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MAKEMBA KUNLE
Artist/Storyteller & Creative Director
Studio 66, Art Support Community, Sixth Street Barataria, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, WI
BIOGRAPHICAL DATA
AGE: 57
DATE OF BIRTH: August 14, 1950
NATIONALITY: Citizen of Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies
FORMAL EDUCATION
Mausica Teacher’s College, Trinidad and Tobago Teacher’s Diploma Distinction: Art St. Mary’s College, Port-of-Spain
FORMAL TEACHING CAREER
1968-1981 Barataria Junior Secondary
Curepe Junior Secondary
Barataria RC
Nelson Street Boy’s RC
ART ADMINISTRATION
2002 to Present: Wednesday Workshop – Visual Art Training Programme
2001 Member - Foundation for the Arts & Culture of Trinidad & Tobago: Telethon for the Arts Committee
1998 Conceptualised Retraining Programme & Executed for Ministry of Education - Clay Sculpture
1995 - June Formation of Studio 66 Art Support Community/Board Member & Creative Director
1994 - Submitted Proposal for Advancement of CARIFESTA VI in the area of Fine Arts.
1992- Co-ordinator, Visual Arts Exhibitions — CARIFESTA V
1991- Initiation and establishment of new company Caribbean Museum
Catalogue for the marketing of Fine Art of the Caribbean and Data Collection.
1977-1989 Founder/Director, Caribbean Arts Community (in association with N.A.C.C)
Promotion and Marketing of Arts and Crafts
Developing centres in Port-of Spain, Barataria, and San Fernando.
- Developed Programmes for Education and Training of Artists and Craftsmen
1987- Conducted radio series entitled Art and National Development
Planning and Curating First National Emancipation Exhibition of Fine Arts at the following venues:
Holiday Inn, Port-of-Spain
Gulf City Auditorium, La Romain
Mount Irvine Bay Hotel, Tobago
Colsort Mall, Port-of Spain
Harewood Doorely Complex, San Fernando
Public Library, Pt. Fortin
1988 Organised and co-curated joint Trinidad and Tobago/ Barbados Fine Arts Exhibition — A Spirit Undaunted at the Central Bank of Barbados. Caribbean Arts Community in association with Barbados Art Society
Attended 4th Conference of Commonwealth Arts Administrators.
STAGE DESIGN/PREPARATION OF VENUES
2005 Set Design for Special Concert to honour visit of Nigerian Head of State Olosegun Obasanjo
2004-2006 Dimanche Gras, Queen’s Park Savannah
2003 Set Design – Davlin Thomas, Carifesta Presentation, Suriname: The Masquerade
2001 Set Design - Davlin Thomas, Theatre Production: The Hamlet Eshu Experience
1999 6th WORLD ORISA CONGRESS - Design & Décor: Market Place and Conference Venue, Cruise Ship Complex & Holiday Inn Trinidad & Tobago, Port of Spain
1998 Set Design - Davlin Thomas, Theatre Production “Sin #69’
1997 Set Design – Davlin Thomas, Theatre Production “Doeuns”
1994 Dimanche Gras, Queen’s Park Savannah
Comin of Age, Harewood Doorely Complex, San Fernando
1993 DIMANCHE GRAS, National Stadium
Design Exhibition, Coming of Age - History and Evolution of the Steelband, Eric Williams Financial Complex
Heather Jones November Collection, Queen’s Park Savannah
1992 Dimanche Gras, Queen’s Park Savannah
Glory Glory, TBC Gospel Concert, Jean Pierre Complex
Designer and Artist-Consultant, CARIFESTA V Grand Market, National Stadium and Jean Pierre Complex
1988 – 1992 Top 20 Awards, Roxy Entertainment Complex other award ceremonies
1985 – 1992 Young Kings Calypso Competition, Skinner Park
1984 – 1992 National Calypso Queen Competition, Jean Pierre Complex, Arima Velodrome
1986 – 1991 Uncrowned Kings, National Stadium
Kings Go Forth, Soca Village, Port-of-Spain
1980 Teachers in Concert, Jean Pierre Complex
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS
