Cultural Voice

Alessandro Balsamo loves life. In Alessandro’s interview with Cultural Voice he was quite relaxed and talked openly about the various roads he has travelled on his journey, both professionally, and personally. As a program specialist in the policy and statutory implementation unit at UNESCO's Paris headquarters, Alessandro’s has had the fortune of touring the world and assisting countries in the development of stronger Cultural Heritage frameworks. Alessandro, originally from Balsamo Torino is responsible for the nomination of World Heritage Sites and formulating the tentative list order. Though Alessandro has great experience with the subject of World Heritage, our interest was piqued by his love for music and photography. Alessandro started taking pictures from a young age and his life’s journey has involved tons of travelling which gives him the opportunity to take pictures across the globe. Alessandro’s favourite subjects are “off the gr...

The cosy bookstore Bookophilia, located in Kingston, Jamaica provided the ideal location for the launch of the book 'Pictures From Paradise' on Saturday, June 9, 2012. The book features works of photographers from around the Caribbean and introduces inspiring emerging talent. The evening consisted of great discussion, the signing of books and mingling. 'Pictures From Paradise' captures everyday Caribbean life. Published by Robert & Christopher Publishers, a publishing house in Trinidad & Tobago, the art book is edited by Melaine Archerand Mariel Brown and features a critical essay by O’Neil Lawrence, assistant curator of the National Gallery of Jamaica, 230 images from 18 artists. The book artists are: Gerard Gaskin, Abigail Hadeed, Alex Smailes, Rodell Warner, EwanAtkinson, Marvin Bartley, Terry Boddie, Holly Bynoe, James Cooper, Renee Cox, Gerard Hanson, Nadia Huggins, Marlon James, Roshini Kempadoo, O’Neil Lawrence, Ebony Patterson, Radcliffe Roye an...

Reviewed by: Monica Minott Till I’m Laid to Rest , Ellis’ third novel ,deals with the social and personal problems connected with poverty and migration to the USA.   The issue of race is understandably highlighted,   and the reader cannot miss the not so obvious consequential damage that was left in the wake of slavery.   However, the writer never attempts to lay the blame at any one doorstep. The novel tells the story of Shirley, who grew up in Central Village, Jamaica.   “Growing up in Central Village made Shirley accustomed to violence.   It was always around her in some form.”   This is the   under-face of Ellis’ tale. He subtly threads this message from the first chapter through the life of Shirley to the last page, where Shirley, a “nice” brown-skinned Jamaican woman, once poised for success, is led handcuffed off the airplane that takes her back to Jamaica, the country she had turned her back on.   She had left Jamaica for a b...