Visual Culture: Paint Jamaica Re-Imagines Downtown Kingston

Words by Michellee Nelson

You might be familiar with downtown Kingston through the number of legendary musicians the area has spawned, but it is also viewed by some as a  ghetto full of violence and undesirables incapable of growth. A new project is quickly gaining support for its efforts to reverse this inaccurate image, by bringing art to the streets downtown, and literally painting the area in a new light.

Paint Jamaica, the brainchild of founder Marianna Frg, is a collaborative effort by a group of artists whose mission is to use art to fuel positive change. The artists, most of whom are based in and around Kingston, aim to transform downtown by inserting uplifting and beautiful murals into some of the neighborhood’s more rundown and underutilized areas. One goal of the project is to expose residents to skills they may not have had access to and fill a void that many of those who are unemployed could use as well. “We’ve been told that there are too many people doing nothing…. and they just want something to do!” Marianna told us. “By having [community members] involved we keep their minds occupied and tap into their creativity. Some may learn new skills or be inspired to find a new passion in the arts. It also gives a sense of pride and involvement towards the Paint Jamaica project.”

Marianna, a native of France but lover of all things Jamaican, told us more about the goals of Paint Jamaica, the dope creative team she works with and why she keeps going back to Jamaica. “The team is composed of various creatives: illustrators, muralists, photographers, videographers and writers,” she says. “Some were friends, others are friends of friends. We just all connected real well and had the same desire and passion to shake up the art scene and build a democratic, sustainable form of art where it is being brought out to the streets… in unexpected locations. Most of the team are based out of Kingston or the surrounding area [but] we are a mix of diverse backgrounds—which I think is a tremendous asset as it helps us relate and see things through different angles.”

Keep reading to see what else she had to say.

LargeUp: You’re a travel photographer—of all the places you traveled to, why did Jamaica stick out to you as the place to launch a project like this?

Marianna Frg: Jamaica really lives up to the national motto “out of many, one people.” There is so much diversity, on every level, and I think that’s why I kept coming back. For a photographer, it’s also a ridiculously photogenic destination. Throughout my trips I also made it a point to spend time in the cities and I met many good people. I met individuals who surprised me and inspired me. I wanted to help change some of the unfair prejudice and perception the [downtown Kingston] area is plagued by.

LU: How do you and your team see Paint Jamaica transforming downtown?

MF: This is all very fresh and new for us right now. Our long-term goals are to build democratic artistic dialogues with underprivileged neighborhoods and change people’s perceptions on art and the impact it can have. Our short term goals are to transform abandoned spaces in inner-city communities collaboratively with the residents. A bucket of paint and a paint brush can go a long way!

LU: Where will the inspiration for the murals come from?

MF: The people in the communities we’re working in are inspiring us! What they tell us is what guides the art on the walls! We go [downtown] on a regular basis and have real, meaningful discussions with people. We talk to everyone! Some of the themes that keep popping up are unity, peace and love. They want to be uplifted. The children in particular are very visual and need to be surrounded with positive messages.

LU: As you know some of the biggest reggae and dancehall acts have come out of downtown Kingston – can we expect to see a celebration of the music in some of the art?

MF: When our project is completed, we would love to celebrate with lots of music. We’ve already met some talented artistes from our inner city community and we want their talent to be recognized! We’d also love to have artistes such as Chronixx, Protoje, Raging Fyah [and] Jesse Royal come down and celebrate with us. Music is central to the community and definitely has its place in the Paint Jamaica project.

Paint Jamaica will be taking to the streets in downtown Kingston July 16 with the goal of completing murals by Aug. 6. Stay tuned to LargeUp for more on this unique project.