Mas Camp Graduation, 2017
SubjectPortrait of
Sam Springer
SubjectPortrait of
Linford Miller
(Jamaican)
SubjectPortrait of
Lynne Williamson
Date2017 August 23
Mediumborn digital photography
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.533.1-.7
DescriptionPhotographs of Mas Camp graduation on August 23, 2017.
(.1) Image of Sam Springer performing as the DJ for the Mas Camp graduation event held on the grounds of the Connecticut Historical Society.
(.2) Image of the Mas Camp masqueraders performing their dance routine outside in front of the Connecticut Historical Society.
(.3-.5) Images of Mas Camp co-director Junior Miller giving certificates of graduation to Mas Camp participants.
(.6) Image of a group portrait of Mas Camp participants and staff along with Connecticut Historical Society Board members and staff who attended the graduation event. Lynne Williamson, Jody Blankenship, and Linford Junior Miller are among those in the photograph.
(.7) Image of a group portrait of the Mas Camp Exotic One's masqueraders.
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.(.1) Image of Sam Springer performing as the DJ for the Mas Camp graduation event held on the grounds of the Connecticut Historical Society.
(.2) Image of the Mas Camp masqueraders performing their dance routine outside in front of the Connecticut Historical Society.
(.3-.5) Images of Mas Camp co-director Junior Miller giving certificates of graduation to Mas Camp participants.
(.6) Image of a group portrait of Mas Camp participants and staff along with Connecticut Historical Society Board members and staff who attended the graduation event. Lynne Williamson, Jody Blankenship, and Linford Junior Miller are among those in the photograph.
(.7) Image of a group portrait of the Mas Camp Exotic One's masqueraders.
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.
Each year the teens and volunteers who were part of Mas Camp received certificates of participation at a graduation ceremony held in late August. The students performed their dance routine. 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 2017, ten students plus many adult and student volunteers participated. Costume maker Keimani “Q” Delpeche created the Mas outfits along with experienced assistants Asher-Lee Plummer and Dahlia Ali, and volunteer parents. Dance teacher Clerona Cain trained the students in “displaying” their costumes in a parade. They formed a Carnival “Band” called the Exotic One’s, with four sections of masqueraders in different color schemes portraying the theme of “Road Warriors.” The Band performed with their costumes in the Taste of the Caribbean Festival at the Riverfront, the Wadsworth Atheneum Block Party, the West Indian 55th Anniversary Independence Parade and Festival, and The Gathering in Waterbury. No exhibit was produced this year.
Biographical Note: Sam Springer, a resident of East Hartford, is a DJ specializing in Caribbean sounds, particularly soca. His stage name is “Sammy Soca.” Sam is the son of Harold Springer, who served as the Artistic Performance Director for Mas Camp from 2011-2015.
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.
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
