Mas Camp Open House Day Meeting, 2011
SubjectPortrait of
Linford Miller
(Jamaican)
Date2011 June 25
Mediumborn digital photography
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.499
DescriptionPhotograph of Mas Camp co-director Junior Miller speaking to the students and families assembled for Open House Day to introduce Mas Camp procedures and curriculum and complete individual student paperwork (contracts, permissions) on June 25, 2011.
NotesSubject Note: Hartford’s West Indian Independence Celebration began in 1962 to commemorate Jamaica’s and Trinidad and Tobago’s independence from the United Kingdom. The week-long celebration usually concludes with a parade and festival downtown featuring floats, steel band performances, and groups of local masqueraders displaying brilliant costumes called Mas. Mas represents an important and beloved art form in the West Indian communities that make up a vibrant component of Hartford’s population. The costumes and the traditions behind them serve as central expressions of cultural identity and heritage. 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.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.
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. 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.
The students and staff, along with volunteers from the community, formed a Carnival band they named Exotic One’s. Each year the group would choose a new theme. Exotic One’s presented their costumes and dance routines at the Wadsworth Atheneum Block Party, the Taste of the Caribbean Festival at the Riverfront, and at the West Indian Independence Celebration Parade and Festival in Bushnell Park. 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.
During the summer of 2011, sixteen students and fifteen volunteer teens and adults participated. Renowned costume maker Tynsley Charles created the designs along with experienced assistants Grace Wright, Lerry Cooper, and Keimani “Q” Delpeche, as well as volunteer section leader Cassie Harper. Artistic director Harold Springer trained the students in “displaying” their costumes in a parade. They formed a Carnival “Band” called the Exotic One’s, with three sections of masqueraders in different color schemes. The Band performed with their costumes in the Taste of the Caribbean Festival at the Riverfront on August 6, and in the West Indian Independence Parade on August 13.
Biographical Note: 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. (CICCA) 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.
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
