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Out of all the organic matter on our planet I would like to be a tree. Trees grow deep and high at the same time. They can be the tallest, heaviest and mightiest of all. They can live the longest, existing for over thousands of years. They keep the soil from slipping away, they protect from heavy winds, their raw materials have many applications, and they give us rain and provide homes for animals, insects, birds and humans alike. They provide food, medicine, bring healing and give us life by providing oxygen. They never retaliate when we do them evil. They are always patient making the best of their place of birth.

Why can’t I take on the qualities of a tree? Consider this, they live so long and do all they do this because they use less energy. While we can’t stay stable long enough to get the…

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Mind Jottings

INDUSTRIALIZING JAMAICA’S CULTURE/ART
Art is a derivative of Culture but most times none of the two can be separated from the other. Our culture is our Art our Art our Culture. Ones failure to associate with this philosophy isn’t “armogedonic”(coined it myself) more so a difference in opinion, which as an Artist, I most definitely tolerate. Lets say something/ a Phenomena was to occur which, like Hitlers conquest, should, within context of Jamaica, obliterate everything artistic, from the expression to the products of expression what would be there to make obvious our offerings as Jamaicans to the world. No dance,literature,culinary,architecture, music, fine or practical/industrial Art, no product of expression leaves us with no voice or means to showcase that voice.

It might sound egotistical to some professionals who have worked so hard to establish them selves as leaders in their varied fields to think that one aspect of a nations culture becomes synonymous to the nation its self. Lets reference music for a bit. Reggae was before Bob Marley and his Wailers, he never conceptualized the genre but his contributions to its development, reach and iconography has propelled him, in so many instances( not a thought respected by many), beyond the boundaries of the music its self. Bob is Reggae, Reggae is Bob. For years men have been winning races, constructing buildings to live and wearing clothes to protect their bodies but until the arrival of the Usain Bolts, Leonardo D Vinci s and the Michael Kors, Chanel s and Vera Wong s of this world none of these items of existence meant much to humanity as we are expressive beings and Art is the means by which we express.

With all said it is only practical that we realize the importance of the Artist, Art, Industry and Indulgents. As an island nation so rich in culture , sorry, so rich in art, my bad, so rich with an ARTS AND CULTURE(artcult/cultart) world revered, a plethora of expression and expressive beings, the time is now to not only to create but to exploit our creativity to redeem our country’s good name.

OK, yes! my thought isn’t fresh, nothing mind blowing, but definitely, you cannot deny consistency and practicality. Like the many who cry out on the governments door steps for them to not only realize the importance of the Arts to our Jamaican Culture but also that of Jamaica’s synonymity ( if there’s such a term, if not give me credit )to the terms “Artistically Endowed”and “Culturally Iconic I to stand in that million man march to the liberation of the Arts towards a culturally progressive frontier. As a nation we are not only renown because of our “gud looks, di amount of red dirt wi dig, naar di thousands of white people dem weh flock wi cuntry ebbry year. We are known for our ability to ” tek wi han tun fashion, tek kin teeit kibbah haat bun an fight even when wi know seh wi can only plant di seed suh wi pickney dem cyan reep di fruit.

Point of my thought for today is let us unite as Jamaicans to have our voices heard and while wi at it make some gud moneys from doing so. HOW DAT SOUN?

Ainsworth Case
Human Resource Officer
Scheed international / Props and More

Who Cares about the Tertiary Educated

For years I have seen, tertiary education placed on the back burner to compensate for low literacy rates in high schools and primary schools. I have nothing against primary and secondary education, just to clear the air, but someone has to say something and say it soon.

Since the start of the 2000s there has been a plethora of colleges and universities popping up all over Jamaica. To walk the streets of Kingston will make my point as obvious as day. For each of these colleges there are hundreds of graduates being produce, almost like a manufacturing plant.Every one who can afford it, or can get a loan to foster it, is trying to get an education and in fact a tertiary level of competency. Should their crave and commitment to higher eduction be a prison or an albatross around their necks. My mother dropped out of high school at the eight grade level, had 8 children  but coached and worked her way to the point where she could enter a college and obtain a degree. She is now a trained teacher, that’s something to commend and be proud of, but, our society causes us to feel as if our achievements aren’t worth anything.

