For the recent “Our Heroes: Walking in their Light ” event in Kingston, Jamaica, CHAUVET Professional WELL Fit fixtures illuminated the works of original sculptors and artists.
Tech Diva Ja, an all-female design collective led by Nadia Roxburgh, created the lighting design. Also working alongside the Tech Diva Ja team at the event were Rufus McDonald and the late Franklyn “Chappie” St. Juste.
Using predominantly battery-operated lighting by CHAUVET Professional from Phase 3 Productions Limited, the monuments were individually lit, completely transforming the space and giving a whole new interpretation to the presentation of the heroes.
With different lighting designers working on each monument, each presentation evoked a different feeling specific to the hero being reflected. The Right Excellent Marcus Garvey, Jamaica’s first National Hero, known internationally for his philosophies and teachings, was uplit using red and green, the colors of the United Negro Improvement Association, which he founded in 1914.
The monument dedicated to the Right Excellent Samuel Sharpe, lit by Nadia Roxburgh, featured prominent shadow play placement of the year 1831 and 1865, representative of the 1831 Christmas Day Slave Rebellion led by Sharpe and the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion led by the Right Excellent Paul Bogle.
The lighting that adorned the joint monument dedicated to the Riht Excellent Paul Bogle and the Right Excellent George William Gordon, was lit by Chappie St. Juste, longtime friend and mentor to the Tech Diva Ja team.
At the arch shaped monument honoring the memory of the Right Excellent Alexander Bustamante a crowd-pleasing lighting display that combined with the creative use of color and interactive shadow play allowed visitors to become part of the work. Lit by Jessica Shaw, the flexibility of the wireless WELL Fit units meant that the lights could be discreetly placed and on-the-spot adjustments were easy to execute, resulting in a dynamic presentation of Bustamante’s monument.
Designer Aisha Robinson used lights at the Right Excellent Nanny of the Maroons monument to illuminate the abeng. Designed by Aisha Robinson, the WELL Fit units allowed the abeng to be lit in such a way that the traditional horn appeared magically illuminated from within. This provided a fitting tribute to the only female Jamaican National Hero, who herself was thought to possess supernatural powers.
For Roxburgh, the driving force behind the conception of this event, seeing it through from start to finish was a proud moment: “What really made this display special for me was the experience of seeing my research in a very real and tangible way. I’m exploring the concept of how lighting can be used to transform spaces, and people as they inhabit these spaces, so being able to execute at National Heroes Park, was not only important to me as a Jamaican, but also because you could see how people were affected by the presentation of our heroes in a new light.
“In addition to the Hon. Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, MP, CD, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and the Hon. Floyd Green, MP, State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, we were able to bring out many first-time visitors to the park and for some visitors,” continued Roxburgh. “This was especially moving at the monuments dedicated to Marcus Garvey and Nanny of the Maroons, it became an almost spiritual experience.”
