Title: Capturing The History of Jamaica

Location: The Gleaner Building, 7 North Street

Date: October 2019

Artists: Nicola Rosen, Lisa Stiebel, Nicolas Gabbidon, Clinton Brown, Michael Robinson, Jason Goss

The Gleaner Company, Jamaica’s oldest printed press, and a leader in community development and support of all that is positive in Jamaica, celebrated their 185th anniversary in October 2019. In light of this achievement they looked at the possibility of creating a visual impact and an uplift to the community they are located in Downtown Kingston, which is Fletcher’s land/East and North Street.

The design was led by The Gleaner’s design team to show the Journey of The Gleaner through 185 years in aspects of social life, academia, sports, music and culture. Furthermore they wanted to highlight the achievements of their top newspaper Sales lady.
The artists included the Gleaner’s first front page in 1834 and the front page of 1962 Independence.

The Gleaner embarked on a long lasting collaboration with Kingston Creative to be part of changing the narrative around the Old City, the changing of perceptions and the highlighting of the positive and advancing things and persons Downtown Kingston, This project created the first of an initiate “Destination Downtown”.

About the Artists
The mural was designed by Nicola Rosen, a Jamaican visual artist and artisan, who has experience with mural painting in California. Lisa Stiebel managed the project and is an architect and artist originally from Barbados.

The additional artists from Denham Town – Nicolas Gabbidon, Mikey Robinson, Clinton Brown and Jason Goss collaborated with the lead artists to create a diverse and colourful design. Their experience assisted tremendously.

Excellent support was the skilled young artist Zohria Allen, an Edna Manley College visual art student, who resides in Nannyville, who has great potential to grow into a renowned visual artist.

The Sponsors
The Gleaner Company undertook the covering of all expenses for this mural project as a part of their First Fifty Sponsorship for the Kingston Creative Movement.