XAYMACA: Life in Spanish
Jamaica exhibition tells the story of Spanish Jamaica
Cover of the accompanying catalogue for XAYMACA: Life in Spanish Jamaica exhibition
now on display at the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ). Catalogues are now available.
They can be purchased directly from the IOJ.
XAYMACA: Life in Spanish Jamaica, an exhibition documenting
life in Spanish Jamaica between 1492-1655 is now on display at the Institute of
Jamaica. Curated by Dr. Rebecca Tortello and Dr. Jonathan Greenland, the exhibition
was officially opened on Sunday, February 22, 2009.
Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, Chen Jinghua looks at a model of the Santa Maria,
one of Columbus’ three ships which is on display in the exhibition, XAYMACA: Life
in Spanish Jamaica which was officially opened at the Institute of Jamaica on February
22, 2009.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Spanish Ambassador, His Excellency Jesus Silva,
commended the efforts being made to document Jamaica’s rich history taking into
account the Spanish influence and encouraged Jamaicans to be proud of their heritage.
Guest speaker at the function, Prof. Patrick Bryan, Professor of History at the
University of the West Indies made specific reference to the Spanish presence in
Jamaica which he said the is still very strong, noting that this presence is currently most evident in the area of tourism.
(From left to right): Spanish Ambassador, His Excellency Jesus Silva views the cover
of the accompanying catalogue to Xaymaca: Life in Spanish Jamaica exhibition as Dr. Rebecca Tortello, co-curator of exhibition & chairman of the Board of Management, Museums of History & Ethnography, Chairman of Council, Institute of Jamaica, Prof.
Barry Chevannes and Dr. Jonathan Greenland, co-curator of XAYMACA look on.
This exhibition was created with children in mind, said Dr. Tortello, co-curator
of the exhibition. She said that with children comprising the largest number of
museum visitors in Jamaica, this was done to capture their interest.
An accompanying full-colour catalogue is now on sale at the Institute of Jamaica. The Exhibition
is mounted at the Exhibition Gallery of The
Institute of Jamaica, Corner of East
and Tower Streets. It will run until August 17, 2009 and is open to the public,
Mondays-Thursdays 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Fridays 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Guest speaker at the official opening of XAYMACA: Life in Spanish Jamaica exhibition,
Prof. Patrick Bryan, (right) Professor of History at the University of the West
Indies and Dr. Jonathan Greenland (left), co-curator peruse the pages of the catalogue
accompanying the exhibition at the official opening at the Institute of Jamaica
on February 22, 2009.
(From left to right): Former Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba, Mrs. Norma Brown-Bell,
Deputy Chair of the Junior Centres and Morin Seymour, CEO of the Kingston Restoration
Company in a jovial mood at the official opening of XAYMACA: Life in Spanish Jamaica
exhibition at the Institute of Jamaica
on February 22, 2009.