On Thursday, May 7th, over 75 guests gathered at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum for the opening reception of Three the Art Way art exhibit, an engaging evening celebrating Jamaican artistry, cultural storytelling, and creative collaboration. The event brought together community members, art enthusiasts, and supporters from across South Florida to experience the work of featured Jamaican artists Paul Campbell, AJ Brown, and Mark Cameron.
Guests arrived to an inviting atmosphere filled with Reggae vibes, artwork full on display, networking opportunities, and flavorful food and beverages, including jerk chicken, rum punch, and special culinary offerings prepared by Chef Cameron, one of the featured artists.
The evening’s program officially began with welcome remarks from Pete Kennedy, President of Jamaican Men of Florida, who greeted attendees and welcomed them to Island SPACE Caribbean Museum. Kennedy then introduced Mandy Laguerre, Island SPACE Manager, who spoke on behalf of the museum and welcomed guests to the special exhibition opening. Following Mandy’s remarks, Stephanie, Island SPACE Coordinator, shared insights into the vision and evolution of Three the Art Way, reflecting on how the exhibition has grown from 2016 showcase during Art Basel into a powerful platform celebrating Jamaican and Caribbean artistic expression.
The evening’s moderator, Alana DaCosta, a multidisciplinary artist and musician in her own right, opened the discussion with a soulful musical performance before transitioning into the artist panel conversation. Alana guided a thoughtful and engaging discussion that explored the evolution of Three the Art Way, the artists’ personal creative journeys, international exhibition experiences, and the deep connection between Jamaican identity and artistic storytelling.
During the conversation, Paul Campbell reflected on how many of his works are deeply personal, often painting himself into his pieces as part of the story being told. Fellow artists and supporters spoke about his surrealist approach and imaginative visual language, noting that some of his peers have even referred to him as “the Jamaican Salvador Dalí” because of his distinctive style and symbolism.
Mark Cameron shared that his artistic journey has never been driven primarily by money, but instead by his genuine love for creating and expressing emotion through his work. He spoke passionately about remaining committed to the creative process and allowing authenticity to guide his artistic evolution, not only in painting, but in his other creative endeavors as well.
The audience got to experience the blending of visual and musical artistry through AJ Brown, who performed two songs during the discussion while speaking about how music and visual art naturally intertwine within his creative practice. AJ explained how both mediums serve as extensions of his expression, allowing him to connect with audiences in multiple ways.
The discussion flowed into an interactive audience Q&A session, where guests had the opportunity to engage directly with the artists, ask questions, and gain deeper insight into the inspiration and meaning behind their work..
Following the formal discussion, Kennedy returned with closing remarks, thanking the guests, artists, and supporters for contributing to the evening’s success and encouraging attendees to support the featured artists through artwork and merchandise purchases. Dianne “Ginga” Watson, Island SPACE Representative, also addressed the audience, speaking about the importance of supporting Island SPACE Caribbean Museum and its mission to preserve and promote Caribbean culture and heritage.
The evening concluded with continued networking and artist engagement as guests spent time speaking one-on-one with the featured artists, learning more about the stories and inspiration behind the artwork, and exploring the exhibition in greater depth. Each artist connected with attendees in their own unique way, creating a warm and interactive atmosphere throughout the gallery, bringing the evening to a close with a strong sense of community and celebration at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum.
View photos from the event here.
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“Three the Art Way” reflects Island SPACE Caribbean Museum’s ongoing mission to amplify Caribbean voices and showcase the diversity of talent across the diaspora. The public is invited to explore the work of these three artists, spanning multiple disciplines.
For more information on exhibition events and programming related to Three The Art Way , visit islandspacefl.org/island-space-caribbean-museum-presents-three-the-art-way/
About Island SPACE Caribbean Museum
Island SPACE Caribbean Museum is the only pan-Caribbean heritage museum in the world, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history, culture, art and legacy of the Caribbean and its diaspora. In five years, Island SPACE has welcomed thousands of guests and students and mounted dozens of exhibitions by Caribbean fine artists. Through its museum, rotating gallery, educational programming and signature cultural festivals, Island SPACE serves as an important cultural home for Caribbean stories in South Florida and beyond.
The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Broward Mall, 8000 W. Broward Blvd., Suite 1202, Plantation, FL 33388. Museum admission: $15 adults | $7 children under 12. Group tours are available by reservation. Learn more at islandspacefl.org or call 954-999-0989 for details.
