Sunshine International Arts

MULANA ‘the art of people’ 2001-2020 #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-14 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | CAFE, STUDIO 5 209A, COLDHABOUR LANE, LONDON, SW9 8RU, United Kingdom
MULANA ‘the art of people’ 2001-2020 #siasummer20nhc Click Here
“During part of this trip to India I visited the village my forefathers come from in India – I am five generation Indian, my family came from a village called Sidhownay village, Bikhapur, Fyzabad, which is nearest city to Lucknow and is the capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
On my return to the UK I developed Sunshine International Arts (S.i.A), a UK based arts charity. After coming to the UK to live I found what I call my “new village” – Loughborough Junction, Brixton, London – the home of Sunshine International Arts.

The Making of Ma Ma La Terre performed by Avion Mookram 2000 #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-13 13:00 - 17:00
This post will showcase the cross section of artist who are involved in the creation of large scale carnival costume and the hard worked and passionate that goes into each costume. Ma Ma La Terre
This piece was showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition Carnival in Close-up , From the Caribbean to Britain and beyond October- November 2000.

Ray the story part 2 #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-13 08:00 - 17:00
“As a carnival designer what is important about what you are creating is knowing the true meaning of masquerade (Mas) and how wearable art works. Mas is a unique and important art form that allows any individual to become a performer – this often shows when someone is wearing your creation and they are able to glow and shine as a true star!” Ray Mahabir

THE EXPERIENCE OF INDIAN INDENTURE IN TRINIDAD: ARRIVAL AND SETTLEMENT
2020-08-12 13:00 - 17:00
THE EXPERIENCE OF INDIAN INDENTURE IN TRINIDAD: ARRIVAL AND SETTLEMENT #siasummer20nhc
Between 1845 and 1917 a total of 143,939 Indians migrated to Trinidad under the system of Indian indenture. Most of these indentured labourers were drawn from the agricultural and laboring classes of the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar regions of north India, with a comparatively smaller number being recruited from Bengal and various areas in south India. Approximately 85% of the immigrants were Hindus, and 14% Muslims.
http://www.caribbean-atlas.com/en/themes/waves-of-colonization-and-control-in-the-caribbean/waves-of-colonization/the-experience-of-indian-indenture-in-trinidad-arrival-and-settlement.html

Nelson Island and Indian Indentureship in Trinidad. My Roots and My culture.
2020-08-12 08:00 - 17:00
SUNSHINE INTERNATIONAL ARTS. Carnival and Community Arts
Drawing on his Indo Caribbean roots, Ray Mahabir has used his experience gained by working with the masquerade tradition of Trinidad Carnival as inspiration for his designs for costumes used in processional art. #siasummer20nhc
http://www.natt.gov.tt/sites/default/files/pdfs/Nelson-Island-and-Indian-Indentureship-in-Trinidad_02.pdf

Flamingo Carnival Arts was founded in 1983.#siasummer20nhc #siafamilymystory #NHCpioneer
2020-08-11 12:00 - 17:00
Flamingo mas band was the first band S.i.A collaborated with for NHC ,we performed alone side the band for four years alongside NHC before taking to the road on our own as S.i.A – Martha was always welcoming and accommodating at a band leader
Flamingo Carnival Arts was founded in 1983, in common with many small groups, The organisation which is Flamingo began in someones front room. Martha Fevrier

THE BLACK ART OF MAKING MAS Welcome to Glorious Backstage Arts
2020-08-11 08:00 - 17:00
Welcome to Glorious Backstage Arts
Providing opportunities to develop experience in: theatrical costume design and construction; dance and theatrical presentation; arts and event management.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=ANzXZ9P900E

Mahogany Arts- a group of multi-disciplinary artist. #NHCpioneer #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-10 13:00 - 17:00
Another band and true carnival artist are Clary and Speedy from Mahogany mas band they are also a regular band that S.i.A works with on national and international projects…
‘My first memory is of winning a carnival competition in a gorgeous little fairy costume,’ Clary recalls. ‘I still have the cup from it.’ Speedy’s parents, on the other hand, were bitterly opposed to carnival. ‘My father was a local politician and he disapproved. I was always sneaking out to play mas. One time, I ended up making 400 costumes overnight. That’s how I got my nickname.’