In the past  there was not much care for tertiary level education as mostly everyone, I guess was confident in the secondary level education they had. As long as you had 3 or more subjects inclusive of Maths and or English then you were ok but there was a drawback with that as it was never easy for persons to matriculate into higher positions as they weren’t qualified. Now things have changed, and there are now so many qualified but still unable to attain jobs in the areas of qualification. Those who were in the positions are still there, though most of the work force is underqualified no one has/ will make way for the trained. Why? One might ask . The reason is, with an underqualified work force you can underpay personnel while still over working them. It’s a cruel position very plantocratic but no one except for the disenfranchised will chose to admit the fact. As time changes things remain the same.

It is believed by many that, these people now have a tertiary education and unlike the illiterate, undereducated and unemployable they are able to think. This is true and a point taken. It is believed that since this is so true they should be the ones to initiate and establish our industries, to this again I say, and so will many others, this is true. But, in light of these truths comes the reality most of these trained personnel are inexperienced and unable to get the experience needed to follow through with that thought. For most Tertiary educated, being that most of this grouping are youths without any collateral to their names, it is very hard to get a loan to start-up a business and even if they are able to acquire these loans they are unable to pay them back . That point highlights a point close to heart which is the Student Loan Bureau but not enough space to elaborate.

To conclude, where do we go from this crossroads.  The government must continue on its/ their path to developing  the country’s education and the upgrading of the institutions created to allow the unemployable, uneducated and disenfranchised citizens of this country a productive place in society. With this the government as well as the private sector needs to realize the reservoir of talents, skills, culturally rich and academically advanced resource it has in those who have gone through the tertiary levels of education. For too long these gifted and academically cultured beings have been left to warm corner walls, living room sofas and fluff pillows. The need is obvious for policies to be established which speak tothe fostering of development within this portion of society. Not only should policies arise but there should be the instituting of such along with private sector initiatives to advance these persons experiences so they can matriculate. As wel,l our banks and loan agencies must realize the investments they will make when they contribute to the process of helping these minority group with the funding to start-up their business. Well all need to play our part in advancing the welfare of our brothers/sisters, community, nation and in turn the whole Human Race

Ainsworth Case                                                                                                            Scheed International

Season 4 Ity and Fancy Cat Show

Season 4 of the Ity and Fancy Cat Show is scheduled and ready to begin, on Sunday July 10,at 9PM.

The belly full of laughs is guaranteed to continue. But a word of warning, before you decide to sit down, and grab a few laughs to help you face Monday morning. Empty your bladder! Kin teeth caan dun!

Blakka Ellis was reported as saying at the launch, held at the Fiction Lounge , that the madness will continue. And after seeing the filming of the first show I would say he is right on target! The regulars are back! The hilarious Karen “Tandeh deh” Grant, Iceman and Micheal Abrahams, will be accented by the likes of Simon Crossgill, Deon Silvera, or maybe even Dancehall artiste Assassin (fingers crossed). Personally I think anything Simon says will be hilarious. Two puppets have also been added to the show, giving us even more variety.

And of course how can you have a new season without a new set. I wish I could show you the pictures….but I think your just gonna have to wait! Scheed Props and More, has again been given the pleasurable honour of creating this new set, in partnership with Grizzlies. I will not even describe it, but just say, you’ll want to see it for the whole season.

I look forward to seeing what the Ity and Fancy Cat Show do with our honorables: the Prime Minister, Ms. Lightbourn, Dwight Nelson’s “I don’t recall” and KD Knight’s “pathologically mendacious” at the Mannat enquiry, or poor Buju. And lets not forget the viral Clifton Brown’s “Nobody Canna Cross It”. The lyrics for this “song” can now be accessed online!

Jamaican comedy has never been this creative! And I await Season 4 of the Ity and Fancy Cat Show, with eager excitement!

BattleArt Competition – Easel to Easel

One note of correction on this article, the location of the event will be YWCA and not the YMCA as stated here. The YWCA is on 51 Arnold Rd Kingston 5 Jamaica of South Camp Rd.

Art clash! Painters go easel to easel at YMCA

Mel Cooke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Sunday June 26, 2011

Scheed At Work

First there was singing and deejaying, then cracking jokes, dance and fashion.  Now the competitive format which has made steady gains in the performing arts comes to the fine arts with Battleart, a one-day competition among young painters which takes place at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Kingston on Hope Road, St Andrew, on July 30.

It is the first in a series of such competitions, each of which will entail a different aspect of the arts.

Scheed Cole of Scheed International, which is organising Battleart, said: “It is a challenge, a competitive challenge.” He hopes to attract entrants from the secondary-school system, to which letters will be sent inviting participation by students in their final year.

