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KEITH SWANSTON

Born 1948 in Trinidad
Keith grew up in Tacarigua where he enjoyed roaming among the rocks, the river and the rolling hills. He attended Woodbrook Secondary School where his art teacher was Frieda Artman sister of the 'First Lady of Dance' in Trinidad and Tobago - Beryl McBurnie. Frieda encouraged young Keith's interest in art and nature.

In 1960 he migrated to the United States entered Eastern Michigan University. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1972 with a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts. His media were water colours and carving in stone - a paradox some thought.

On his return to Trinidad in 1973 Keith exhibited with the Art Society and in 1974 won an award for sculpture. Keith is a teacher and looks forward to his retirement when he can spend more time with his art.

In 1974 he received the award for 'Best Emerging Artist' by the Trinidad Art Society. At present he is the art teacher at Tunapuna Government Secondary School in East Trinidad.

He is best known for his watercolours and for his sculpture, which he executes in wood, stone and concrete. At Piarco International Airport his samaan wood sculpture "Iere" is displayed. This large abstract piece, Swanston says, is "symbolic of the hope, dreams, and aspirations of our people as we journey to the future through prayer fulfillment and achievement. "Iere" is the Amerindian name for the island now called Trinidad in the West Indies.

His most recent gallery exhibition, in March 2000, featured sculptures and watercolours at The Upper Room Art Gallery, Top of the Mount, Mount St. Benedict. He also does commissioned work, including the Nativity Sets.

The images Keith depicts are often abstract and semi-abstract, as well as the more traditional, representational images familiar to lovers of Caribbean art. The artist envisions the relationship between art, the viewer and the artwork itself to be interactive, subjective, and malleable. For instance, when sculpting, Keith prefers to let the element define the emerging image rather than to impose form upon his material.