From October 2020 -Creative Spaces For Hire at C.A.F.E.
2020-08-10 08:00 - 17:00
Part of our mission as a creative space firmly rooted in the heart of the community is to offer a venue to meet the needs of our locals, creatives and general public. Studio 3 , Studio 4 and our Main Arch are available for hire for a number of activities
Spaces for hire

2000 Canboulay, out of the fire comes ?
2020-08-09 08:00 - 22:00
#siasummer20nhc 2000 Canboulay, out of the fire comes, DANCE OF THE CLOTH.
Created for South Connection Carnival Club the bands Notting Hill carnival production entitled-Ray Allan Mahabi
#siafamilymystory
#NHCpioneer #CaribbeanHistory #carnivalHstory

Alwin Chow Lin On,
2020-08-09 08:00 - 17:00
Alwin Chow Lin On, ‘Chow’ to all who knew him in the UK, 30 April 1935 – 29 July 2011
#siasummer20nhc
“At this time I had the opportunity to work with Alwin Chow Lin On(who was instrumental in a lot of Minshall large costume) We called him- Chowie. I got very involved in larger costume designs the way he worked and drew his structured and calculated was a dream it took me back to my Architecture school days”.Ray
#siafamilymystory
#NHCpioneer #CaribbeanHistory #carnivalHstory

Avion Mookram “I remember Carnival Monday/Tuesday February 1954”
2020-08-09 08:00 - 17:00
What an interesting story from St Vincent Street San Fernando (South Trinidad) to leading one of Notting Hill Carnival major band – South Connections
Avion has been part of my life from the first time I came to London to now at S.i.A -Ray
Avion Mookram
#siasummer20nhc
#siafamilymystory
#NHCpioneer #CaribbeanHistory #carnivalHstory

Notting Hill Carnival — the untold story ISHMAHIL BLAGROVE JR
2020-08-08 12:00 - 17:00

Notting Hill Carnival History: How Race Riots Inspired London’s Caribbean Carnival, Chloe-Rose Crabtree
2020-08-08 08:00 - 17:00
#siasummer20nhc #CaribbeanHistory #carnivalHstory

Notting Hill Carnival is London’s biggest street party, with costumed revellers and steel bands bringing the city to life in a colourful celebration of West Indian culture. In sharp contrast to its euphoric atmosphere, Carnival’s origins lie in race riots that saw the newly arrived immigrant population attacked by white nationalists.

The Notting Hill race riots

Calypso- Kaiso music has its origins in West Africa (particularly in present-day Nigeria) and in the Kingdom of Kongo and was brought over by the enslaved Africans,
2020-08-07 08:00 - 17:00
#siasummer20nhc #CaribbeanHistory #carnivalHstory
Caribbean Music: “Kaiso” — Some history and examples to listen to!
Growing up in the Caribbean, especially being raised by Trinidadians, I have been exposed to a variety of music from across the region. Particularly music out of Trinidad. By Jamtaylor
………
Calypso originated within Trinidad when slaves from West Africa were brought into the Caribbean islands to work on the sugar plantations. It is believed that Calypso evolved from the West African “Kaiso.” Known as “the poor man’s newspaper,” Calypso first emerged in tents, where slaves who were forbidden to speak to each other would meet in secret; a way of preserving west African traditions, communicating news and mocking their cruel masters. By Egypt Today Staff …

Darcus Howe: British Black Panther
2020-08-06 13:00 - 17:00
“…I never once believed what they wanted us to believe – that we as black people are inferior to whites…”― Darcus Howe

From Drums to Tamboo Bamboo to Sweet Steel- The genesis of the steelband By Selwyn Taradath
2020-08-06 08:00 - 17:00
#siasummer20nhc #CaribbeanHistory #carnivalHstory
From Drums to Tamboo Bamboo to Sweet Steel
Photo credit Christine TriniView Gallery

How Steelpan Started, as told by pan pioneer Oscar Pile
Video courtesy IsDePanInMe

Lincoln Rahamut #NHCpioneer #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-05 13:00 - 17:00
When I came to London I always remember Lincoln was one of the few mas men who came and complemented my work at Splash ( The large costume competition at NHC ) over the year we became friends and he made most of my recent structure and wire heiresses and backpacks – he was alway a soft spoken man and very pleasant- most of all a talented mas man -Ray
Lincoln was a pioneer in the development of costume designing at Notting Hill Carnival. In 1992 Lincoln launched Masquerade 2000 and changed the concept of carnival costumes at Notting Hill Carnival,

A wide variety of costumes (called "mas")
2020-08-05 12:00 - 17:00
A wide variety of costumes (called “mas”) depicting traditional Trinidadian Carnival characters are seen throughout the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
Full List of costume
Trinidad Carnival combines bacchanalian celebration with spontaneous street theatre, in an atmosphere of fantasy and “freeness”.

#siasummer20nhc Ole time carnival Trinidad and Tobago
2020-08-05 08:00 - 18:00
Ole time carnival Trinidad and Tobago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owvlto0GoEo

List of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival character costumes, Click here

Blue Devil 2020 Nelson Island

TNA Brief History of Carnival Celebrations in the Caribbean
Once Christmas season is officially over in the Caribbean, it’s time to dig out your dancing shoes and start thinking about Carnival, the hedonistic celebration that culminates on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, the day before Lent begins. Click Here

MAS – A TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION PRESENTED BY: NICOLE FERDINAND
2020-08-04 12:00 - 19:00
MAS – A TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
PRESENTED BY: NICOLE FERDINAND
The mulatress1 and the garden Negro or field slave2 are masquerades which evoke the French tradition of the exchange of roles during the Carnival period. These costumes were later co-opted by the freed slaves (from 1834)….#siasummer20nhc

