Mas Camp Graduation and Hartford Steel Symphony Performance, 2016
PerformerPerformed by
Hartford Steel Symphony
(established 1989)
Subject
Linford Miller
(Jamaican)
Subject
Lynne Williamson
Date2016 August 18
Mediumborn digital video
DimensionsDuration: 37 Minutes, 14 Seconds
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.474.1
DescriptionVideo of the Mas Camp graduation held at the Connecticut Historical Society on August 18, 2016. Hartford Steel Symphony performs. Mas Camp co-director Junior Miller introduces the Mas Camp participants and gives remarks about masqueraders. The Mas Camp students perform their dance routine.
NotesSubject Note: From 2011-2020, the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program at the Connecticut Historical Society partnered with the Connecticut Caribbean International Carnival Association to offer an annual summer youth employment program that trains Hartford youth in Carnival traditions central to their ethnic background. At the six-week “Mas Camp,” participants learned about the history and role of Carnival and masquerade. They designed and created their own Carnival costumes under the guidance of experienced Mas artists. The teens along with over two dozen volunteers, formed a Carnival Band that participated in several summer events showcasing Mas costumes totally made in Hartford. The beauty of the costumes displayed by Hartford’s own masqueraders in the parade and festival, along with the excitement of their dance routines, bring a tremendous energy and pride to the city’s West Indian communities. Mas Camp has helped to ensure that the Carnival tradition continues by training a new generation in the art of Mas making. In 2017, Mas Camp was selected as one of 50 exemplary youth programs nationwide by the National Arts and Heritage Youth Program.Mas Camp was both a jobs program and an arts learning experience with social impact. The program mentored students in workplace readiness, social engagement, and cultural knowledge, offering alternative creative activities that fostered community involvement while providing fulfilling employment. Participants learned new skills including Caribbean cultural history, costume design, garment sewing and construction, creative movement, and teamwork. The teens experienced first-hand how to follow an artistic idea from background to completion and presentation, working both individually and collaboratively. Through the program, youth discovered that giving back to their community is an essential part of becoming a productive citizen. They experienced the joy of being part of a larger cultural group, and contributed their new skills to community activities.
During Mas Camp, the teens created their own costumes following themes and color schemes that they chose. The students and staff, along with volunteers from the community, formed a Carnival band they named Exotic One’s. Hartford costume maker Keimani “Q” Delpeche, who grew up in the Mas tradition in Trinidad and Boston, taught design and building of all the types of costumes. Choreographers including Clerona Cain and Coryse Villarouel developed dance routines with the students to train them in “displaying” their costumes in a parade. Some former students became peer educators helping to supervise Mas Camp activities in later years. The mentorship of several committed community educators and cultural leaders supported the teens and provided positive role models.
In the years 2011-2016, 2018, and 2019, CCHAP presented an exhibit of the work and activities of Mas Camp from 2011-2014 at the Institute for Community Research, and from 2015-2019 at the Connecticut Historical Society. Curated by Mas costume designer Keimani Q Delpeche, the exhibits featured over three dozen individual costumes made each year by teens and community volunteers, as well as the more elaborate “section leader” and “Frontliner” costumes. The exhibits included historical and cultural interpretation through signage texts, a slideshow that presented historical images, talks by community cultural leaders at the opening events, and an illustrated lecture on Carnival traditions in 2016. The exhibit projects produced a multi-faceted “Mas” experience that included the art work, exhibit, music, food, informational talks, community leaders, and scholars. Ideas presented by the exhibits included: that the West Indian community has a long history in Greater Hartford; that the community has made many contributions to the state in fields such as agriculture, art, sport, education, and small business; that Carnival embodies tradition, innovation, celebration, and creativity; that “masquerade” as an essential component of Carnival derives from a creative alteration of one’s historical and personal circumstances; and that young people can learn about and carry on cultural heritage in their own lives.
Each year the teens and volunteers who were part of Mas Camp received certificates of participation at a graduation ceremony held during the exhibit opening. The Hartford Steel Symphony played at the event, and the students performed their dance routine. Exhibit and project sponsors over the years have included: the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the City of Hartford, the Hartford City Council, the West Indian Foundation, the West Indian Independence Celebration, the UConn Caribbean Interdisciplinary Research and Outreach Institute, the UConn El Instituto/the Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the National Endowment for the Arts, Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD, the San Juan Center/Brighter Futures, Fiona Vernal, Hugh Freeney, the Freeney Foundation, Ellen M. Brown, Shipman and Goodwin LLP, and Connecticut Humanities.
