gerald jenkins 06/04/2018 gerald jenkins 06/04/2018

Dough Lover 99 Trafalgar Street Brighton BN1 4ER

Recently I was approached with the most amazing request from a Chef - Ronke Arogundade who was opening a cafe in Brighton 'Dough Lover' which she described as a Cafe from the Future.

After a very short time during our first initial conversation it was apparent that Ronke was a visionary and she had debilitated as to what she wanted her Cafe to say in terms of philosophy and human expression.

She had carefully directed the textiles and fittings and now it was time for visuals. Her instinct had answered to have images of the Sun Ra Arkestra and she found me on the web. From our conversation I created a layout from her wall dimensions and things evolved quickly from there.

Portrait of Atakatune - Sun Ra Arkestra photographed in 2013 at The Barbican in an Oak Box Frame with an Ivorine Title Plaque

Marshall Allen - Sun Ra Arkestra photographed in 2013 at the Barbican Centre

We had a lot to say to each other and the White Peacock image became an addition due to the significance of the symbolic meaning of White Peacocks - of enlightenment,and incorruptibility . When I suggested to image transfer a motif of the birds feathers onto the frame we both knew it had to be done.

'Knowledge Without Love is Lifeless' 50 inches by 60 inches Giclee in an Image Transfer Box with an Ivorine Title Plaque

James Stewart & Cecil Brooks - Sun Ra Arkestra photographed at Islington Town Hall 2015

Developing the Installation further Ronke discussed her other musical influences and instead of just petering out with the same material we wanted to create a 'snug' feel to the room as the viewer travelled through. Two names came up. That of Gil Scott Heron and Mark E Smith.

For the smallest panel of the Installation Two Contact Sheets were printed with Lyrics to significant songs by the Artists. These being 'Hexen Definitive'

Gil Scott Heron with Lyrics to 'B' Movie

Ronke also wanted to have reference to her childhood in West London included and so the next panel became an overview of my Notting Hill Carnival work.

7x Black Box Frames w/ Giclee prints and Ivorine Title Plaques

The final panel has direct reference to Brighton itself and one of it's most famous residents Nick Cave. Ronke had met Nick on several occasions and my portraits of Nick and Kylie and an additional Studio session I shot with Nick were comissioned for the wall.

This became the most technically intricate installation work I had ever attempted.

Work Bench for Image Transfers to the frames

Two of the frames have image transfers of a picture I took of the Ceiling of the Taj Mahal

Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' Nine Giclee Prints mounted on Black Velvet in an Image Transfer Box Frame with a Distressed Mirror and Ivorine Name Plaque

The Red Velvet needed to be 'Casino' Red

Nick Cave 'HQ Session' 3x Giclee Prints mounted on Red Velvet in an Image Transfer Box Frame with Distressed Mirror and Ivorine Title Plaque

Two samples of the image transfer frames.

The main Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue frame is an image transfer of Rose Thorns

My heartfelt gratitude to Ronke for such a wonderful commission. This is a permanent installation.

gerald jenkins 02/11/2015 gerald jenkins 02/11/2015

Russ Henderson - Loss & Celebration

Russ Henderson 7th January 1924 - 18th August 2015

It was midnight via text that I learnt of Russ' passing. For weeks he had been in my thoughts. I was in the company of Marshall Allen, leader of The Sun Ra Arkestra, he being the same age as Russ. The news made my heart sink and I excused myself from Marshall and went directly home. I still find it difficult to understand how I just happened to be with Marshall at that specific time.

His funeral was a celebration, a very heartfelt day. I walked through the rooms of his house looking at his personal items with the full realisation that I would never see him again.

A portrait of his father and one of him in 1966 at Carnival

The last time I saw Russ we spoke of projects we intended to work on in the future. One being meeting with Marshall Allen and they having a conversation which would possibly lead to them playing music together or just simply comparing notes. We had interest from the BBC.

The other Russ was considering seeking sponsorship to improve his diet so he could live to be 130. When he told me of his intention he then purposefully walked to a doorway and grabbed a bar running across it and pulled himself up..he walked back to the table and sat down..saying 'see I can still chin the bar.' Of course I wanted to help him. We discussed ideas of pictures we could take to show to potential sponsors.

Russ knew so much about diet, he showed me recipes and explained his workout regime. Below is a page from a book he had.

His passion for life is what makes his passing so difficult. Of course there is much to celebrate as his achievements were numerous and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of his role in assimilating Caribbean culture into British mainstream consciousness. The clipping below illustrating this point.

A great film on Britain in the mid to late sixties 'Pressure' is highly recommended (link)

Mangrove Steel Drum Band acknowledge Russ-Panorama

Everyone gathers at Russ' house before the procession to the Church. To the right of this picture are Margaret Busby and Val Wilmer. Both extraordinary people (link). I first met Val at a Sun Ra BBC recording session and was stunned to learn of her association with Russ. Unfortunately this was because she had written his obituary in The Guardian (link)

The culture and conviction of purpose displayed was inspired.

The procession had the feel of liberation. It came from a different time.

An unforgettable day..blessed to be surrounded by those who loved him. Forever in my heart.

Thank you Mary & Angus

(Link) to previous entry on Russ Henderson