1979-2020 look out for de story!! Ray Allan Mahabir
2020-08-04 08:00 - 17:00
My childhood memories of carnival mas men were Peter Minshall and Wayne Barkley. I was fascinated by both Peter and Waynes’ work, also other mas men stuck out in my memory. George Bailey, Ken Morris and Irvin McWilliams to name a few. But Minshall was my idol his work was unique and different and always had a profound story to each of his productions.
Ray Allan Mahabir
My brothers and sister at a young age. Russel, Denise,Ray and David Mahabir

Trinidad was originally called Kairi which is Kalinago for “Land of the Hummingbirds”
2020-08-03 08:00 - 17:00
KAIRI THE ABORIGINALS
Trinidad, once called ‘Kairi’ (or possibly ‘Iere’) was aboriginally inhabited by many groups of Amerindian peoples who populated the Caribbean and South American region.
#siasummer20nhc #siafamilymystory #delegacysia21beyond
https://method.moda/gazette/kairi

Peter Minshall and his costume the Hummingbird performed bySherry-Ann Guy (Coelho) 1974

Moko Jumbie
2020-08-02 12:00 - 17:00
From its origin in Africa through its journey to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the mocko jumbie has evolved culturally at celebrations and festivals since the 1960s. Today they continue to embody V.I. culture. Tuesday, the Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies danced at Hotel on the Cay to kick off the new season.

Moko Jumbie #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-02 08:00 - 17:00
The character of the Moco Jumbie was originally a cult figure found throughout West Africa.
https://www.traditionalmas.com/project/moko-jumbie/

Carl Gabriel: from mas band to museum. #NHCpioneer #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-01 13:00 - 17:00
I met Carl and Lyn at South Connection(SC) launch many years ago and over the years we became good friends working alone side each other on carnival project , I alway admire their work such amazing wire bending, I actual first knew Lyn mother Elma Betancourt (who also attended SC band launches- she use to call me Meh Lover !) from playing mas with her in Minshall in Trinidad( sadly both Lyn and Elma pass away recently ) …Rx
“My godmother lived on the route to Skinner Park in San Fernando, when all the bands had to pass down Rushford Street,” he explains, “and because my family was well-known, a lot of players had to pop in for rice and peas. So that’s where I saw everything, and this latent memory is what keeps me producing the sort of work that I produce today. Caribbean Beat Magazine -By David Katz
And another good read from the Metro …
‘I draw out the designs,’ says Carl, ‘but the ideas come from me and from books. I don’t want to look at other carnival stuff because I don’t want to be influenced.’ Metro by Simon Gage

Canboulay Riots- #siasummer20nhc
2020-08-01 08:00 - 17:00
The emancipated slaves first celebrated their freedom on 1 August the anniversary of their emancipation but soon participated in Carnival instead.
The Canboulay riots were riots by the descendants of freed slaves on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in response to efforts by the British police to crack down on aspects of the celebration of Carnival.
The riots occurred in February 1881 in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and in the southern cities of San Fernando and Princes Town in February 1884 causing loss of life. The riots are still commemorated today and canboulay music is an important part of the music of Trinidad and Tobago notably the use of steel pans which were the descendants of percussion instruments banned in the 1880s.
The “chantwell” or chantuelle who was also an integral part of the celebrations was the forerunner of the calypsonian and later soca music.

Celia as the Midnight Robber NHC London S.i.A 2016

What we have planned for August 2020...
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-07-31 17:00
What we have planned for August 2020…

This year we have had to re-consider if, and how, we invite you to join our annual family-friendly Mas Camp workshops. We have concluded that the main reason we involve people in our carnival building is to reinforce a strong community spirit, to teach new skills and to keep the history of carnival alive.
That’s why we have decided to run an online programme on the Culture and History of Carnival throughout August. These educational downloads will incorporate all of the elements mentioned above. We’re currently in the planning stages but we are excited to share our updates with you soon

One-stop Carnival Shop!
2020-01-20
CAFÉ CLOSED
C.A.F.E – It’s in the name! Carnival-Arts-For-Everyone is our motto and what we live by.
We want to spread the word, history and art of carnival far and wide. Our comfortable, creative space is open today for you to come and chat to us about our work and how you can get involved in productions.
Check out our Carnival Shop Online and visit us in April 2020 to see our array of costume materials in person!

We can support your carnival project!
2020-01-14
CLOSED TODAY
Here at S.I.A we LIVE for carnival!
Our South-London based workshop is full to bursting with IDEAS, TOOLS and COSTUMES!
Whether you’re looking for someone to design and make costumes, manage your project, or perform at your event – with over a decade of experience – S.I.A can make it a spectacular reality.
Sunshine International Arts is an award-winning carnival band with over a decade of experience. We can deliver all aspects of your carnival project including designing, making, project management and performance
If you are a Mas Band or arts organisation looking for design support we can help you.
We want to hear about your ideas for CARNIVAL.
Contact us to find out more or see our previous work here