Fifteen contestants will be selected, based on the portfolios submitted, which five judges – including Cole – will assess. Then, on the ‘Battleart’ day, the contestants will be whittled down to five, from which the top three will be selected.

First prize is $15,000; the first runner-up gets $10,000; and a painting set will be presented to the second runner-up. However, there is the prospect of employment, as Cole said “a main reason for this is to find persons who can get jobs”.

As the battling artists will be required to do complete work in two-hour spells, The Sunday Gleaner asked if this would compromise quality. Cole said it would not, as “we are not going to give them a lot of things to paint. Whatever is required of them can be done in that particular time”. Plus, he said, working quickly is important as “you want to increase quality and efficiency at the same time”.

The day’s format is two two-hour challenges, the first to paint geometric objects and the second to paint organic forms. “We are testing their ability to do realism,” Cole said.

In addition to watching the artists at work, the audience will be treated to a Capoeira demonstration as well as have the opportunity to get their portraits done and get involved with fruit sculpting. Also, Cole said, there will be a mural board on which anyone can paint.

Battleart does not stop with the painters. “This is the first of many. We are going to go through poetry, drama, music, you name it,” he said. “For one competition we will select a wall in a particular community and people will do murals. We have no sponsorship and the budget is small, but we are stretching it.”

And he puts Battleart in the context of avoiding a more literal battle. “It takes the negative energy out and puts it in a creative form. It leaves you devoid of anger and it creates employment as well,” Cole said.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110626/arts/arts2.html

Hot Suh! Whats Your Approach?

Yes we are an Arts based company, and I guess this is not the topic you would expect on our blog, but hey Art is life, and visa versa. And Art is a constant dynamic with the reality we live in and our expression of it.

Any Jamaican woman will tell you horror stories of how men approached them and instead of making them feel attractive ended up making them feel like they had been violated. Phrases like “stiff breast”, “me woulda waan fi breed yuh” and “fat pum pum”, are the worst I have heard personally. But men have gone as far as to say what they would do with these parts of the female body if given the chance. And there are the really really dumb ones that regurgitate pick up lines.

Some women go through heart stopping trepidation at the thought of having to pass a group of men, even worst a construction site. Other women, know exactly where to tell a man to stick his thingy, and don’t fret. Actually I think a Jamaican man appreciates a woman who is able to trade words with him. Keeps it interesting for him, ignore them and instead of hearing him strip you naked, you’ll hear a barrage of other obscenities.

Well it got me thinking. Why do men “look” women in Jamaica? A man could be happily married to his wife at home,the mother of his loving children, he has no desire to cheat on her but he is compelled, when he passes a woman he thinks is attractive, to verbally highlight those features he deems her assets and worthy of commendation.

I have therefore come to the conclusion that it’s not about the woman. You could be the all dolled up in the latest, your skin firm and smooth and your face cute. It’s all about the man. The man feels better about himself for having, “looked” the woman. Again down to the animalistic barbarian hunt. And the chase begins, like a cat who plays with his meal. Jamaican men are born  thinking there is no woman alive who would resist them. “Lots of fish in the sea” and the women make it so easy for them.

Folks I know not all Jamaican men are like this. We have beautiful Jamaican men, not the self loving, ganja smoking, street walking, badwud cussing, all night clubbing, skirt chasing, woman beating, unfaithful lying men. But good men. Women lets pray they are not so few that we have to share them.

All images from Scheed Collections, now available.

Green Expo 2011

It was Friday June 10 to Sunday June 12 2011

We hope you were at the Expo held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel to see the many fantastic booths, and especially the Urban Development Corporation  (UDC) booth done by us.

Not only was our team of ninjas on a short schedule to create this 10’’X20’’X 8’’ booth in four days, but they only had a sketch of an idea to work with. From concept to construction the team assembled, ready to complete the task, their sole mission to AMAZE.

 

“It took four days and nights, I got no sleep but, we just knew it was something we had to do”, says Rhoan McConnell project manager. “…there was constant evaluation, determining what to scale down and what to embellish.”

 

The design was a multisensory experience, displaying four biosphere from the swampy but arid deserts to lush forested regions of Jamaica, from waterfall to rivers, to the sea. When visitors went to the booth they felt hot in the desert, and cool by the wet forest, they could touch the animal life and the plant life. To create this environment, with some props being made from scratch on short notice, also meant much of the backdrop had to be painted.

