The second annual UWI/Pelican Beach Volleyball Invitational tournament brought together top talent from Jamaica and the Caribbean at UWI Sands, the second facility of its kind in Jamaica. The competition was sponsored by Cayman Airways, Hi Lyte, UWI General Stores, Red Bull, Knutsfort Court hotel, Western Union, SoftSheen Carson, Palace Amusements, Locker Room, Yard Beat Designs, Seprod, Singer, and Tazmania Wholesale.

Shedeiky Hamilton-Barnes and Kai Wright of the Venus Volleyball Club

Shedeiky Hamilton-Barnes of Venus

Nardrake Hutchinson and Renae Temple of the Fusion team

Cristin Alexander from Cayman

Cherie Thompson of UWI A

Richard Campbell from Cayman

Gatasheu Bonner of Fusion

Ryck Webb of Fusion