Drums, Jewelry & Horns: Jamaican Maroons Inspired Art Exhibition

Art communicates history in ways often records and historical artifacts cannot. It’s a song that keeps on singing the perspective of the painter. The story an artist shares. A peak at what life was like at the time. Creating a replica of a moment, whether a reality or dream. It immortalizes a memory. Forever judged, it continues to stand. Art is strong, often staying in this world much longer than its creator.

To be honest, historically I haven’t been very well versed in art.

I enjoy art, but I’m not good at it. I’m not an artist or an art critic.

Yet you don’t have to be an art connoisseur to have emotions flood over you when a piece speaks.

You also don’t have to be an artist to realize the historic and cultural significance that art can hold. Nova Scotian history has countless talented and unique artists that have made a historic impact on the province.

With this said, I want to make sure that art has a place on this blog. A recent visit to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has begun this road to feature more art and its historical connections.

About the Exhibition

Coincidently, a colleague of mine recently suggested another gallery where a new exhibition by Tyshan Wright is on display.

The exhibition, Myal, can be visited from February 3rd to February 28th, 2021 at The Craig Gallery in Alderney Landing, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Myal is here just in time for Black History Month.

Despite most of the Maroons only staying in Nova Scotia for 4 years, they left a huge mark on African Nova Scotian history and Canadian history.

I had no idea that Alderney landing, where many shops call home, a farmers market is held on the weekends, and the ferry travels back and forth, also has an art gallery within its walls.

Luckily, I was only a short drive from The Craig Gallery. I didn’t have anything else on my agenda, so I made my way over!

The business card for The Craig Gallery. The Gallery's card is black with white letters. It includes the contact for the Gallery Curator, Lee Cripps. — Lee Cripps is the Gallery Curator at The Craig Gallery.

Before your Visit

The Craig Gallery is located in Alderney Landing, meaning that it is very convenient for people living in both Halifax or Dartmouth to access.

Are you a transit user? Then you’re in luck! Besides a ferry terminal, there are a variety of bus routes that stop just outside.

Parking is available next to the building. Paid parking takes up most of the lot, but there is a small section of free 30 minute parking for visitors.

There is no fee for entry, but donations are welcome!

Tyshan Wright has two different business cards. While his contact information remains the same on both, each ones had a different photo of a piece from the exhibition. Under Tyshan Wright, it says "Jamaican Maroons Instruments & Cultural Objects". His contact information is included below.

Visiting the Craig Gallery

Exterior Displays

Unlike some galleries, the Craig Gallery has window displays outside of their space. The cases include a few pieces from the collection to give the visitor a taste of the exhibition.

Inside the Gallery

The entrance to The Craig Gallery. The Gallery has a glass door that was open, welcoming visitors. There is a black canopy above the door with "The Craig Gallery" written on it in white letters. Past the doorway, you can see some of the pieces from the collection on display.

As I walked through the doors, I entered the small but open space that is the Craig Gallery. To my left, there is a panel that tells the visitor more about the artist and exhibition.

About the Artist

Tyshan Wright is from the town of Accompong in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. The historic town has ties to the Jamaican Maroons, which likely inspired his creation of Myal.

Wright moved to Canada a few years ago and has been commissioned to do work for organizations such as the Nova Scotia Art Bank and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

What is Myal?

Myal serves as a collection of modern spiritual objects representing instruments used by Jamaican Maroons.

The word “Myal” is defined as “a sacred moment of communication with the ancestors”.

Objects in this exhibition are examples of ways spiritual connections are made to reach “Myal”, often during ceremonies.

Inside the Myal exhibition at The Craig Gallery. There are several pedestals with various pieces from the collection. In this shot, there are three drums shown and a horn mounted on wood with birch bark scrolls. — Inside the Myal exhibition at The Craig Gallery.

Jamaican Maroons in Nova Scotian History

Yet some of you may be asking: Who were the Jamaican Maroons?

And what connection do they have to do with Nova Scotia?

Jamaican Maroons are the descendants of slaves. They were forced to the Caribbean as part of the slave trade from Africa. Treated inhumanely, they suffered through horrifying experiences.

The Maroons resisted slavery, escaping to Jamaica’s mountains to create self-sustaining communities in the 1600’s.

Despite a peace treaty reached with British colonizers in 1738, there was little peace. By 1796, a group of about 550 Maroons were exiled from Jamaica after the Second Maroon War.

These Maroons made their home in Halifax. Many worked selling goods at the Halifax market or constructing the Halifax Citadel.

Homes of Black Loyalists, who emigrated in 1792, had been left vacant in Preston. The Maroons received these lots. Another settlement arose at Boydville (now Sackville). The Nova Scotia government expected that the Maroons would become farmers.

Yet Nova Scotia wasn’t where a lot of Maroons saw themselves settling. Besides the drastically different weather, other conditions were less than ideal. Many Maroons were not Christian and their faith was not respected. Wages were low. Demand for provisions like food and clothing was often higher than what was available.

Living in Nova Scotia was difficult.

