CubaPLUS Magazine

Consolidating visual arts in Guyana as a symbol of national identity is the purpose of the E. R.

Burrowes School of Art, which for five decades has remained a benchmark in the country’s education system.

Founded in 1975 by prominent intellectual and teacher Denis Williams, Director of Art and Archeology of the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Education of Guyana, in Georgetown, the institution has always fostered a beneficial relationship between students and the Guyanese community in general.

Its faculty is made up of professional artists, selected for their talent and willingness to share their knowledge, ideas and technical skills with the students.

Students entering the school come from diverse communities in Guyana; they vary in age, artistic ability, general education, and cultural and political backgrounds, all of which contribute to the enriching atmosphere of the center.

Those who wish to apply for admission are: recent high school graduates; students aged 25 or over, full-time or part-time; graduates of the Cyril Potter Teachers’ College; graduates of the Critchlow Labour College, and international applicants.

The institution offers four variations:

1. Diploma of Fine Arts, four years in duration.
2. Certificate of Fine Arts, three years in duration.
3. Diploma of Fine Arts, part-time.
4. Beginner’s Certificate, one year part-time.

The program is specifically designed to develop the technical, academic and creative components of art education, in the following areas:

DRAWING: focusing on the use of materials such as charcoal, graphite, pastels and ink to create realistic representations of basic forms, still lifes and body fragments, focusing on freehand sketching, chiaroscuro, hatching, cross-hatching and stippling.

JEWELLERY: exploring techniques such as soldering, wire wrapping, piercing, stone setting, casting and polishing, using copper and silver to create a variety of items.

PHOTOGRAPHY: starting from the basic principles, such as composition and lighting, and presents more complex theories and practices, such as artificial light, high dynamic range, panoramas, black and white, in addition to emphasizing concept, narration and purpose within photographic practice.

SCULPTURE: using raw materials and techniques such as clay modeling, wood carving and cement casting to create three-dimensional pieces of abstract and realistic art.

LEATHER ART: through the use of various techniques to transform local material into artistic products, such as frames, bags, wallets, belts… PAINTING: through acrylics, oils and watercolors, and emphasizing brushstrokes, the palette knife and color theory to explore themes of still lifes, landscapes, and figures, in an introspective take.

CERAMICS: appealing to the three main methods: pinch, coil and slab, along with advanced throwing to create pieces of sculptural art, as well as practical products such as tea sets, dinner sets and bowls, with aesthetically beautiful finishes thanks to glazing techniques.

TEXTILE AND FASHION DESIGN: which aims to develop the ability to use color, their competence in handling materials and their exposure to design techniques.

It encompasses a range of techniques and methods in the following areas: weaving, decoration, hand painting, printing and dyeing, as well as diverse processes such as macrame, crochet and knitting.

GRAPHIC DESIGN: through which students will learn to create and deconstruct designs, focusing on image simplification, hierarchy, grids within composition, the use of typography within design, and the creation of images to achieve clear, concise and relevant visual communication.

The school is dedicated to fostering student development through the instruction of skills, exposure to the arts, and providing an environment where they can mature as artists.

Contact

E.R. Burrowes
School of Art
15 Carifesta Avenue,
Georgetown, Guyana.
(+592) 226 3649
erbursa@gmail.com