Earl Etienne left this world and his easel in early 2022. He deeply missed! Rather than modify this post, I leave it as it was when I wrote before his death.

How does it feel to meet a country’s most beloved local and internationally-acclaimed living artist? One word, wonderful!

Analisa a soft-spoken artist who I got to know while in Dominica made that happen for me. On October 15, she delivered the good news that she had spoken to Earl Etienne, and that he was happy for us to visit his studio and his gallery Art Asylum, both in his home in Jimmit, a neighborhood in Dominica. As the gallery was not open to the public due to COVID-19, it was an honor to meet Earl and see his work. Some might call him a social realist artist. I think his work, spanning 40 plus years, is just too diverse to pin him to that.

Earl overflowed with youthfulness, joy, and restlessness. His work is infused with color, movement, texture and commentary that made me want to run my hands over his paintings, mirror the emotion and movement in his pieces, and stand motionless in front of his social commentary pieces. I bought one of his paintings and looked on as he signed it. Every time I look at the painting, I will remember his aura.

Photo: Marica Honychurch, Dominica

Earl and I had a connection before we met that I discovered when speaking to him. The now 63-year-old painter graduated with a degree in the visual and performing arts from the Edna Manley College in Kingston, Jamaica. Edna Swithenbank Manely, the artist for whom the college was renamed in 1955, was primarily a sculptor, but was also known for some of her drawings and paintings. She was an early supporter of arts education in Jamaica. I was not named after her, but I am ecstatic to also be named Edna. Though the name maybe considered old-fashioned (as I keep discovering) a lot of pretty interesting famous women in history were named Edna - a lot were creatives and many helped to pioneer change.

Photo: Marica Honychurch, Dominica

If you get to meet Earl, make sure to ask him about his experience at the Edna Manley College. He will likely tell you about how a teacher at the school commented on the lack of a personal voice in his art, and how he went on to find, refine, modify, and create his voice over the years. It is now a voice that is captivating and mesmerizing just like he is.

Photo: Marica Honychurch, Dominica

If you are in Dominica and the gallery is not open to the public, reach out so I can curate a visit to Earl’s studio and an opportunity to meet him. Buy a single travel experience in the Edna Explores shop here.

#Dominica