Back in Jamaica. After a particularly rough flight into Kingston, I was relieved to see the mountains and feel the heat and sun on my skin. Not much, has changed, of course. Maybe me a little bit. Upon reflection, I am happy to be back.

Last night, we went to two exhibits. The first was for a former fellow volunteer, Varun. He is a photographer/artist who has just completed a two-month residency at NLS Studios. His work is thought-provoking and beautiful, alternatively portraits of the human body, Kingston and the landscape itself and whatever seems to inspire him. The studio space itself is tiny, but the yard surrounding the house is peaceful and dwarfed by Long Mountain. Check out the Facebook page for the event here and his web site here.

The photos are from the second event, which was hosted by a collective named Dirty Crayons. According to one of the original curators, DC is a group of young graduates from Edna Manley College who felt confined by the traditional, localized art world in Jamaica. The collective consists of five individuals: Jehan Jackson, Leasho Johnson, Keegan Simon, Taj Francis and Kemar Swaby. Their works consist of various media, including glass, spray cans, ink drawings, paintings and sculpture. While I’m not an art critic, it was definitely delightful and provocative. From their press release: “We hope to become vanguards in the changing face of this social event, encouraging young artists to play a part in the greater community while making a name for themselves in the Jamaican art scene and help to inspire other upcoming talents to become better artists and collaborators.”