1994 Collection of Illustrated Short Stories, Makemba Kunle
No Surrender - Life Story of Growling Tiger, Rawle Gibbons
1991 Voices of the Silent, Christopher Grey
1988 The Study of Emancipation - 150th Anniversary Issue
1886 The Life and Times of Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler, N. Obika
1979 The Caterpillar Who Wanted To Fly - Makemba Kunle
1978 Echoes and Visions, Kenneth Charles
1975 Caribbean Calalloo, Andrew Salankey, Barbados
1971 Score, Poems by Anson Gonzales and Victor Questel
COSTUME DESIGN
- • Barataria Best Village Dancers
- Tico Skinner and Associates
- People’s Mall J’Ouvert
- Hackett and Associates
- Pamberi Steel Orchestra
- Tokyo Steel Orchestra
- Port-of- Spain Combined Schools
- Others
COVER DESIGN
1994 No Surrender: A Biography of the Growing Tiger by Rawle Gibbons (Leroy Clarke/Makemba Kunle)
1983 Caribbean Woman, Vols. 1, 2 The Life and Times of Uriah Buzz Butler by Nyahuma Obika
COMMISSIONED PORTRAITS
- Kathy Tyson - Britain
- Michael Douglas - Dominica
- George Odlum - St. Lucia
- Tim Hector - Antigua
- T.U.B. Butler - Trinidad and Tobago
COMMISSIONED PAINTINGS
1998 COMING OF AGE – CLICO’s 1999 Calendar
1998 LET THY WORKS BE SEEN – I.T. Mc Leod
EXHIBITIONS/ STUDIO ACTIVITIES
2005 Exhibition: PRAYERS IN DE YARD – STUDIO 66 And, EXECUTIVE LOUNGE, ERIC WILLIAMS MEDICAL SCIENCES COMPLEX – MT HOPE
2004
Jan 15th-17th PRELUDE – ART SALE BENEFIT FOR CORINNE GRAY
Feb 5th-20th RETURN TO THE SOURCE – ART EXHIBITION
TURUNESH AND JEAN PHILLIPPE – ALLIANCE FRANCAIS
Feb 13th-29th CARNIVAL ART II “WHERE WE ARE – NCC CLUB HOUSE
March 27th – April 03rd TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CANCER SOCIETY –
THE DANGERS OF SMOKING DISPLAY
March 20th – May 10th ON DE GROUND ART - FLOOR MURAL – STUDIO 66
April CANCER SOCIETY – DANGERS OF SMOKING – PART II
May 19th – 31st WORKSHOPS/PERFORMANCES: FUSION, FINE ARTS AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES OF TRADITIONAL SOUNDS – CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (UK & AFRICAN ARTISTS)
June 11th-13th ORISA ART EXHIBITION & WORKSHOP, SHRINE GARDENS, SANTA CRUZ
July 27th – Aug 02nd EMANCIPATION EXHIBITION OF FINE ARTS – CLUB HOUSE QPS
July 14th – Aug 02nd A TRIBUTE TO FIVE ELDER ARTISTS: NATIONAL MUSEUM & ART GALLERY – PIONEERS OF AN ERA I
2004 August 14th –21st PRAYERS IN DE YARD – LAUNCH OF THE SERIES
AN EXHIBITION OF DRAWINGS BY MAKEMBA KUNLE
2003
Feb 26th – March 07th ANNUAL NATIONAL CARNIVAL EXHIBITION of FINE ART – Studio 66
March 16th –29th EXHIBITION OF QUILTS - COLEEN MALWAH - AQUI
April - Oct SUNDAY FORUM FOR EXPRESSION
April 21st – May 09th EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF ELDER ARTIST LEO WARNER,
GALLERY 1-2-3-4, ST ANNS
April 30th – July 07th WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP – VISUAL ART TRAINING
June 07th – 8th RAIN FESTIVAL – ART & CRAFT EXHIBITION –
Shine Gardens Santa Cruz
July 26th – Aug 01st EMANCIPATION EXHIBITION OF FINE ARTS –
Club House, Queens Park Savannah
Oct 18th VISUAL ART TRAINING PROGRAMME – GRADUATION/EXHIBITION
Nov EXHIBITION OF CARNIVAL ART – CARNIVAL ART I (AN EXPERIMENT) CURATED BY MASTER ARTIST LE ROY CLARKE & STUDIO 66
Dec 14th – 20th KWAANZA ART AND CRAFT HARVEST – GALLERY 1.2.3.4 ST ANNS
2002
Feb – July VISUAL ARTS TRAINING PROGRAMME
Mar 25th – April 12th EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY ARTIST PAUL BILL TROTMAN
STUDIO 66 & KISKADEE: A CULTURAL LABORATORY
June 09th – 10th RAIN FESTIVAL – EXHIBITION/ART & CRAFT DISPLAY
Shrine Gardens, Santa Cruz
June 16th -Oct SAY SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING – THE SUNDAY FORUM FOR EXPRESSION (KEEPING THE ORAL TRADITIONS ALIVE)
