For David Boxer – my hero

THE EDITOR, Sir: IT IS impossible for me to express the loss and sadness I feel upon the passing of Dr David Boxer, who had long struggled very bravely with cancer. Even in his illness, he was calm, friendly and willing to share his massive experience and his advice concerning Jamaican art, or any other subject.

Many years ago when I was a young woman in need of a job, I was fortunate beyond words to be hired by Dr Boxer of the National Gallery of Jamaica, which was at the time housed at Devon House. I worked for, and with, him from 1977 to 1983, and that experience will be forever cherished and appreciated.

Apart from being an absolutely brilliant and amazing artist and art historian, David Boxer was an extraordinarily gentle, generous and patient human being who strongly believed that everyone deserved a chance, no matter his or her station in life. David lifted up to the light those artists of lesser means and those lacking formal art education, and called them intuitive instead of primitive – thereupon creating history in the Jamaican (and in the international) art arena. He first brought the intuitives to the spotlight by launching in 1980, at the National Gallery, the stunning and unparalleled exhibition, ‘The Intuitive Eye’. I was greatly privileged to assist in the mounting of this historic show, among many others over the years of my employment there.

Dr David Boxer’s contribution to Jamaican art has been profound and enormous, and he now stands among the greats who have gone before him, including the unforgettable Edna Manley, who was his very close and personal friend and fellow artist. TAMMY DUPERROUZEL Coopers Hill