Creating art from the hypnotic vibrations of drums? That is what Althea Gibson does. Everything creatively designed from her hands follows the rhythmic beat and thumping sounds of the instrument, which then manifest as illustrations on paper.
A passion for dance helped develop her talent, said the artist at her St Andrews home as she discussed the discovery of her rhythm artistry.
Althea was born in Britain to Barbadian parents. During her primary education her teachers quickly realised her artistic skills and encouraged her to develop her gift. She did her O Levels in art and wanted to pursue higher levels of certification but there were a lot of roadblocks in her way.
Her parents did not want her to become an artist but wanted her to have a profession more acceptable to the society during that time.
“When I realised I could draw I fell in love with it,” she said.
“I remember at school we were given an assignment to trace out a map and when my primary school teachers saw it they were debating whether I drew it or not. I thought within myself that I really had a talent. But my parents wanted me to go a different route.”
When Althea came to Barbados she was 16 years old and finding her identity. She was very interested in her roots and anything attributed to her African heritage. Therefore she learnt about her ancestral plane through the teachings of Rastafarianism and she thought as a black young woman it was only fitting. But her family disapproved and disliked the path she took. She faced harsh criticism and judgement.
“My family wanted me to be more academic; they wanted me to be a secretary, lawyer or nurse.”
Disheartened by the comments constantly bombarding her, Safiya, as she is more popularly known as, was stuck between living her life and accomplishing her dreams and pleasing her family members. For a while she worked as a housekeeper to gain income and support her seven children and when she got a chance she practised her craft.
Throughout the years she improved and she finally decided it was time she started living for herself instead of trying to please others. She told EASY she preaches this to her children every day, encouraging them to choose a career path intrinsic to them and not to do something that will seek the approval of others.
The 51-year-old is exemplifying her advice. So far she has two silver medals at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) and is looking to further her education in art.
“When I draw I pick up a rhythm and a pattern, so I don’t take long to complete a drawing; once I get into the movement it is quickly done despite the details.
“When I am drawing I try to mimic the sounds that I hear and this lays the foundation for how to do strokes, dots or shading.”
She added that she draws inspiration from nature since she lives in Belleplaine,
St Andrew, and also does basketry, crochet, and embroidery and makes jewellery boxes.
Safiya got into dancing, coincidentally through her son.
“My son went to a Nyabinghi Churchical Order ceremony in Jackson with his father and when he came home he was beating on the fridge and table, practically anywhere he would beat it.
“I picked up that rhythm and I told him that wherever he got it from I wanted to go.
“When I went I fell in love with the drums and I became a dancer and I love it too. Every time I go to the drumming ceremony I dance from the time it starts until it finished at dawn.
“We call it Ises, which means praises, and when the beating and chanting starts and I get into the movement; I just move. I can’t stop until the drums stop and it’s the same when I am drawing. I don’t stop until my piece is complete.”
Safiya is still fighting to prove to her family members that art and Rastafarianism are a part of her. Eight years ago her mother passed away, leaving with her a powerful message.
“When I entered NIFCA for the first time and placed, my mother started treating me different . . . . She changed her attitude towards me after years and years of condemnation.
“Two days after she told me that she realised my art was genuine and encouraged me to keep at it, she slipped into a coma. She died after a week.
“But I still have family members who decry my talent. This is my passion and my dream and that is why I told my children – they must find their own path regardless of what anyone tells them.”
Safiya encouraged young men and women to pursue a career that allows them to stay true to themselves and express who they are on the inside. (SB)