July 16th – Aug 22nd CHILDREN’S HERITAGE WORKSHOP – NATIONAL MUSEUM
Visual Arts Training
July 26th – Aug 01st EMANCIPATION EXHIBITION OF FINE ART – Queens Park Savannah
Oct 12th GRADUATION CEREMONY AND EXHIBITION –
Visual Art Training Programme
Oct 13th – 15th INTERNATIONAL POETRY DAY
Collaboration: Studio 66, Writer’s Union & Circle of Poets
Dec 15th – 22nd KWAANZA ART AND CRAFT HARVEST – STUDIO 66, BARATARIA
February 2001 NATIONAL CARNIVAL EXHIBITION of FINE ART – Studio 66
CARNIVAL EXHIBITION – National Carnival Commission (NCC) CARNIVAL VILLAGE, Princess Building Ground, Port of Spain
VISUAL ART APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING (ten-week programme Feb-April 2001)
January 2001 LAUNCH – VISUAL ARTS APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME
August 2000 INDEPENDENCE EXHIBITION – National Museum & Art Gallery
July 2000 AN INTRODUCTION TO MAN TALK – Le Roy Clarke Speaks to Artists – Studio 66
CIRCLE OF POETS – PLASTIC ARTS an EXHIBITION /Poetry/Recital – Venezuelan Embassy – Port of Spain
June 2000 SAY SOMETHING/DO SOMETHING – Pamberi Steel Orchestra – Studio 66
May 2000 VISIT FROM GERMAN ART STUDENT, Lara Dahlmann for Apprenticeship & Research – Studio 66
SAY SOMETHING/DO SOMETHING – Poetry & Storytelling – Studio 66
CURATE EXHIBITION FOR ARTIST LE ROY CLARKE – LANDSCAPE OF CONSCIOUSNESS – Kiskadee a Cultural Laboratory
April 2000 WORKSHOP IN PALETTE KNIFE/OILS TECHNIQUE –Canadian Artist Raimond Rickevidios – Studio 66
SAY SOMETHING/DO SOMETHING – Launch of Sunday Forum For Expression
- LEAR ANANSI, FIRST READING – Davlin Thomas & the Mt. Hope Theatre Company
March 2000 CARNIVAL EXHIBITION – Studio 66
Nov 1999 MAKEMBA KUNLE IN BLACK & WHITE – An Exhibition Of Drawings – Art Creators Gallery, St Anns
August 1999 DESIGN & MANAGEMENT OF MARKET PLACE/STAGE & SET DESIGN – 6th WORLD ORISA CONGRESS – PORT OF SPAIN
NATIONAL EMANCIPATION EXHIBITION
May 1999 LET THY WORKS BE SEEN – Cannes, - France
May 1999 LET THY WORKS BE SEEN – Kiskadee a cultural laboratory
Dec. 1998 POINTS OF REFERENCE – Paul Kain & Nigel Parris – Davises 100
Nov. 1998 MASTER’S SERIES – Le Roy Clarke – National Museum & Art Gallery
1998 April 25th-May 30th SUSTAINING THE VISION (Exhibition) –Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel Grande Riviere
August 1998 Emancipation Exhibition – Turf Club Building, Queen’s Park Savannah – Emancipation Support Community
12-14 May, 1998 Artist Retreat/Workshop – Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel, Grande Riviere
Mar. 1997 HUMMING A NEW BEGINNING – 101 Tragarete Road an Art Gallery
Aug. 1997 Emancipation Exhibition – Turf Club Building, Queen’s Park Savannah – Emancipation Support Committee
Nov. 1996 National Exhibition of Fine Art in association with F.A.C.T.; at The Fine Art Centre, Scarborough - Tobago
Oct. 14th - 23rd, 96 National Emancipation of Fine Art ‘96 Gulf City - La Romain
July 30th - Aug. 2nd Emancipation Exhibition - Turf Club Building, Queen’s Park Savannah - Emancipation Support Committee
July 31st - Aug. 2nd Emancipation Exhibition - Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs
July 29th - Aug. 2nd Emancipation Exhibition at N.G.C., Point Lisas - featuring 13 Artists
July 22nd - 29th Design and Implementation of the Lidj Yasu Memorial Mural for the African Village - Queen’s Park Savannah
June 26th - July 1st THE LAST WARRIOR - Pamberi Panyard with other artists
June 1st, 1996 Venezuelan Artists visit Studio 66
June 1st, 1996 “WELCOME TO AN ARTIST’S WORLD” — Exhibition/Dinner: Hotel School, Chaguaramas
April -May, ‘96 Workshops, Publications of booklets and other printed material. Provided support services to other artists.
