Mas Camp Performers at Taste of the Caribbean Festival, 2012

SubjectPortrait of Mellissa Craig

SubjectPortrait of Coryse Villarouel (Trinidadian)

SubjectPortrait of Kelvin Griffith

Date2012 August 4

Mediumborn digital photography

ClassificationsGraphics

Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections

CopyrightIn Copyright

Object number2015.196.507.1-.25

DescriptionPhotographs of the Mas Camp performers at the Taste of the Caribbean Festival on August 4, 2012.

(.1) Image of Mas Camp participants preparing to go up to the Festival.

(.2-.4) Images of the Mas Camp Junior Queen butterfly costume.

(.5-.6) Images of the Mas Camp Exotic One’s band marching in to the Festival with their banner.

(.7-.8) Images of the Mas Camp Exotic One’s band marching in to the Festival at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.

(.9-.10) Images of Moko Jumbie, stilt walker Mellissa Craig, performing with the Mas Camp Exotic One’s band.

(.11-.16) Images of the Mas Camp Exotic One’s band performing their routine. Dance instructor Coryse Villarouel is also pictured.

(.17-.18) Images of the Mas Camp Exotic One's band Junior Queens performing.

(.19) Image of Moko Jumbie, stilt walker Mellissa Craig, performing with the Mas Camp Exotic One’s band.

(.20-.22) Images of the Mas Camp Exotic One's band Junior Queens performing.

(.23) Image of Moko Jumbie, stilt walker Mellissa Craig.

(.24) Image of the Mas Camp Exotic One's band Junior Queens performing.

(.25) Image of Kelvin Griffith, leader of Hartford Steel Symphony, performing at the Festival.

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. 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. The beauty of the costumes displayed by Hartford’s own masqueraders in the West Indian Parade and other festivals, along with the excitement of their dance routines, bring a tremendous energy and pride to the city’s West Indian communities.

During the summer of 2012, twenty students and over fifty volunteer students, children, and adults participated. Costume maker Keimani “Q” Delpeche created the designs along with experienced assistant Lerry Cooper and volunteer parents. Artistic director Harold Springer, dance teacher Coryse Villarouel, and dance assistant Uniqua Jones trained the students in “displaying” their costumes in a parade. They formed a Carnival “Band” called the Exotic One’s Part II, with seven sections of masqueraders in different color schemes. This year the group created a Queen and two Junior Queen costumes. The Band performed with their costumes in the Taste of the Caribbean Festival at the Riverfront on August 4, and in the West Indian 50th Anniversary Independence Parade and festival on August 11, winning the trophy for Best Costume.

Subject Note: In 1962, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago claimed their Independence from Great Britain. Since that year, the West Indian Parade and Independence Celebration has been a highlight of Hartford’s summer activities. The week of activities includes many events taking place at the different island clubs around Hartford, and features headlining musicians who perform at the West Indian Social Club. The celebration concludes with a parade and festival in Hartford featuring floats, steel band performances, and masqueraders displaying brilliant costumes.

The Taste of the Caribbean and Jerk Festival began as a single evening event and expanded into a day-long festival held since 2006 at the Riverfront Plaza at the beginning of Celebration Week. Billed as a “One day festival of Caribbean food, culture, music, games, traditions” the festival includes local and visiting performers, food vendors from a variety of Caribbean cultures, information booths, arts and crafts vendors, local and visiting dance groups, and since 2011, a procession of Mas dancers from CCHAP’s Mas Camp program in collaboration with CICCA, the Caribbean International Carnival Cultural Association.

Biographical Note: Ashley Francis carried many Junior Queen costumes in the Exotic Ones Band, in most of the years of the program. She was a gifted mas performer. From Hartford, Ashley attended the Classical Magnet School and the University of Hartford. She works as a makeup artist and model in Hartford.

Biographical Note: A Trinidad native and now a Hartford resident Keimani “Q” Delpeche was a member of the world renowned D’Midas and Associates Mas Band for 25 years. He started at age 11 hanging around the Mas camp like many Trinidadian kids do and took a liking to making carnival costumes. He learned from the teaching of master artist Stephen Derek and other workers around the camp. Q has mastered all aspects of the art of making costumes: designing to the theme, wire bending, braiding, gluing, covering, etc. At age 21 he became a traveling instructor, teaching in New York City, San Francisco, Miami, and most Caribbean Islands including St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Jamaica, and St. Croix. He did what he liked most: teaching and passing on the art of making costumes to kids and young adults alike. In 2002, he, along with other members of D’Midas and Associates from Boston, participated in the Hartford Carnival Parade. Q was the main designer and builder for the Queen costume made in the 2011 Mas Camp and since then designed and constructed the large and flamboyant multi-part wire-framed Queen, Junior Queen, Section Leader, and Frontline costumes, with input and assistance from the students who help to position and attach trim, beads, and feathers. Q also curated the Mas costume exhibits each year. His ultimate goal is to pass the art on to young Caribbean people and to educate other ethnic groups so they may aid in spreading the cultural heritage of Trinidad and Tobago.

Biographical Note: Mellissa Craig is a long-time dance educator and performer based in Hartford. She has taught and danced with Sankofa Kuumba Dance Collective, Cultural Dance Troupe of the West Indies, is Principal Dancer and Founding Member at Island Reflections Dance Theatre Company, Ensemble Member at Justice Dance Performance Project, Inc., Arts Instructor at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, and a performer with FriendzWorldMusic. Mellissa is an experienced stilt walker and participates as Moko Jumbie for many West Indian events including the Taste of the Caribbean Festival. She carried the Queen costume for the Mas Camp Exotic One’s Band in 2014.

Biographical Note: Coryse Villarouel is from Trinidad where she grew up playing mas. In Hartford, she learned to dance with the Cultural Dance Troupe of the West Indies, and she still teaches there part-time. Coryse has organized her own dance group for young people in Torrington. She assisted Harold Springer in advising the teens on dance movements when wearing the costumes, so they could learn Carnival performance skills. With her guidance and choreography, the teens were able to perform an extended high-energy routine as the main attraction at the Taste of Hartford event and during the long route of the Parade. She also choreographed dance routines that the teens performed at the Festival held at Bushnell Park after the Parade in 2014.

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.

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