10%

MOLDING THE POTENTIAL OF ALABASTER AND CLAY

October 16^th, 2019

In their raw, natural state, alabaster and clay can look like common rocks and soil. But in the hands of Jamaica’s artisans, their true colours emerge, and they are transformed into works of art.

“We design, we create, we come together and create products that we’re trying to showcase Jamaican art and to bringing it on a platform as valuable as any other art in any other country,” says Garfield Williams of the Trench Town Ceramic and Arts Centre.

MOLDING THE POTENTIAL OF ALABASTER AND CLAY

The centre, in west Kingston, recently received a US$5,000 grant as part of a programme supported by the African Caribbean Pacific -EU Development Minerals Programme, financed by the European Union and implemented in partnership with UNDP and the Mines and Geology Division of Jamaica’s Ministry of Transport and Mining.

Five thousand dollars has gone a long way in Trench Town, a community known as the place that nurtured many of the country's reggae legends, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. The centre bought a new oven and ramped up its business development. “If we did not have this grant, we would not be able to do what we did," Mr Williams says.

He staged a three-week workshop and brought in a teacher who taught clay art to vulnerable young people. “It helped the at-risk youth create a different space, a different mindset,” he says.

Mr Williams was even able to provide a stipend so the young people had money for lunches and taxis. “You would not know what part that plays in a community like this.”

Garfield Williams of the Trench Town Ceramic and Arts Centre.

With part of recent grant funds the Trench Town Ceramic and Arts Centre held a three-week workshop and brought in a teacher who taught clay art to vulnerable young people.

“It (the grant funded workshop) helped the at-risk youth create a different space, a different mindset,” said Mr. Williams.

Developing countries such as Jamaica hold significant deposits of minerals such as clay and alabaster, which represent untapped streams of economic opportunity. Beneath the surface of Jamaica’s hills and towns lie rich deposits, largely untapped. Experts estimate Jamaica has approximately 250 million tons of fine clay.

UNDP and its partners want to build strong businesses than can make use of these valuable resources.

"All the clay that I use here is from the community, and that is like a special thing to me, knowing I used to use imported clay from Toronto or Miami,” Mr. Williams says.

Born and raised in Bull Bay, in the hills of St Andrew Parish, Delroy Anthony Lamont works with alabaster mined from a quarry that is a stone’s throw from his front gate. He has a view of stunning hills, featuring the distinctive dark grey rocks, trees and shrubs giving a glimpse of the minerals that lie beneath.

He produces alabaster turtles for the Jamaican hotel chain, Sandals Resorts International. “For other vendors we produce jewel boxes, candle holders, turtles and various other small things. For the local market, we do centrepieces, vases and creative pieces,” he says.

Mr. Delmont sees a potential conversation peace in the red alabaster he's begun working on.

Mr. Lamont produces alabaster turtles for the Jamaican hotel chain, Sandals Resorts International.

Egbert Hamilton also works with alabaster from his home studio in Trench Town. He used his US$5,000 to buy tools and refurbish his studio. “You can see the shop how it is situated. It wasn’t like this before. I was able to extend it, make it nice and comfortable,” he says.

Since upgrading his tools and workspace, Mr Hamilton says production and profits have doubled, and there’s potential for greater improvement.

His apprentice Lettycia Smith is one of several people he’s been able to bring on. “When he has a lot of orders, he employs some of us to help him oil and dry off these items,” she says. Ms Smith, the mother of an infant, is grateful for the job and the new skills she’s learning. “I’m going to practice working some of the machines as well.”

The Development Minerals Programme is an initiative of African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group of States, coordinated by the ACP Secretariat, financed by the European Commission and UNDP and implemented by UNDP.

Text by UNDP Jamaica Communications Analyst, Gillian Scott; Photos by UNDP Jamaica/Talk Up Youth Media. Thanks to Ruth Clarke, Country Co-ordinator, Jamaica, Development Minerals Programme

Button Label

À la recherche d’un équilibre

Start publishing stories like this

MOLDING THE POTENTIAL OF ALABASTER AND CLAY

Trois communautés côtières mexicaines œuvrent en faveur d’un tourisme durable et communautaire

Un recorrido por tres costas mexicanas que avanzan hacia un turismo sostenible y comunitario

Tour three Mexican coastal communities working towards sustainable, community-based tourism

Tras casi tres años de guerra, el pueblo del Sudán sigue con la esperanza de reconstruir su vida

À bientôt 3 ans de guerre, le peuple soudanais a hâte de se reconstruire

As the war approaches the 3-year mark, Sudan's people can't wait to rebuild their lives