 

“We did not have enough time to print, fortunately, which made us stand out”. McConnell further explains that the UDC booth was probably the only booth that did not have a printed backdrop of some mountain top or forested region, making it unique to all who viewed it.

 

Aside from Props and More, this year’s Green Expo was dubbed “the best Green Expo yet”. The entrance was excellently done by Stephen Jones Landscaping, a formidable landscaping company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all the Props and More Team Members who worked on this project we salute You!

Oooonu Maaaad!

Gleaner Interview with Scheed

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Gleaner Inna de Yard Interview with Scheed.

>From Jamaicans.com
http://www.jamaicans.com/articles/primeinterviews/ConversationScheedCole.shtml

A conversation with Scheed Cole

Published May 23, 2011

This week we interview the multi-talented Scheed Cole, Owner Prop and More Limited/Scheed International. A son of the inner city, Scheed Cole, inventor, painter, sculptor, ceramist, graphic artist, interior decorator, set designer, video editor, animator and fabricator, who has been an Art Educator since 1997. He has been mastering fine arts for the past 17 years and has been creating props for the past 10 years. Scheed was first recognized as a fine arts sculptor having had few exhibitions and having been commissioned to create sculptures for both public and residential areas.

How did you get started doing props in Jamaica?
The first time doing props as for my own productions, this came out of a play that was written and directed by myself. A snake was used as one of the props, also a gun with a triggering mechanism, retractable wings for angels, battle armors and weapons and a throne that breathed fire. Of course the set for the play was also designed and done by myself and the crew.

How did you get interested in doing this?
I have a great love for Sculpting, because it pulls on my knowledge of form and finishing with realism.

Did you get any formal education to do this?
I have not gotten formal training but I was trained to dispense the methodology rather than the skills, these I had gathered on my own.

What was your first prop job?
Digicel needed a big Pharaohs’ Head at the Mass Camp for Bacchanal in four days, It was done and they continued to call for my services through Main Events and other companies also started asking for larger than life props and I realized I could make a business out of it.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to material to make props in Jamaica?
Of course most of the more specialized materials cannot be sourced here in Jamaica and I have only two options in this situation, to increase the cost of the job to facilitate importation or source other materials at home. The good thing about this is that I have an extensive understanding of a wide range of materials that can be found at home in Jamaica. And over the years I have experience using foam, fiberglass, paper, metal, clay, and plaster. But with more specialized materials manufacturing would be more efficient and less complicated.

Where do you get most of your materials? Abroad or in Jamaica?
The majority of my materials are bought here in Jamaica.

Where do you draw your inspiration for new projects?
A lot of research on what other countries are doing, brainstorming sessions with my team, and a reservoir of information on how materials are used in dynamic ways, to add to the attraction value of the props. I have a knack for problem solving, integrating different elements and coming up with concept solutions.

What has been the most fun project?
Every project is like a new drama series, with its ups and downs, working night and day to reach impossible deadlines. The team driving themselves beyond human limits, it could be a reality show to watch us work. But the really large props going 13 or 34 feet high or so got me really excited.

To date what project are you proudest of and why?
My aim is to travel in the footsteps of the great who built great monuments in the past and captured the identity of the people. Therefore the larger the scale the more accomplished I feel. The mountain I did for Matterhorn though Creative Media and Events is undoubtedly the largest, a single unique prop of its kind locally and I believe regionally as well. It raises 34ft high and 40feet wide.

What has been the most challenging project to date?

The Helshire/Naggo’s Head restoration and renovation project. It involved the development of a large area which comprised different structures, and required specific design and project management skills for each element, also the managing of huge workforce, handing logistics, use of various materials while working under extreme timelines.

What exciting projects are you working on?
I can’t disclose, most of the work we do are like that, top secret until revealed. One of our most recent work is the set for Kenea Linton –Gordon’s Mission Catwalk, now showing on Television Jamaica on Tuesdays at 8:30pm. I can say however that we are also developing concepts for our second set for the fourth season of The Ity and Fancy Cat Show.

Are creating any props for Jamaica’s Carnival?
We worked on two booths for the Carnival and we have been creating booths and Props for the Carnival since 2005.

What is your most famous work so far?
The Tiki Mask Entrance to the Digicel booth at the Jazz and Blues Festival 2007.

Any advice for those who want to go into prop design?
If you believe you command a good knowledge of the anatomy and the study of the nature of things, if your are keen to detail, and enjoy creating super realistic images, and one of your specialized area is sculpting, then it is possible to embark on such a journey. Meeting deadlines can be very stressful but the pleasure of handing over the finished product makes it all worthwhile.

