>> View The Audacity Of The Creole Imagination Gallery

We walked into the National Museum to the voice of Hollis Urban Lester Liverpool better known as Chalkdust (or Chalkie) as he delivered an opening speech on tonight’s Carnival Exhibition for 2010 entitled The Audacity of the Creole Imagination. Shortly after sharing his sentiments to the well attended audience, the ribbon cutting ceremony took place and all were invited in.

Now tonight’s feature was focused on a tribute to Pan, and more so towards the pan-men and pan-women who created, founded and fought against all odd to preserve this culture known as steel-pan. In other words, folks were about to take an educational tour into the history of Pan.

The presentation was done by the use of images, artifacts and sound-scape showcasing the evolution of the steel-pan in three different eras. Beginning with early pan and its creation, to the musical fine tuning and development of pan as a musical instrument, and then lastly to modern pan and the presence it holds today. Essentially the exhibition showcased the journey that the steel-pan movement traveled, starting from the 1930s all the way to present time.

We later found out that this exhibition was the product of several years of research, with persons such as Kim Johnson, Kwynn Johnson, Lorraine Johnson, Martin Raymond, Kats Imai, Michael Mooleeddhar and Melanie Archer being some of the instrumental persons involved in making it all a success and reality.

On the outside the atmosphere was a little different, with a buzz in the night’s air as folks socialized and discussed various topics amongst themselves, while all enjoying the complimentary refreshments provided such as the fruit punch or rum punch and along with some tasty savory delights. Oh and lets not forget, there was even some live entertainment from pan side Silver Stars, producing that sweet melody that only the steel-pan can create. Sweetness fuh sooo!

Between the hours of 8:30 and 9 pm, things slowly began to unwind. It was between this time that we too decided to make our way out, gearing up ourselves for what else the night had instored on this particular Friday, just about one and a half weeks away from Carnival Monday & Tuesday. Here is wishing everyone a safe and fun carnival for 2010.

d’ local Juice

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>> View The Audacity Of The Creole Imagination Gallery