| |
I was awakened by a knock on the door about 10:00 am. I donned a T-shirt and stumbled to the door thinking it was a delivery. Instead, the caller was a woman in her sixties. She had a friendly face, an assertive tone and a pleasant Carribean accent. She said she had seen my face in the paper and began to tell me about her father, a sculptor from Jamaica, who had spent his last years living with her and her family just down the street from my studio in central Florida. His name was Alvin Marriott and she invited me to drop by her home for a visit. There was pride in her voice. I was curious. Later, I was electrified by what I learned; In Jamaica, the late Honorable Alvin Tolman Marriott was considered a national human treasure.
Alvin Marriott was born in Jamaica in 1902 to his mother, a playwright and musician and his father, a craftsman who made items out of straw. It was his mother who encouraged him and at the age of 16 or 17 he received his first woodcarving commission. He matured into a soft-spoken gentle man and self-taught sculptor who enjoyed a reputation as a local artist and made furniture for a living. Around 1938 Alvin Marriott left Jamaica and traveled to Panama and the U.S. where he continued to develop his skills. In 1944 his bust of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was presented to the White House. Three years later, Alvin Marriott was awarded the British Council Scholarship and attended Camberwell School of Arts in London. He worked for well known furniture houses in the U.K. creating custom furniture and other items, including a carved mahogany tray as a wedding gift for Queen Elizabeth. "Alvin Marriott could carve as fluently as an experienced calligrapher could write" says Burnett Webster, an English furniture manufacturer. He also worked on architectural art projects for buildings built elsewhere in Europe.
During the early 60's Alvin Marriott returned to Jamaica and witnessed the independence of Jamaica from the West Indies in 1962. The 60's were a time of unprecedented hope and pride in Jamaica. Sculpture by Alvin Marriott and others was installed alongside new public buildings to symbolize this new multiethnic country and it's Latin motto "Indus Uterque Serviet Uni": "Out of many, one people". The mind set of the people had been strongly influenced by three centuries of British rule and numerous monuments and symbols specifically designed to emphasize the greatness of the British empire and Jamaica's colonial status. Jamaica's new leaders were well aware of this and of the importance of symbols to their people. It was their turn to affect the collective belief of what was possible for the country now that Jamaicans were fully responsible for its future. Alvin Marriott and several other superb artists played a significant role in this plan. Preparedness and opportunity met and Marriott was ready when his moment came. Ultimately, his monumental sculpture became a permanent feature of the Jamaican landscape. |
 |
"Athlete" by Alvin Marriott. Cast Aluminum. National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica.
This photo is reproduced here with the permission of its photographer: Norman Marriott.
All rights are reserved. |
 |
"Athlete" by Alvin Marriott. Cast Aluminum. National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica.
This photo is reproduced here with the permission of its photographer: Norman Marriott.
All rights are reserved. |
Alvin Marriott was commissioned to create busts of Alexander Bustamante, the first Prime minister of independent Jamaica; Norman Manley, a powerful politician who led Jamaica to self government and Marcus Garvey, symbol of self-sufficiency and unbridled dreams. In the capitol city of Kingston the National Stadium was built in 1962 to mark Jamaica's independence. His enormous sculpture of an athlete is installed directly in front of the National Stadium. It weighs over 7000 lbs. and was inspired by Arthur Wint, winner of Jamaica's first Gold Medal in 1948 and the three athletes who returned with him to capture the Olympic gold medal in the Helsinki 1952 4x400 relay. It was unveiled by HRH Princess Margaret.
His health began to fail in 1980's. He fell victim to Parkinson's disease, that caused his hands to shake uncontrollably. The shaking could be stopped for periods of time with medication but the side-effects were devastating. Just when he thought he was finished as a sculptor, Alvin Marriott was requested to create a life-sized bronze figure of musician Bob Marley, to be installed in Celebrity Park near the National stadium. The challenge was irresistible. This request was no small act of faith in Marriott, as his condition was well known. The monument to Marley would bring with it a new level of national artistic scrutiny and international attention. To his countrymen Marley was beloved. To much of the world, Bob Marley and Jamaica were one and the same. The sculpture was completed in London as Alvin Marriott worked under the supervision of a physician. One of his assistants said that he had never before witnessed such a personal struggle and such courage as was needed to finish the work. The completed sculpture is magnificent and a fitting tribute to two stellar careers.
His health continued to decline. Eventually, he retired to central Florida where he lived with his daughter and her family until he died Sept 25, 1992 at the age of 90. As his daughter continued to tell me her story, I remembered "The Wolf at the Door", a film about Paul Gauguin. In one scene a bedridden man said "It is not enough that the artist suffers mentally as he must, and materially as he does, he also suffers physically the very act of creation."
|
 |
"Bob Marley" by Alvin Marriott. Cast Bronze, Celebrity Park, Kingston, Jamaica.
This photo is reproduced here with the permission of its photographer: Norman Marriott.
All rights are reserved. |
| Why do I care about the life and times of Alvin Marriott? Because I aspire. His daughter's one regret is that he was not properly compensated for his work. I am sure this is true, but people like Alvin Marriott make me dream big dreams. He came before me and he was a giant. Senator Yvonne Miller said it best as she stood before a ballroom years ago, packed with people more accomplished than myself. Her voice boomed "We are not the brightest and the best. We are not the most beautiful, the most talented, the most gifted. We are the ones who had the opportunity. We stand ... on the shoulders of giants!" |
 |
"Marcus Garvey" by Alvin Marriott. Cast Bronze, Jamaica.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Marriott's estate |
| The Alvin Marriott Photo Gallery |
In the 1990's, Marriott's personal portfolio was sent to Jamaica to serve as a reference for the writing of a book. The portfolio was lost. It's possible that the person holding the portfolio died, and the portfolio destroyed. In any event, there is no single, complete account of Marriott's life and career to my knowledge. This "gallery" is the beginning of an ambitious project; to develop a comprehensive catalog of Alvin Marriott's body of work.
To this end, I am seeking information from individuals and institutions that posses work or information on Marriott. I am asking owners and previous owners of works for information, including the dimensions and provenance of the work and a photograph.
Please email me at brian@brianowensart.com. Thanks in advance. This project can succeed only with your assistance. |
 |
Click on the image to enlarge.
Norman Manley, Statesman
Photographer: Norman Marriott |
 |
Click on the image to enlarge.
Alexander Bustamante, Prime Minister
Photographer: Norman Marriott |
 |
Click on the image to enlarge.
Jamaican Postage Stamp
Provided by Mikey Marriott |
 |
Click on the image to enlarge.
Coat of Arms
Photographer: Norman Marriott |
 |
Click on the image to enlarge.
Chapel of The University of The West Indies in Jamaica
Photographer: Norman Marriott |
| Back to Home Page I Back to Previous Page I Back to Top |
Brian Owens
(T) 386-956-1724
© 2004 Brian R. Owens |
|
brianowensart.com |
(T)386-956-1724 |
|
