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He was the one that gave me a start at being an art dealer . I met Canute many years ago in the mid 1990 ’ s at his studio in Carriacou . He had very few paintings , and very little in materials . He gave me a painting , and I said- “ Why don ’ t I try to help you ?” When I got back to Grenada I sent him the materials , both the hard board he used for painting and paint . I continued that almost to the day he died . It came out to me about every two weeks ; I would have the lumber yard cut a sheet of 4x8 and they would put it on the boat to Carriacou . He would cut them up further and make smaller paintings . I would buy and send all of the paints for him and he would send about 16 paintings back down to me every couple of weeks . I started selling them at the time I had a trucking business , and I would sell them right out of the garage . People were amazed becuase they ’ d never bought such wondrous paintings
98 out of a garage . At one point we had a major buyer that came by private yacht just to meet me and she bought 16 of them ”.
How is the art scene in Grenada ?
“ The art scene in Grenada is very collaborative , we try to work together . Sometimes we share artists . Some years ago we were even thinking about a Southern Caribbean Biennale in Grenada . It would be a collaboration with all of the galleries , and it would be a world class event - I mean you would see private jets parked at the airport , art collectors from all over the world would attend .
Dominican Republic ( 1992 ) was the last major Caribbean Biennale and Carriacou ’ s own Canute Calliste exhibited there . I sent two of his paintings they were 4x8ft each . Its a requirement that they be painted on canvas .
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Canute didn ’ t like to paint on canvas and a stretcher because of the bounce of the brush , he also produced smaller size paintings .
I suggested that he tack the canvas to a a 4x8 piece of plywood and work off of that .
What is absolutely amazing is these two were undeniably the best paintings he ever did . He painted them BEAUTIFULLY ! The scale the composition was spot on ”.
Do you hold exhibitions ?
“ There ’ s different ways we exhibit . I try to have a couple of paintings of each artist up on the walls . Once an artist appeals we have more to display in the storage room which is easy to access .
We can also organise special exhibitions of individual artists . Next will be Tricia Bethel a