"Mint Gallery: An Oasis of Beauty"

Keesha Wallace, Observer Writer
January 18, 2004
 

In the midst of big business lies a small gallery. Mint Investments Ltd, located in the heart of New Kingston has transformed its plain white walls into a work of art by displaying the best of Caribbean art work.

Alan P Morrison, CEO and director of Mint Investments is a long-time art- lover. After years of patronage, he decided to take his passion to the people of New Kingston and created an oasis of beauty. With a few pieces from his personal collection, he created Mint Gallery. It is a small haven where business minds focused on stocks and bonds can take a few moments to not only appreciate beauty, but also remember another industry with extreme potential for growth.

The gallery's approach to art is straightforward. At Mint you'll find only the best of established artists in the region. Mint last made an appearance on these pages when it had the distinction of hosting an opening of recent works by renowned Jamaican artist, Stafford Schliefer. It was the artist's first local show after being abroad for several years. However, the gallery's present stock is no less impressive. Hanging only the heavyweights, look and you'll find works by Parboosingh, Watson (junior & senior),Osmond Watson, Beckford Walcott, and others.

Gene Pearson: Paintings are not the only things at the gallery and Gene Pearson's famous ceramic heads make an appearance. Born in 1946 in St Catherine, Jamaica, he is a 1965 graduate of the Jamaica School of Art (now the Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts). He is an artist, a ceramic and bronze sculptor. His works are familiar to us all, and were recently reviewed alongside his daughter's in this column. A little bit of trivia: his work is among the collections of 4 former heads of state: Prime Minister Phan Van Dong of Vietnam, President Lopez Portillo of Mexio, President Nelson Mandela of South Africa and President Bill Clinton of the United States.