Sharon’s wacky art
HER SPIRIT told her, “Go home to your roots!” And that she did. Settling in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, a place she discovered while on a pilgrimage of sorts to Accompong to explore her Maroon heritage, artistic diva Sharon Martini is proprietor of The Mud Palace Gallery Africa Village, home of her Lady Bird Designs. The gallery features one-of-a-kind art, craft, goodies and gifts that are all hand-made by Martini.
Step inside to a cheery “Welcome to my Mud Palace Gallery where everything inside – well except plastic and iron – is made by me.”
Born in London to Jamaican parents, Martini lived in the States for 20 years before answering the call to come home. Martini describes herself and her art as being a combination of first- and developing-world styles.
“It is ancient and modern, old and young, whimsical, wise and fun.”
Growing up, she remembers hearing her parents say she was a maroon like her grandmother. Not knowing what this meant, she assumed it was the shade of her skin that was being referenced. Martini reflects, “It made me proud, nonetheless, to be like my grandmother, whom at the time, I had never met. Imagine if I had known the true story? I might now walk on water.” She adds, “My parents did not share our story; with each of my pieces, my aim is to ensure the tale is told.”
The gallery boasts paintings, whose muse are black characters, that swing along the whitewashed wall, hand-crafted jewellery dangle from twigs; original, acrylic-painted magnets and buttons shine from converted fans; art-embellished hipster bags and pillows stuffed with love. Instinctively, you know you have entered a magical and mystical place because you are smiling suddenly. Martini explains it, saying ,“even if you are not shopping, I guarantee you a smile!”
The Mud Palace Gallery houses creations made by the utilisation of ancient African techniques using wattle and daub or sticks and dirt. These practices are often times combined with contemporary practices to create extra-special works of art.
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
A creator of her own brand, Martini has cascading from the rafters, T-shirts adorned with her ‘Soil A Jamaica’ logo and the symbols of fertility and good fortune. The T-shirts are all handdyed with the red soil of St Elizabeth for a more unique and distinct look.
Martini also caters to the younger audience by creating her own line of children picture books called DottyBeetle books. Her reason for creating this line of work is, as she states, “When my sons were little, I was immersed in children’s literature, but my little boys were not represented in contemporary stories with imaginative, wacky art, so I wrote and illustrated my own.”
All her pieces have a story to tell, whether it is personal, historical or spiritual. One such piece that resonates is the cacoon gathered from the forests of Accompong. These seeds were naturally used for protection, food and medicine. Martini reflects that when working with the cacoon, she is reminded of the power and might of the Jamaican people of African descent.
A veritable one-of-a-kind woman, Martini is part sorcerer, alchemist and visionary who dares to unwrap the universe’s gifts in her own truth and to share them with the world. No doubt, she has come home to her roots, immersing herself in the soil, she is rooted, blooming, creating and crafting. One would say “she a buss out!”
If you like art, visit The Mud Palace Gallery Africa Village, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, and if you are lucky, you might just find Martini elbow-deep in a mudpatty-filled Yabba pot, creating a master piece.
The Mud Palace Gallery Africa Village, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, may be contacted at www.sharonmartini.com sharonmartini@mac.com, or 876-275-0832.