GRAS is a project that was initiated in 2001 by Laura Anderson Barbata in the community of Grand Riviere located in the North Coast of Trinidad, West Indies. The objective was to encourage economic and social prosperity by introducing a project that addresses environmental and ecological concerns through art, papermaking, bookmaking, and printmaking and creates a much needed library for the community.
The schools within this community were lacking an art curriculum because of insufficient funds, unavailable space and a minimal number of teachers. Utilizing her papermaking and art background, Ms. Barbata began teaching the students of Grande Riviere Anglican School how to make paper using plant fibers and recycling paper refuse.
The school has welcomed the addition and has continued the program as a part of their regular curriculum providing for the children of Grande Riviere access to art making and papermaking with an emphasis on the importance of recycling. In 2002, Ms. Barbata trained Michelle Murrai from Sans Souci, Toco, and has now become an integral part of the project�s development.
Since the introduction of papermaking within the community, word has spread throughout the surrounding areas and an interest has sparked in Trinidad. The children of Grand Riviere, now the GRAS Papermaking Team, have led papermaking workshops, teaching other communities, several schools in Port of Spain and at Caribbean Contemporary Arts CCA7, the art of hand papermaking.
The GRAS Papermaking team have started production of paper sheets to sell as writing paper but have been slowed down by the lack of proper equipment. The local art community including Caribbean Contemporary Arts CCA7 has also taken an interest in the project and exhibited the paper produced by the students at the Interamericas Gallery Space early this year. Over 2,000 children visited the exhibition and demand for the exhibited papers was expressed by artists and visitors. Please review the attached press that was received for the exhibition.
Along with the establishment of a base site, the GRAS project�s ultimate goals are to preserve their environment and prevent deforestation through the use of plant fiber and recycled paper, to aid the local community in the preservation of their culture, encourage artistic expression and to create positive social change through the introduction of skills that will further improve the communities economic status.
The project has welcomed the in-kind donations of time and storage space, but in order to advance the project to the next level, substantial funding will be needed. To date, the continuation of the project has been made possible by the volunteer efforts of Ms. Barbata and Ms. Murrai, and Caribbean Contemporary Arts CCA7�s promotional and exhibition support.
The project has not received any financial support. increased demand and interest for learning these crafts. The Grand Riviere site would become a training facility so that others can learn to make paper and eventually print and bind books and duplicate the project in their villages.
The North Coast of Trinidad has a challenging employment problem. Most people within this area do not have access to jobs locally and have to travel to larger cities to seek employment. The skills they obtain through the GRAS project will enable them to sell their own handmade products and in turn strengthen and generate revenue for their families and communities.
To preserve and sustain the environment. The people of Grand Riviere are sensitive to their environment and respect the preservation of the forests and surroundings areas. The GRAS project will not only help to preserve their existing environment by reducing paper trash through recycling but will improve their way of life by utilizing natural fibers that are usually disposed of by way of burning (banana trees for example) and reduce deforestation through recycling of paper trash. |
