Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 6
Way Down South: Laborie (or Labowi in Kwéyòl)
Meeting The Artist Jonathan Guy-Gladding.
Laborie is the most “Lucian” of all St Lucian towns. Located on the extreme south-western tip of this island paradise, sitting on the Caribbean Sea coast of Saint Lucia, it is absolutely “jaw-droppingly” gorgeous. Laborie is undeniably exceedingly beautiful as a place and as a spirit. Its no surprise that weddings and honeymooners choose this stunning place to start of their lives.
View From Above Laborie Looking Towards Vieux Fort. (From Morne Le Blanc)
There is a much-used Caribbean word “niceness!” which fits Laborie to a T. “It’s pure niceness.” It is a vibrant, picturesque and calm fishing village, preserving the best traditions of St Lucia while moving with the times. Its fair to say there’s always a lot going on in Laborie.
In conversation with the artist Jonathan Gladding, he described Laborie as “my favourite place, a place where one can feel useful and be involved in the community. And a place that makes people better!” That is an extraordinarily amazing endorsement for anywhere on the planet.
Top Tip: Visit Laborie
Above: a photograph of a painting of Laborie Beach by Jonathan capturing an oncoming storm. (Note: I was present while this painting, or a version of this painting was being created and painted by Jonathan – which was an amazing experience.)
Laborie: originally named after the Loggerhead Sea Turtles found in the vicinity it was once known as Quartier de l’Isle Caret.
The town was later called Laborie in honour of Baron de Laborie, the French Governor of Saint Lucia from 1784 to 1789.
- Laborie seems unperturbed by progress or cruise ships.
- Laborie has a laid-back laissez-faire attitude to life, which is beyond belief and a lesson to us all on how a more beautiful life can be had.
- Laborie has the most stunning uncrowded serene golden sandy beach, with crystal clear turquoise blue water, which is normally populated by picnicking local families.
- Enjoy the natural shade provided by beautiful mature trees at the edge of Laborie beach.
- Laborie still has a cricket-square which gets regularly used. The unassailable sight of cricket participants ‘in sporting whites,’ against the backdrop sound of willow against leather, is still one of life’s greatest civilised pleasures.
- Visit the handsome old church: The Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the heart of Laborie.
- Take a trip up Morne Le Blanc hill. A beautiful vantage point for a stunning picturesque panoramic view of the village, the sea, and the surrounding countryside.
- Top Tip: Visit Mama Tilly’s Bar in the centre of town for great local food and atmosphere.
Resting Boat At Laborie
Jonathan Guy-Gladding.
Jonathan is one of St Lucia’s most prominent artists who in my view really does capture the soul and very essence of St Lucia in his work. We talked about his art, Laborie and St Lucia.
One can read Jonathan’s ‘bio’ on the internet. (So please take the time to check out his social media. It is well worth the time. It’s very interesting, informative and filled with wonderful examples of his work.)
What I would say about Jonathan is that he is a very ‘gentle-man’ in every sense of the word. He puts the world around him at ease, being very easy to talk to and he is very generous with his time and his art, a truly charming, calm and congenial man.
Jonathan joins Andy and Anna (the hosts of the Ire Bar in Gros Islet) and ‘Fireman’ (the grave builder (see Blog No3 & No5)) as part of nature’s finest gentlemen and women: that if they didn’t exist, we would have to invent them for the good of mankind.
Jonathan Gladding Self Portrait
The first time I met Jonathan was in 2018 when he was giving a free-to-all-comers painting class on the beach in Laborie – a most generous act. As part of Nobel Laureate week. This was the third year if the “Paint the Village.” An open-air painting event facilitated by the St Lucian Nobel Laureate Committee. I found out about this event via the St Lucian National Trust.
Top Tip: visit the St Lucian National Trust social media pages if you’re planning to visit St Lucia. If you’re planning to stay a little while longer on the island, please join them. It really is amazing value for money. And they do unbelievably great work for St Lucia.
A Painting of a man by Jonathan Gladding
I asked Jonathan to tell me about his Laborie.
He replied.
“Laborie is my favourite place. It has a strong sense of community. The people keep the traditions alive. It’s an exciting place, with great neighbours, where one feels part of the community. It’s a place to feel useful and be involved in the community, for example being involved in the schools, art workshops, murals etc. Laborie gives to people in life and helps make them a better person. It’s a very special place. Visitors who come to St Lucia have a more authentic experience in Laborie, not feeling so much like a tourist, with positive interactions with locals.“
I asked Jonathan to tell me a secret about his Laborie or St Lucia
“At the top of the hill Morne Le Blanc, there is a nature heritage park created by local Laborie folk who formed an environmental group called Echo Lab in 1992.
Previously the area at the top of the hill was called ‘Radar’ where in the 1950s the US had a radar/missile station installed.