April 11th & 12th, 96 LAST WARRIOR AT COCOA HOUSE, Woodbrook
March 7th, 1996 Stage Design - International Women’s Day Award Ceremony - Queen’s Hall
Feb. 28th - 30th, ‘96 Preparation for Mural for the All Saints Anglican Church
Feb. 22nd LAST WARRIOR — Home Showing for North American visitors
Feb. 11th, 1996 STUDIO 66 Fund-raising Carnival Fete
Feb. 3rd - 6th, 96 Design & Implementation of The Exhibition “Coming Of Age” Evolution of The Steelband: for the Ministry of Culture, Community Development and Women’s Affairs — Queen’s Park Savannah
Dec. 17, 1995 THE LAST WARRIOR Home Showing.
Oct. 4 - 11, 1995 THE LAST WARRIOR, Naparima Bowl, San Fernando
Aug. 1995 THE LAST WARRIOR — hosted at Gallery 1-2-3-4, Normandie Hotel, St. Ann’s/coinciding with CARIFESTA VI
April 2 - 30, 1995 THE LAST WARRIOR — Queen’s Park Gallery, Barbados National Cultural Foundation (N.C.F.)
1993 ART FOR UWI, ALGICO Building, Port-of-Spain
1992 CARIBBEAN ARTISTS TODAY, Spedale Degli Innocenti, Florence, Italy CARIBBEAN ARTISTS TODAY, Drextel University, Philadelphia
1991 CARIBBEAN ARTISTS TODAY, Charles Summer School Museum,
Washington, DC
1990 One-man Exhibition — “WHE-WHE AN INITIATION” — Gallery 1-2-3-4, Hotel Normandie, Trinidad
1989 “A SPIRIT UNDAUNTED”, Colsort Mall, Port-of-Spain
1988 “A SPIRIT UNDAUNTED,” Central Bank, Barbados
“A SPIRIT UNDAUNTED II,” Colsort Mall, Port-of Spain
Harewood Doorely Complex, San Fernando
1987 “A SPIRIT UNDAUNTED,” Holiday Inn, Trinidad
Gulf City Complex, San Fernando
Mt. Irvine Bay Hotel, Tobago
Public Library, Point Fortin
1974 Art Society NOVEMBER EXHIBITION
1973 Art Society ANNUAL EXHIBITION
OTHER
1994 Programme Co-ordinator - Morvant/Laventille Trade Complex
1986 Candidate, General Election - Barataria Constituency
1981 Candidate, General Election - Barataria Constituency
1977 Initiated programme, You Can’t Treat Our Heroes So. Portraits of National and Third World Heroes in Junior Secondary Schools
1973 – 1974 Foundation/Executive Member of Teachers Organised for Fairplay—Forerunner (TOFF) of Teachers Union of Trinidad and Tobago (TUTT)
1978 – 1989 Executive Member of National Joint Action Committee (NJAC)
1975 – 1990 Appearances as Story Teller at cultural events
1971 – 1972 President, Mausica Teacher’s College Student Union
1970 Founder/Director, Black Expressions
1967 Foundation Member, First President of Eagle’s Sports Club
TRAVELS
2004 Hand Over Presentation of “Caribbean Artists Today Collection” – Santiago de Cuba
2003 Barbados Crop Over Festival – Adjudicator: National Art Competition
1999 Cannes Festival - France
1991 Caribbean Artist Today, Philadelphia, USA
1989 Attended 20th Anniversary Celebration, Tripoli, Libya
Tour of Museum and Art Galleries, London, England
Delegate, International Symposium to Commemorate 80th Birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana
1988 Delegate, 4th Commonwealth Arts Administrator’s Conference – Bridgetown, Barbados
1986 Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean for Peace and Non-Intervention in the Caribbean
Delegate, Congress on 40th Anniversary of the International Organisation of Journalists - Sufia, Bulgaria
1985 Delegate Nicaragua Third Congress of PCC, Havana Cuba
1984 Delegate, 4th Conference of Journalists of Central America and the Caribbean, Managua, Nicaragua
1979 Member of Trinidad and Tobago Delegates, Freedom Day Celebration, Suriname
COUNTRIES VISITED
Barbados, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cuba, Curacao, Czechoslovakia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Holland, Italy, Libya, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, Suriname, U.S.A, Venezuela & France.