Studio 66 Art Support Community will once again host its Carnival exhibition that has become a calendar feature during the Carnival season over the last ten years. This year's exhibition focuses on one of T&T's multifaceted artists, Paul Bill Trotman, known to some as Trinidad Bill, or simply as Bill Trotman. This talented son of the soil and self taught artist has over the last five decades transitioned from dancer, master of ceremonies, comedian, actor, calypsonian, masman, designer, tailor, visual artist, sculptor and poet, to the artist extraordinaire he has become today.
For more than 50 years, he has entertained the national community with his showmanship and enriched our landscape with his talents. Born in Port-of-Spain on January 25, 1934, he spent his early years in Woodbrook and then moved to Morvant at age ten. After graduating from Osmond High School, he began his career by doing shows with Rex the Bicycle Man and danced with the Julia Edwards Dance Company. Trotman's sojourn as master of ceremonies, calypsonian, comedian, actor, etc, is well known and documented. However, many remain unaware of his talents as a visual artist, to which he turned later in his career.
He has developed a unique style of painting that is genuine and encompasses the folklore of T&T, as well as his experiences as a masman and designer. Bill continues to work at his home studio and remarks that "the artist must, through his art, educate and create an awareness of the environment; making people become so enthused to a point of wanting to be an artist too. "To paint, to write, to play music, to sing, to dance, to dramatise, to perform...the artist is the soul bearer of the nation."
Member of Parliament for San Juan/Barataria and Tourism Minister Joseph Ross will officially declare open the exhibition on February 10 at 6.30 pm, at Studio 66, Sixth Street, Barataria, (directly behind NIB). The show will feature more than 50 pieces from the artist, which will include some of his winning mas costumes, designs, and sculpture. The exhibition closes on February 26.
For further information on the exhibition contact
Studio 66 at 675-1421/358-5261