With these struggles, most of the Maroons decided to leave Nova Scotia. A petition was made as early as 1798 for resettlement. Transportation was arranged and the majority of the Maroons left in 1800 across the Atlantic Ocean to Sierra Leone.

Though most Maroons were gone, they left a large footprint on Nova Scotian history.

A small number of Maroons decided to stay, many farming or working on construction of Government House. Descendants of these Jamaican Maroons can still be found in Nova Scotia today.

This is one of the main interpretative panels in Myal at The Craig Gallery. The informative plaque tells the reader both about how Tyshan Wright was inspired to create this exhibition as well as the history of Jamaican Maroons in relation to Nova Scotian History. — An introduction to Myal and Jamaican Maroon History in Nova Scotia.

How does this History relate to the Exhibition?

In my opinion, Wright describes this connection best. Tyshan Wright states:

“When Jamaican Maroons were exiled to Nova Scotia in 1796, they were denied their ceremonial instruments. So I want to use these sacred objects to reconnect Maroon traditions to the Canadian narrative. Using wood, natural forest products, and fabric from three countries, I share work that represents the water crossings that are part of the Maroon story – from our origins in Ghana to the Trelawny Town Maroons’ exile from Jamaica to Nova Scotia”
– Tyshan Wright, Artist

Wright’s art works to reconnect the Canadian narrative with the history of Jamaican Maroons and their voyages over generations.

Another angle of Myal at The Craig Gallery.

Art pieces in the Exhibition

Myal is filled with jewelery, drums, and horns.

Most materials used in Wright’s pieces come from the earth. Wood, beads, cow horns, and bark are used creatively to express spirituality.

Below are five pieces that struck me in the exhibition and a brief explanation of each.

Cimarron

This cow’s horn was carved into a traditional abeng (a type of instrument).

The term “Cimarron” comes from the region’s 17th century Spanish colonizers to describe the Jamaican Maroons. Cimarron means “untamed”.

Cimarron is a cow's horn. It looks like it could be used as an instrument. This is an example of a sacred object that Jamaican Maroons would have used in religious practices. — Cimarron.

Bench Drum

According to Maroon folklore, this type of drum originated among the enslaved people of Jamaica. Not allowed to practice their spirituality, they concealed their drums as benches.

The Conqueror

This traditionally beaded necklace brings good fortune. It is used in spiritual ceremonies and worn throughout the year.

This neckalace appears to have wooden beads. The beads closer to the neck are darker, whereas those that lay on the chest and breast are brown and beige. A black heart shaped bead connects the ends of the necklace and matches the beads closer to the neck. This jewelry piece is titled "The Conqueror".

Abeng

An abeng horn is connected to a wooden box with birch bark scrolls inside. Some are open around the abeng.

These scrolls contain verses written by Shauntay Grant. Poems were written to represent Wright’s first day spent to Canada and his visits to Maroon heritage sites.

Abeng is a piece with a cow horn mounted to a wooden box. The box has closed birch bark scrolls inside. They are tied before a red, yellow, and green background. Surroung the box are opened birch bark scrolls. These each have a poem on them. The poems are a reflection of Tyshan Wright's first days in Nova scotia and visiting black history sites throughout the province. — Abeng: my favourite piece from Tyshan Wright’s collection “Myal” on display at The Craig Gallery.

Rackla

This beautifully lined drum is called a Rackla drum. Goat skin was used to create the batter head. Usually played with bass and gumbe drums, colourful cloth trim the edges of both the drum and sticks.

This drum has a goat skin surface. Around the Racka drum are beautiful patterns. These colours and patterns represent Jamaica. There are also matching drum sticks beside the drum. — Rackla drum and drum sticks. The colours around the edges may represent Jamaica.

Final Thoughts

Another look at the gallery space where Myal is on display. — Myal at The Craig Gallery.

So what did I think of the exhibition?

This exhibition communicates the struggles for respect and freedom of Jamaican Maroons well. We can see how racism changed the lives of Jamaican Maroons. How they moved across the world for independence and dignity.

If I had to describe the exhibition concisely, I would say that it is:

Hauntingly beautiful

Upliftingly hopeful

Naturally engaging

Through this exhibition, we see that deep seeded racism often sprouts from a fear of differences.

Yet these sacred objects also show us the possibility of joy. Moments of spirituality. Of community and connectedness.

Myal shows us a history of suffering, but also of hope and strength.

Would I recommend a visit?

Yes! If you’re looking to learn about history or art that may be a bit out of your typical sphere of interesting, I recommend taking the time to see Myal.

This exhibition touches on African Nova Scotian history from perspectives I have not experienced before, and have certainly learnt from. Myal sheds light on Jamaican Maroons’ spirituality and their connections to Halifax history.

Black History Month is quickly passing us by. Make sure to squeeze in this temporary exhibition one way or another as it’s only here for a month!

Though donations are entirely optional, I would encourage you to give back if you are able to and enjoyed the exhibition.

A guest book is available for anyone who would like to leave comments about the exhibition.