Art project looks to heal old wounds in Tivoli Gardens

A community-wide art project will commence today in Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, as a measure to help children cope with and/or overcome any emotional trauma.

The project, which is dubbed 'Healing Thoughts Through Art', is being spearheaded by the Rasta City Reading Club in partnership with the Art Evolution Mural Group, and will run from August 25-30. Oneil 'Coco' Coke, a founder of the reading club, said that the art project is the first of several social initiatives he is planning to help heal the wounds of a people who may have become immune to barbarity.

"We know the power of art and what it can do to stimulate the mind, so we are using it as one of the therapies needed to start the healing process," Coke told THE STAR on Wednesday, while he and his team prepared Bumps Park where the first drawings will take place. Residents will express themselves by painting under the guidance of professional artists.

"The project is about us, residents of Tivoli, being on the ground identifying and recognising some of the things that we think are problems to our people," he said, noting that trauma is one of them. These are people who are not privy or have access to different types of counselling, the different types of avenues that deal with trauma. We have also long realised that because the traumas that the people experienced were not dealt with, these same people are now prone to become trauma producers."

Tivoli Gardens has seen its fair share of trauma including the 2010 incursion in which the security forces, who were hunting for west Kingston 'strong man' Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, clashed with gunmen leaving 27 dead. Time has not numbed the pain for many. Coke said the reading club started a year later.

"The state at that time was just a real traumatic episode and we know how important our kids are in the community and the wider island. So starting the club was a way for us to try and gather them to show them that reading can take the mind to a different place. After the incursion the reading club was what we saw as most needed for the kids to bond with them, help with their homework, and on weekends we used to have creative days where we would build box trucks and kites," he added.

Sandra*, who said her son was killed in cold blood by a soldier during the incursion, said that for Tivoli to have a better future, the children have to view their community in a positive light.

"We can't allow the kids to grow up and hear about all the horror stories that surround the community. Yes, dem nah go ever disappear for good but at least give dem something else to think about. This weh the reading club a do is something great and that's why mi give it mi full 100 support," she said.

Fifteen artists have already signed up with more expected throughout the six days of painting. The lead artist, Live Child, said he was honoured to be considered.

"This is a dream come through for I. From 2014 after the incursion I have been trying to initiate this project since we did the whole paint Jamaica in Southside. We have to give thanks for the laws of thoughts and creativity to know that we send out the words and they have now manifested like this," he said.

Coke said that following the conclusion of the mural project he will turn his attention to re-energising activities in the reading club, which he said has positively impacted the lives of more than 50 children since its inception.

*NAME CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITY.