Basil Watson, OJ CD (born 1958), [1] is a Jamaican sculptor.
He is the son of painter Barrington Watson, [2] and the brother of sculptor Raymond Watson. [3] He was honoured with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class, in 2016, in recognition of his artistic accomplishments. [4]
Watson completed a sculpture entitled "Balance" in November 2006, which was installed at Doctor's Cave Bathing Club in Montego Bay, in honour of the club's centennial. [2] Meant to depict the harmony between man and woman, the sculpture is of a standing nude man with one arm outstretched over his head, and an inverted nude woman balancing on one hand, with her hand supported by the man's upraised hand. [2] In total, it is 15 feet tall. [2]
In December of that same year, he completed a statue of sprinter Merlene Ottey, which was installed at Jamaica's National Stadium. [5] The bronze sculpture, which is eight feet tall and weighs seven hundred pounds, depicts a running Ottey reaching for the sky with her right hand. [5] Prime Minister P. J. Patterson presided over the statue's dedication. [5]
Another work of Watson's was added to National Stadium in November 2009, when Prime Minister Bruce Golding unveiled his sculpture of sprinter Herb McKenley. [6] Watson described the task as an "honour" and a "privilege", citing the esteem in which he held McKenley. [6] He said that when designing the work, he drew from multiple images of McKenley created at different times in his life, in order to bridge the gap between McKenley's youthful accomplishments and his popular renown in his old age. [6]
Works by both Basil Watson and his son Kai, a painter, were exhibited in New York at the fifth annual "Art Off the Main" exposition in October 2008, sponsored by the Savacou Gallery. [7]
That December, Watson was added to the list of artists invited to provide works for the National Gallery of Jamaica's National Biennial exhibition. [8]
He was chosen from four finalists to create the United Kingdom's National Windrush Monument, which was unveiled at London Waterloo Station in June 2022. [9] [10]
Frederick William MacMonnies was the best known expatriate American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts school, as successful and lauded in France as he was in the United States. He was also a highly accomplished painter and portraitist. He was born in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York and died in New York City.
Charles Henry Niehaus was an American sculptor.
The Order of Merit is part of the Jamaican honours system, and it is the fourth-highest honour awarded by the nation of Jamaica. The Order of Merit is conferred upon Jamaicans or distinguished citizens of other countries who have achieved international distinction in the field of science, the arts, literature or any other endeavour. The award can be held by no more than 15 living persons. It is not given to more than two people in any one year.
Basil Barrington Watson CD was a Jamaican painter.
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Christopher Francis González OD was a Jamaican expressionistic sculptor and painter.
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David Watson Stephenson was a Scottish sculptor, executing portraits and monuments in marble and bronze.
Alvin Tolman Marriott was a Jamaican sculptor. He worked in Europe, North and Central America, and Jamaica. Many of his carvings and statues are on public display and in administrative buildings in Jamaica and the UK.
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