Mas Camp Exhibit Opening, Performance, and Graduation, 2015
SubjectPortrait of
Val Coleman
SubjectPortrait of
Harold Springer
(Trinidadian)
SubjectPortrait of
Keimani Delpeche
(Trinidadian)
SubjectPortrait of
Linford Miller
(Jamaican)
SubjectPortrait of
Kunga Choekyi
(Tibetan)
SubjectPortrait of
Tanya Bynoe
SubjectPortrait of
Hartford Steel Symphony
(established 1989)
SubjectPortrait of
Clerona Cain
Date2015 August 27
Mediumborn digital photography
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.525.1-.16
DescriptionPhotographs of the Mas Camp exhibition opening, performance, and graduation at the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) on August 27, 2015.
(.1) Image of TT Baker, daughter of Mas Camp costume designer Q Delpeche, with her costume worn as the youngest member of the Exotic One's Band.
(.2) Image of then CHS Executive Director Jody Blankenship with Val Coleman, Director of the Cultural Dance Troupe of the West Indies, viewing the exhibit.
(.3) Image of the Mas Camp Exotic One's band Queen costume on display in the exhibit.
(.4) Image of Mas Camp Artistic Performance Director Harold Springer with his wife viewing the exhibit.
(.5) Image of visitors viewing the slide show of images in the exhibit.
(.6) Image of TT Baker standing with her father, Mas Camp costume designer Q Delpeche, outside the CHS at the graduation event.
(.7) Image of Mas Camp co-director Junior Miller and Val Coleman, Director of the Cultural Dance Troupe of the West Indies, outside the CHS at the graduation event.
(.8) Image of Tibetan artist KC (Kunga Choekyi) standing with the Mas Camp Exotic One's Queen costume in the exhibit.
(.9) Image of Mas Camp educator and Exotic One's section leader Tanya Bynoe standing by her costume in the exhibit.
(.10) Image of Hartford Steel Symphony performing outside at the graduation event.
(.11-.14) Images of the Mas Camp participants, some in costume, receiving their certificates from educators Lerry Cooper, Tanya Bynoe, and Junior Miller.
(.15) Image of Hartford Steel Symphony performing outside at the graduation event.
(.16) Image of then CHS archivist Barbara Austen with Mas Camp Exotic One's Queen and dance instructor Clerona Cain in the exhibit.
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.(.1) Image of TT Baker, daughter of Mas Camp costume designer Q Delpeche, with her costume worn as the youngest member of the Exotic One's Band.
(.2) Image of then CHS Executive Director Jody Blankenship with Val Coleman, Director of the Cultural Dance Troupe of the West Indies, viewing the exhibit.
(.3) Image of the Mas Camp Exotic One's band Queen costume on display in the exhibit.
(.4) Image of Mas Camp Artistic Performance Director Harold Springer with his wife viewing the exhibit.
(.5) Image of visitors viewing the slide show of images in the exhibit.
(.6) Image of TT Baker standing with her father, Mas Camp costume designer Q Delpeche, outside the CHS at the graduation event.
(.7) Image of Mas Camp co-director Junior Miller and Val Coleman, Director of the Cultural Dance Troupe of the West Indies, outside the CHS at the graduation event.
(.8) Image of Tibetan artist KC (Kunga Choekyi) standing with the Mas Camp Exotic One's Queen costume in the exhibit.
(.9) Image of Mas Camp educator and Exotic One's section leader Tanya Bynoe standing by her costume in the exhibit.
(.10) Image of Hartford Steel Symphony performing outside at the graduation event.
(.11-.14) Images of the Mas Camp participants, some in costume, receiving their certificates from educators Lerry Cooper, Tanya Bynoe, and Junior Miller.
(.15) Image of Hartford Steel Symphony performing outside at the graduation event.
(.16) Image of then CHS archivist Barbara Austen with Mas Camp Exotic One's Queen and dance instructor Clerona Cain in the exhibit.
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.