It’s now a nature heritage park with picnic table facilities etc, with a great operational platform to access fabulous views over Laborie, and its free to enter. The area is maintained by members of the community.
Further up Morne Le Blanc hill there are ruins of an old sugar mill which is intact. There is another abandoned sugar mill on the beach in Laborie. Both of these abandoned sugar mills are easily accessible and free to experience.”
What’s your favourite painting?
“The selection of one painting that represents my work, which represents the quintessential parts of growing up, is a painting called ‘Standpipe.’”
The Painting Standpipe by Jonathan Gladding
“The simple pleasure of a public standpipe is something all of us can relate to.
Walking on a hot day, having the simple pleasure of a drink of water from a public standpipe. Everyday simple ideas are what I’m interested in.”
What’s your most memorable painting?
“The painting is called ‘Assembly.’
It’s a painting of 20-30 children painted outside in the shade during a school assembly. One of the real joys of this painting was watching the kids pointing themselves out in the completed picture, and their reaction and excitement at seeing themselves on canvas was most memorable.”
What’s your St Lucian inspiration?
“I love painting landscapes but my favourite things are the ones with people.
I love meeting and painting people in their environments and capturing them. The human experience is what sets St Lucia apart and makes St Lucia a special place, where the people are genuinely friendly.”
Pictures On Jonathan’s Studio Walls
Other St Lucian artists that you admire.
“There is a lot of talent in St Lucia. And a great diversity of styles.”
The Honourable Dunstan St Omer (The artist who designed the St Lucian flag)
Jonathan continues. Dunston has a very interesting phrase on St Lucia: “The tragedy of St Lucia is that it’s poverty is so picturesque.”
“Llewellyn Xavier: who presents a modernist style of work.
Daniel Jean-Baptiste: the world renowned, Silk Screen artist.
Vincent Eudovic and his son Jallim: who are doing great things with wood and sculpture.
Sabrina Romious: who is extremely talented.
Ron Henry: who is doing a lot of really nice paintings.
Naja Simeon aka Saki: who paints murals all over the island. He undertakes a lot of work all over the island so I take my hat off to him.
There are many more.”
Painting Of A Girl By Jonathan Gladding: Ari in Chinese blouse.
What more do you think the government and local authorities could do?
“More art classes in school. Because not everyone is academically or athletically inclined, so other opportunities are essential for children to shine in their own special way.”
More opportunities for artist to show their work. eg., the M&C Art awards was a good thing which went away about 20 years ago and has not been replaced. It was supposed to be taken over by the government.”
Maybe we need another sponsor like Massy or Courts to step in?
“I hope somebody does take over the Art award show.”
View from Jonathan’s Studio
NOTE: Art was incorporated into the St Lucian Jazz festival 2023. There was an exhibition in the central square in Castries, also there was an Arts and Crafts vendors’ market in Rodney Bay.
The Next Generation. (Visits To St Mary’s College School Open Day)
Below are charcoal drawings of Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Dereck Walcott drawn by two students from St Mary’s College, Verlorn Francis and Kaevan Dolor, live on stage during the school’s open evening (all drawn in five minutes) – hopefully they are artists in the making – really breath-taking young St Lucian talent.
My Personal Favourite Jonathan Guy-Gladding Painting
My personal favourite is below.
It is the timeless image of a grandmother and grandchild holding hands walking down the road coming home from the shops or an afternoon out.
The painting is so enchantingly touching, only a heart of stone could fail to be moved by its eternal charm and simplicity. The painting is heartbreakingly beautiful.
The quintessential image of a loving grandmother and grandchild, sporting matching protective sun hats, the grandmother carrying the bags leading the way.
I imagine the grandmother teaching, talking and singing with her grandson as they walk down the road in step, as my grandmother adoringly did with me.
The faces of the two characters are not visible which gives the painting an universal quality of the enduring love of family, especially the enduring extra-special bond between grandparent to grandchild.
The Last Word.
Jonathan is a very special man who is every bit part of the beautiful Laborie family.
On the way to his home, I got a little lost and I stopped to ask an unsuspecting passer-by for directions.
“Can you direct me to the Morne Le Blanc please?”
I could tell that he looked puzzled and bewildered by my very West London accent. I repeated the question again, this time slowly, and a little louder as one does. This time he politely winced at me. Then searching to find a way to communicate. I said to him. “Jonathan Gladding’s House?”
He replied. “Yes man! Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” He then gave me perfect directions to Jonathan’s home.
Acknowledgments & Thanks:
- Kwéyòl Dictionary Ministry of Education Government of St Lucia 2001
- Tony Nayager for corrective guidance. (He knows what I mean!)
- Thanks to Jonathan Gladding for his time.
- I shall write about as many artists as I can during the life-span of this Blog.
- My beautiful cousin Fenella for clarification.
End of Reasons to be Cheerful Part six
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Thank you.
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