After having lived in and visited several European cities as well as visiting Beijing (and other Chinese cities) twice, it’s easy to ignore the simple architectural aesthetics in a small island nation like Jamaica. During this past month-long trip to Jamrock I was able to visit many more parts of the island than I usually do. Not only did I spend time in the beautiful north coast of the island, I also visited the south coast parish of Saint Elizabeth, which I’ve never been to before. Saint Elizabeth is known for the Black River, which is home to many of the islands crocodiles, various species of birds and plants. I also spent time in Portland, which is on the north-eastern coast and a parish I believe is the most beautiful in Jamaica. During this trip we visited or passed through about eight of Jamaica’s fourteen parishes. In addition to the little shops on the side of the road and jerk huts, I saw a lot of impressive–yet simple–residential architecture. Although I did not take many pictures of large houses, much of the residential architecture of these houses featured flawless outdoor-indoor elements such as verandas and covered patios, as well as tasteful uses of geometric shapes in the structure.

Many of the larger houses had polygonal shaped patios protruding from them and a few houses even featured hexagonal shaped windows. However, the most striking and aesthetic examples of simple architecture are the use of colors in houses and buildings of all shapes and sizes. While some color combinations in Jamaica may be seen as tasteless or kitsch, they are vibrant examples of how color makes even the simplest architecture stand out against the grey denseness of urbanity or green lushness of Jamaica’s many diverse landscapes. A common functional model of Jamaican architecture is a structure with four walls, one door, and a flat or pitched roof. This can be the skeleton for a small house made of concrete, a one room cottage made from wood, or the numerous street shops on the side of the road made from recycled materials. Below are a few standout architectural structures I loved. This last one is not a building as such, rather a very prolific statue at Emancipation Park in Kingston.

It is a very important statue that I see as a piece of art and architecture in public space. It represents not only the abolition of slavery, but also Jamaica’s independence in 1962 from the British empire. This statue caused a lot of controversy because of Jamaica’s religiousness, among other things. 6. Redemption Song Monument by Laura Facey was a very controversial statue. absolute zero curtains walmartMany Jamaicans were against this statue stating that the male figure was maybe too “well endowed,” and in general the nakedness of the statue was off-putting to some. duck egg blue curtains bhsThe Guardian describes it:solid thermal insulated back tab blackout curtain 84 l

It was supposed to symbolise liberation and celestial reverence in an independent Jamaica. Two naked 7ft-high bronze figures – a male and a female – looking skywards on a dome-shaped fountain embossed with Bob Marley’s lyrics “None but ourselves can free our minds.” *Note: bright color in architecture is characteristic of many Caribbean islands, notably Bermuda.blackout curtains fred meyerWhen your event needs to be perfect, you can count on Classic. lined voile curtains with pelmetsWith 30+ years experience and the largest product selection, we will bring your dream event to life.ready made curtains rotoruaNot all Brits head to Australia must do episodes of farm work and take selfies outside the Sydney Opera House. curtain falls blue скачать бесплатно

Joe Miranda, went Down Under and built a photographic community in Melbourne – his adopted home since leaving Lewisham in 2009. “There didn’t seem to be much by way of an outlet for the type of creativity I had been part of back home,” he says. In 2011 this frustration led to the formation of Hard Workers Club, a digital platform showcasing peers’ work (co-founded by Andrew Braithwaite), which was followed a year later by the Independent Photography Festival (IPF). “I think IPF was originally a reaction to feeling like there were no spaces, resources or services for a type of autonomy and community,” he explains. Teaming up with Rob Cordiner of Smalltime Projects/HeavyTIME Books and Penny Modra of The Good Copy, the festival debuted in Melbourne’s smaller galleries and project spaces six months after conception. Now more than 50 events deep and having exhibited, presented and collaborated with over 500 photographers, it’s become “an annual, multi-city celebration of photography, its application and practice.”

In 2015 it successfully arrived in London, New York, LA and Sydney. While an international model suited the project, for its fifth edition the festival is returning to a more local mould: “I was kinda bummed we didn’t do anything about (the anniversary), but then I figured ten years is really something. Five is how Kanye talks about clapping for your kid on the trampoline or whatever, but I am really stoked.” This year’s programme boasts solo exhibitions from Atong Atem, Abi Varney, Tom Gould and the winner of last year’s IPF Photo Prize, Gina Nero (Luke Overin has also sent over the show he debuted at IPF LDN last year), while IPF collaborators include local institutions The Social Studio, Talkshops, and a photo book and zine fair with Perimeter Books. Elsewhere a discussion on accessibility and diversity in photography will take place as well as a slide night, the IPF Photo Prize 2016, and a screening from Brodie Lancaster’s feminist film zine Filmme Fatales.