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. 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 2015, twenty-two young people and eighty-four adult and student volunteers, children, and students from Our Piece of the Pie participated. Costume maker Keimani “Q” Delpeche created four large costumes – a spectacular Queen and three Junior Queen outfits along with experienced assistants Lerry Cooper and Tanya Bynoe, and many volunteer parents. Artistic director Harold Springer, 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 nine sections of masqueraders in different color schemes portraying the theme of “Hollywood in Colors.” 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 53rd Anniversary Independence Parade and Festival.
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.
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: 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: Harold Springer was involved in all aspects of Carnival in his native Trinidad, including calypso and steel pan music as well as masquerade costume-making and display. When he moved to Hartford in the early 1990s, he became Treasurer and then Vice President of the Trinidad and Tobago American Society here. He was a co-Founder of the Hartford Carnival Association in 2000 and has also served as Treasurer and now Director of Operations for CICCA. Among his responsibilities in that position, he organizes sections and bands to perform at West Indian events all over the Northeast. He specializes in the coordination of costume “playing” with music and dance, as the complete Carnival presentation. For many years Harold organized bands that performed at the West Indian Parade and the Taste of the Caribbean. He worked with the Mas Camp project from 2011-2014 as Artistic Director/Performance Consultant.
Biographical Note: Alwin “Lerry” Cooper, a part-time project educator in 2011, took on a wider role in 2012, and has been a key educator in 2013-2015 and 2020, teaching the teens how to work with the fabric, glue, decorative materials, etc. to bring their designs and the master artist’s designs into being. He is a record producer and event promoter, as well as an advisor on the West Indian Celebration Committee and President of The Mad Man Crew Mas Band that performs in the West Indian Parade every year. Mr. Cooper is a founding member of Connecticut International Cultural Carnival Association (CICCA), serving as its Director of Administration and Planning for several years. From Trinidad, he has produced costumes for carnivals in Hartford; Toronto; New York; Jamaica; Boston; Orlando; Washington, DC; Atlanta; and Trinidad.
Biographical Note: Science teacher, dancer, and costume designer Tanya Bynoe resides in East Hartford, Connecticut. She has taught middle school science at the Asian Studies Academy in Hartford and other schools, and she holds a Masters degree in Secondary Education. She is co-founder of the Barbados American Society for Hartford Youth, a track and field star, and a coach. Tanya volunteered with Mas Camp in 2014 to help the teens, and served as an Artist/Youth Educator in 2015. Tanya also created and wore her own frontline/section leader costume in that year’s Parade.
Biographical Note: Clerona Cain is from St. Lucia, where she grew up playing Mas and learning all aspects from building costumes to developing choreography for display. She worked as a tourism professional in St. Lucia and danced with the Silver Shadow Performing Arts Company which toured around the Caribbean and also Venezuela. From 2015-2020, she taught the teens dance movements that she created with them, also instructing on display and dance while wearing the costumes, so they learned performance skills. Clerona’s work was vital for the good presentation of the costumes, and she mentored and supported the teens who were required to perform intensively as the main attraction at the Taste of Hartford event and during the long route of the West Indian Parade. She choreographed the dance routines that the teens performed onstage at the Festival held at Bushnell Park after the Parade, and also developed a routine for them to present at the Wadsworth Atheneum Block Party. Clerona led a public dance workshop at that event. She “carried” (wore) the project’s large Queen costume in the Parade in several years. She also provides in-school programs in Mas costume-making and dance with the arts education organization Hartford Performs.
Biographical Note: The Cultural Dance Troupe of the West Indies Inc. (CDTWI) is a longstanding arts and heritage education program for students from 5-18. Based in Hartford, the CDTWI was developed and directed by Valencia (Val) Coleman since 1982. “Our mission it to promote the appreciation of cultural differences by empowering individuals and communities through the vehicle of dance, performance, and music. We share the rich cultural heritage of the West Indies with Greater Hartford through the common language of artist expression.” CDTWI has provided classes in Caribbean and other dance genres, culture-based instruction, and academic enrichment to generations of students who have showcased their learning in the annual Cultural Spectacular, at Hartford-area festivals and arts events, and they perform annually in the West Indian Independence Day Parade and Festival. Val Coleman and her experienced instructors including Melissa Craig, Grace Wright, and Stephen Hankey have given classes and performances in Hartford Public Schools and many other educational venues around Connecticut.
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