You are an inspiration to many as you came out of the inner city in Kingston. Please tell us how that has helped you in your career?
All experiences are a life lesson, being forced at an early age to do work at a high level of perfection, even though it was at the time physical abuse, it has served me well in having a perfectionist attitude towards my work. I have learnt the heart of patience, making do with what I have, to help me to be resourceful, and coming up with solutions, for artistic problems. Being left alone in the inner-city to fend for myself has taught me independence, and survival skills that have been beneficial in my entrepreneurial pursuits. Many more areas of my life can be attributed to the struggles I have been though to reach where I am today.

Thanks for the interview. Any closing words?
Self actualization can make you of great use to society, as well as yourself, your family and all extended relations. If everyone strives to be the best they can be with the gifts they have been given from God before they were born, they will live much more accomplished and happier lives. The most rewarding thing about being alive, is not merely existing, but to add value through sharing what you have been given, either through training which is the dissemination of information, technical skills or knowledge acquired by yourself over a period of time. Mentoring, this is to surrendering yourself to the service of mankind by offering guidance, and motivation toward the upliftment of an individual. And to be an example for the next generation to follow, through your personal accomplishments values and standards that will positively perpetuate humanity. I see myself as part of the solution, a small piece in the puzzle, to save as many as possible, through my God given gifting, and to call others to do the same.

>MASCOTS! Another Great Branding tool for Jamaican Businesses!

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Mr Wedge Tastee Cheese Mascot

Mas-cot – A person or thing that is supposed to bring good luck or that is used to symbolize a particular event or organization.

What is this new Branding tool, not new really just under used, think of the Geico’s Gecko, Kool Aids Pitcher Man, MacDonald’s Ronaldand Planter’s Peanuts Mr. Peanuts.

That’s right! Mascots! Yes a good old mascot to put a symbolic face to your brand.

Mascots have been around since prehistory, when Neolithic men hunted wild animals and admired their fierceness to the point of worship. The sighting of animals were also a source of good luck, as one can imagine, for societies that were not yet sedentary and were in constant hunt for animals, which were a necessity for their survival. Evidence of this can be seen in cave drawings around the world, North American totem poles, and tribal statues.

The entry of the French word Mascotte into the English language could be attributed to the overwhelming success of a nineteenth century French operetta called “Le Mascotte” written by Edmond Audran, which tells the story of a village girl who brings good luck. The play ran from 1800 -1882 in London under the name “The Mascot”. Thereafter the idea of the Mascots was adopted by Colleges, who eventually discarded their live mascot animals for costumed team Mascots, as the animals were costly to maintain. The team mascot was a symbol of the team, an encapsulation of their strengths and it served as a source of “good luck” and entertainment.

The Military, Businesses, Non-profit organizations, Events, Causes and Promotions have all used mascots.

Reasons not to use a Mascot.

1.When selling elite luxury items.

2.When representing a serious topic or firm like lawyers or funeral homes.

3.When the product is non price sensitive or innovative

For all else it’s a green light, but it’s even more effective in the following instances.

·You’re competing in a crowd and your product is indistinguishable

·The product is price sensitive

·Product reaches a mature life cycle

·Involves training and education

·Boring, embarrassing, taboo

A Mascot is one of the most interactive marketing tool to be used it is an immediate real-time symbol. It makes your promotion fun, light, visually impacting, enchanting.

What to do when deciding on a Mascot

·Let a professional design it, keep the mascot looking happy,

·Name the Mascot, something catchy and use it, let the name be representative of his character

Maggie Mascot

      ·Make use of the voice of the Mascot by letting it speak, whether in real-time or in newsprint ads, animations or on your website. It makes the character real, and people will listen.

      ·Give the Mascot an identity separate form a name, what are the Mascot’s character traits, is there a special laugh, a dance, a pose or a hand sign?

     ·Let the Mascot have a home with your customers or audience, make miniatures of him, put him on product labels, t-shirts, caps, and other promotional items.

Mascots are not worshiped now as in the ancient ways, but they can be a powerful image in the minds of your fans, supporters, and consumers.

Eat Jamaica Humming Bird Mascot

Good News Jamaica! Any Mascot you desire can be designed and built right here on our own soil. Support brand Jamaica today.

Props and More Limited has a reputation in building any Mascot you require.

No need to shop oversees!