PROFILES OF GUYANESE ARTISTES
By Vibert C. Cambridge

The late Guyanese renaissance man Denis Williams constantly reminded us that people with creative imaginations--artists--had an important role to play in the expressing the possibilities of our nation. His phrase was "artists presage their societies." Like him, I use the term artist in the most inclusive sense and I too subscribe to the proposition that our artists have an important role to play in defining the futures we prefer for Guyana.

Denis Williams's knowledge of the Guyana was much more encompassing than the narrow post-independence vista that currently dominates discourse among Guyanese at home and abroad. Denis's knowledge permitted him to take the long view. His vision was informed by the archeology of our Amerindian heritage and the consequences of the interactions of Europe, Africa, and Asia in the "land of many waters"over more than three centuries.

Dennis knew from personal experience, that the artist did make a difference in Guyanese society. He also knew how fickle our society was. How quickly we forgot the artist. He was aware that too many of Guyana's creative minds were forgotten...died unsung for and unwept for-the Billy Moore and Art Broomes syndrome. I am part of a group of Guyanese who are now dedicating our energies to correcting this situation.

We are members of the Guyana Folk Festival group. Part of our mission has been to identify and celebrate Guyanese creative talent. We do this through the Wordsworth McAndrew Awards. Last year, the group recognized 36 Guyanese with that award, one for each year of independence. Last year's group included: S.R.R. Alsopp, Ron Bobb-Semple, Johnny Braff, Maurice Braithwiate, Negla Brandis, E.R. Burrowes, Pat Cameron, Martin Carter, Bertie Chancellor, Megan Chan, Nesbit Chhangur, Lynette Dolphin, Francis Quamina Farrier, Robert Fernandes, Terry Gajraj, Roy Geddes, Gary Girdhari, Eddie Grant, Stanley Greaves, Bernard Heydorn, Peter Kempadoo, Vivian Lee, Ivor Lynch, Worsdworth McAndrew, Dave Martins, Sister Noel Menezes, Valerie Rodway, Bill "Bhagee" Rogers, Olga Lopes Seales, A.J. Seymour, Raj Kumari Singh, Shurland "King Fighter" Wilson.

In addition, the following organizations also received the Wordsworth McAndrew Award: The Atlanta Guyana Association, The Link Show, The Rajkumari Cultural Center, and Dem Two. Thirty-seven persons will be recognized during Guyana Folk Festival 2003 scheduled for August 30th and 31st in Brooklyn, New York.

Starting with this article, Godfrey Chin, Ken Corsbie, Tangerine Clarke, and myself will be writing a fortnightly column in this newspaper. Our aim is to showcase a Guyanese creative personality whose work has contributed to our sense of identity and has helped to promote Guyana on the international scene. Collectively, these articles will take the long view as pioneered by Denis Williams. Hopefully, the articles will make the point that Guyana's best years are still to come. Such is the optimism of the Guyanese creative mind.