Last Sunday evening proved more than momentous at the Seven Ponds, Botanical Gardens with an exhilarating outdoor affair that revelled in our own South American meets the Caribbean ambience. The executives of Guyana Fashion Week climaxed their week of activities commemorating Water Week with a small festival and it was quite
commendable with the involvement of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry together with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Fashion Weekend.
This celebration of the arts not only provided a novel way of raising awareness of the potential crisis of water but also served as a platform for true youth empowerment, facilitating spoken word accolades to water and rallying for water cooperation initiatives.
The spoken word competitors – four finalists – lashed out their oratorical rhetoric, arresting the patrons with rhyme, meter and stanza, provoking innovative thought and tantalising imagery. The four – Randolph Critchlow, Mark Luke Edwards, Towana Wilson, and Jo-Ann Forde – outfitted by designers Nelsion Nurse, Wynette Jones and Sacha Castello, impressed the attendees. The winner of this category was Randolph Crichlow, with his captivating soliloquy on water. The eight photographs stood majestically on easels as patrons were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite piece. These spectacular vistas were the eight finalists of the photography competition, an outcome of submissions by amateur and professionals alike. The winners were determined through online votes, on site ballot and the judges’ deliberation. In the 3rd runner-up spot was “No Boundaries” by Juliana Douglas followed by 2nd runner-up “On the Brink” by Tracy Douglas while the 1st runner-up was the photo titled “Port for a Storm” by Dionne Shepherd-McKenzie with the winning entry “Leap of fate” by Mark Jacobs. The active participation by designers in the category for best interpretation was formidable. With a line-up of over 20 designers, the five finalists were Juliet Bernard (Crystal Mud), Tyrone Nelson (Visions of the Deep), Nelsion Nurse (Sunset Glory), Amanda Burgess (Body of Water), Denita Prowell (Water Universal). The winner of this category was Nelsion Nurse. The judges for the evening were Jennifer Thomas, Russel Lancaster, Ras Michael, Richard Young and Sonia Noel. Prizes for the winners were provided by Courts; Digicel; Trophy Stall, Bourda Market; Baganara Resort; Water Chris; Banks DIH; Miladys House of Beauty; Healing Water Spa and Jiva Spa; Mariska Designs; Deandre Creations and Golo Fabrics, Stabroek Market.
This event is all in preparation for the grand finale which takes place at Rahaman’s Park from October 20-27.