During the summer of 2016, sixteen students and thirty-eight adult and student volunteers participated. Costume maker Keimani “Q” Delpeche created the Mas outfits along with several experienced assistants and many volunteer parents. Dance teacher Clerona Cain, and dance assistant Asher-Lee Plummer trained the students in “displaying” their costumes in a parade. They formed a Carnival “Band” called the Exotic One’s, with six sections of masqueraders in different color schemes portraying the theme of “Around The World.” The Band performed with their costumes in the Taste of the Caribbean Festival at the Riverfront, the Wadsworth Atheneum Block Party, and the West Indian 54th Anniversary Independence Parade and Festival, as well as at an outdoor concert to mark the opening of the Mas Camp exhibit and student graduation at CHS.
Biographical Note: Connecticut International Cultural Carnival Association (CICCA) President Linford (Junior) Miller from Jamaica has been active in many Hartford-area community organizations, including the Sportsmen’s Athletic Club of Hartford (President, Business Manager, and Sports Captain over the years), the Jamaica Ex-Police Association of Connecticut (Founding Member, Secretary, and Scholarship Coordinator), and the Connecticut International Cultural Carnival Association Inc. since 2000 (Founder, Auditor, Board member, President). He was elected President of the West Indian Independence Celebration Committee of Hartford in the year 2000 and served in this capacity for three years. He is also a Board Member of the World Council of Carnivals and Auditor of the International Caribbean Carnival Association based in Montreal. Mr. Miller has organized many Carnival mas bands for Hartford, Toronto, New York, Jamaica, Boston, Orlando, Atlanta, and Trinidad parades, and organized costume production for Hartford, New York, and Boston. He has participated in Carnival seminars and workshops in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1999, St. Lucia in 2000, New York in 2001, Miami in 2002, Montreal in 2006, and also hosted a two-day seminar/workshop in Hartford in June 2001 and one in Dominican Republic in 2015. He worked in the Security Department at the Learning Corridor, and later at Hartford Hospital. Junior Miller believes that cultural expression is an instrument of social harmony to be achieved through educational programs, public forums, and cultural events. As co-founder and co-director, he managed all day-to-day details of the Mas Camp from 2011 to 2019, including purchase of materials, supervision of artists and students, safety and security, preparation of work space, and travel arrangements for the dancers and costumes, working closely with CCHAP.
Biographical Note: Established in 1989, Hartford Steel Symphony (HSS) has been providing musical enjoyment around the New England area for many years. HSS performs traditional Trinidadian steel pan music in genres such as Soca, Calypso, Reggae, Pop, Classical, Gospel and Jazz; all with an island rhythm. The band is comprised of members that have all competed in several years of steel band competitions and musical extravaganzas. With these countless performances, the band has continually finished at the top of the competition. Besides competitive playing, the band has played with celebrity figures including Bernadette Peters and Audrey Hepburn at several charity, personal, and independent events. The band has also performed with other musical leaders such as The Hartford Symphony Orchestra as well as one of steels bands’ greatest pianists, Len 'Boogsie' Sharp. In addition, HSS has provided community entertainment by participating in statewide parades and events such as Hartford First Night, UCONN championship recognition parades, and various town music festivals. On a smaller scale, the band has provided private entertainment for many graduation parties, school assemblies, wedding receptions, luaus, and other private events. On a more personal level and staying in touch with their historical roots, HSS proudly participates in the annual Taste of the Caribbean and many West Indian celebrations including the annual Independence Day Parade every August during the summer months. The band performs under the musical direction of Kelvin Griffith who also makes many of their steel pans. Anitra Orie is the HSS manager. The group numbers from 6-12, all playing steel pan, plus one kit drum player. HSS played for many of Mas Camp’s graduation and exhibit opening events at the Institute for Community Research and at outdoor concerts at the Connecticut Historical Society.
Additional audio, video, and/or photographic materials exist in the archive relating to this community and these events.
Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
Status
Not on view
