A visit to Mount St Benedict last Wednesday simply to view the work of a 33 year old French artist, Hervé Chambon, at the Upper Room Art Gallery, ended with a tour of the many facilities which many of us, I am sure, do not know exist at the 'Top Of The Mount'.
The one-month solo exhibition "L'Essence III, Hervé Chambon" does not officially open until March 24, but gallery owners Adrian James and Chad Allain have already completed the hanging of the sixty-eight pieces, a few of which have already been sold since many of the visitors to the gallery are from overseas. The curators are offering to arrange private viewings of Chambon's abstracts done in blue watercolours, oils and watercolours+ink in the main section of the beautiful Gallery with its high ceilings and part-natural light, at anytime at your convenience. However, the Gallery which displays work by other local and foreign artists is open everyday of the week including Sundays from 8.30 am to 5 p.m. "We are on an Outreach Mission in 2002 directing our energies to the people of Port of Spain, people who do not go pass the lighthouse" says James.
Chambon, who lives in France, exhibited jointly in 2001 at the National Museum with Dean Arlen. There is a vibrancy in some of the current pieces which James attributes to the fact that "the pieces started off with the dancers who attended classes downstairs a place in Trinidad where he lived for a while last year." While the artist makes the statement: "My work involves fashioning soft material like an architect of the absurd. Whatever material I use, I try to make my work correspond to a feeling, a feeling related to an important view I have established with my relationship to the world."
While Chambon's work held its own fascination, I was even more enamoured with the serenity at the Top of The Mount where a variety of activities take place and could be called one of the best kept secrets in Trinidad and Tobago. For those who want somewhere out of the ordinary to hold conferences, seminars, workshops, weddings, birthdays, luncheons, dinners, there are large and airy rooms with beautiful peach drapes, which will be decorated to suit the function while the two managers plan and execute the entire event including catering.
If you are out east and decide to have a meal at the Top Of The Mount, a phone call to 645-1905 and a meal will be provided at anytime of day, but on Sundays there is an all-day walk-in brunch service with an array of local dishes. Actually, a day of great fun and fellowship is promised at the St Vincent De Paul's annual Family Day on March 17 - St Patrick's Day - from breakfast at 6 a.m. to around 3 p.m. with painting of faces, clowns, games and other things of interest for the young ones; and exploring of nature trails for the more energetic.
When James, who completed three years of architectural studies in London, and Allain, who holds a law degree from Cave Hill, Barbados, took over the Upper Room five years ago, a lot of repair and renovations had to be done: "It was a gradual process with its challenges but also rewards when one sees the joy on the faces of the people who may not want to go in a particular space but will happily come here. Sometimes we have artists in residence and also student exchanges as persons from all walks of life around the world pass through and are inspired."
The Mount is becoming a hospitality and nature centre with its bird watching facilities and trails which can be easily accessed if you stay at the Hermitage , a small retreat facility with simple rooms. Of course there is Mass at the well-preserved Abbey Church and there is even a yoga class on Sunday nights from 7.30 p.m.
Because of their strong ties with the Caribbean islands, James through a Dominican father and Allain, a St Lucian mother, they are always trying to encourage artists from the other islands to exhibit, as well as those international, such as, the Nigerian artist expected in August on a residency to interact with local art aspirants. Says James "we are very much a community Gallery with other activities and the service which people get when they come up to The Top Of The Mount" from which take my word for it there is the most fantastic view, that gets even better when night falls.