Saada Branker & Powys Dewhurst – Week 1 Blog Post

June 9, 20152 Comments

Canada-based couple Saada Branker and Powys Dewhurst, a writer and filmmaker respectively, share their first blog post about their Fresh Milk residency. Both having strong ties to Barbados, Saada and Powys are in the island embarking on a project very close to their hearts and heritage: a documentary memory project commemorating the 60th anniversary of Hurricane Janet. Read more below about their first week of collecting data and interviews, and how physically being in the space has brought home the reality of Janet’s impact on the island and its people:

Edwin Edey, Saada and Mona at Grantley Adams International airport

Top Car Rentals’ complimentary van

It was perhaps not by accident but by divine design that we arrived in Barbados on June 1^st, the official start of the 2015 Hurricane season. Quite simply, Powys and I are hunting Hurricane Janet, although she is long gone. We resurrect her memory with each question posed to Bajans as they go about their daily business.

We got straight to it as we exited Grantley Adams International Airport. Our baggage handler told us she was born in 1956, one year after Hurricane Janet hit the island, but she grew up hearing of it from people every hurricane season. Edwin Edey from Top Car Rentals Barbados awaited us with a pristine vehicle, courtesy of this efficient family-run business. After a conscientious explanation of our contract, rules of the road and features of the van, Edwin described his memories of the terrain being levelled by Janet’s violent winds.

At that moment, I was hit by the realness of what Powys and I are setting out to achieve. Why it was sobering, I’m not sure. Barbados is not new to either of us. Powys grew from a precocious child into a curious teen here. I visited my parents’ birthplace for my third birthday, and I returned as an adult a few times. This media project offers us a new discovery of Barbados, guided from our elders’ lips to our ears. As in all oral traditions, there’s no greater honour than to receive such memories and hold them for sharing. Maybe that moment of truth is what I tapped into.

Driveway to the Fresh Milk residency flat in St. George

Edwin graciously offered to drive ahead to show us the way to Fresh Milk. Thankful, we followed his car and looked about at our surroundings with new eyes. Where we saw foliage, infrastructure, industry and farmland, we tried to imagine 60 years earlier with bent trees, debris swirling overhead and houses battered by winds travelling upwards of 111mph. I must say, it wasn’t easy. I was distracted. St. George was my parents’ stomping grounds when they were children. Because I’m a sit-put condo dweller, I was struck by the steady movement of people by foot and car, the expanse of farmland and just how picturesque the Fresh Milk Art Platform really is. My inspiration to write took over.

Barbados Museum & Historical Society exterior

Charles Phillips, assistant director, filming us at BMHS

On our third day here, with the help of Annalee Davis, Fresh Milk’s director and founder, we met with Charles Phillips, a talented photographer and entrepreneur behind Barbados-based Monochrome Media. He’s now our assistant director and 2^nd camera for our film shoots. The next day, with Charles, we were able to drive to the Barbados Museum & Historical Society located in the area of Bridgetown & its Garrison. Off camera, Assistant Curator Miguel Pena told us about the founding of the Society in 1933 as he led us to their library. There we read about the history of hurricanes in Barbados. Day 5 took us to the island’s south coast for a crucial interview in Oistins. What we learned grounded us. On Sunday, day 6, we travelled with our flatmate Thais Francis to Bathsheba on the eastern side of the country in St. Joseph. I’m thrilled because we’re seeing context; spaces in towns and villages where people on the move spill onto roads or simply catch a cool breeze on a corner and smart conversation with friends—many of them waving as we passed. Their gestures confirming, “I’m here and I see you.”

Director and producer Powys Dewhurst in Oistins

Writer Saada Branker flexing in Oistins

Interviewing Buddy Larrier

Interview at Oistins

In no other country have I felt so welcomed by people who don’t know me. Indeed, 60 years ago Hurricane Janet killed Barbadians, Grenadians and days later Mexicans, carving a path of extensive environmental devastation. Remarkably, that same disaster speaks volumes about the people who lived through it and how they’re ready and willing to tell us about this defining moment.

Atlantic Ocean at Bathsheba

On the road heading to Bathsheba

Coastal road at Bathsheba at sunset

Thais Francis’ Residency – Week 3 Blog Post

June 8, 2015Leave a comment

Thais Francis, Trinidad-born, Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary writer and performance artist currently undertaking a Fresh Milk residency, shares her third blog post. Although her week was short as she visited another Caribbean island, she reflects on the importance of working hard without putting too much pressure on yourself. She also takes inspiration from the children participating in her theatre workshop at Workmans Primary School when it comes to being flexible and embracing activities without over-thinking or allowing self-doubt to set in. Read more below:

This week seems like it went by very quickly. I left the island for a bit, so I did some extra work prior to leaving. Finally, I have a skeleton of the screenplay. A beginning, middle and end. I thought I had to spend every second of my day, working on the script. Sometimes I did it after I left the studio – but I think that waiting, breathing and experiencing also helps the writing process. I’m getting used to the idea of not pressuring myself – glad that memo is sinking in, and
I hope it sticks when I return to the States. This upcoming week is about fine-tuning and serious focus to make it stronger. A psychiatrist in San Francisco who specializes in my subject area has agreed to be my script consultant, so I’ll be sending that over soon-ish.

This week, I introduced costumes to the students. They adapt so well, I throw things at them, and they jump right in. Isn’t that amazing? How children can jump, or run, or laugh without thinking too much about it? Adults seem to second-guess, and seek permission; when did this carefreeness stop? Why did it stop? I personally prefer to have fun most of the time, even as an adult. We played impersonation games, I wrote scenes and broke them up into groups to perform for each other, and we worked on stage presence.

Thais Francis’ Residency – Week 2 Blog Post

June 1, 2015June 8, 2015Leave a comment

Trinidad-born, Brooklyn based multi-disciplinary performance artist and writer, and current artist in the Fresh Milk International Residency Programme, Thais Francis shares her second blog post documenting her activities in Barbados. This week she writes about the joy she experiences when engaging with narratives that address the uncomfortable issues of real life, and her new obsession with Chefette! Read more below:

I’ve been here for 2 weeks, and already I have a lot of stories. A lot of which are completely unrelated to art, but as an artist, the experience of life inherently affects my perspective, and the things I create.

My script. This story is really heavy (I may have to lighten up a bit). I’ve noticed a trend in the things that I write; they’re all incredibly dramatic. Probably because in real life, I’m the opposite, there is no drama here (mostly). I mean, my biggest issue is the store not carrying my bikini size (like, I can’t possibly flex on the beach in last summer’s swimsuit!) Joking. I’m way deeper than that, but yes, that’s why I enjoy telling stories that deal with real life uncomfortable issues because my personal narrative is so different. I want to use this script to help and inspire people and show they aren’t alone with their secrets. I’m well on my way to finishing, if I focus enough, I’ll be done maybe within the next week-but I don’t want to pressure myself. I’m working on that, because pressure further cements my “quarter life identity crisis”.

It’s interesting, the idea of writing a story, seeing things in your mind and then amassing a group of individuals to support it (which is a whole other process).I’ve been taking tiny steps. This is going to be an awesome movie.

When I returned to Workman’s primary school, the students rushed to me with arms wide open and choruses of “Ms. Thais!” resounded. It was AMAZING. They even remembered the dance that we made up together- they practiced! I love them so much. One day when I’m large and in charge, I’m gonna Oprah a school or two, and provide the kiddies with so much love, resources and creativity.

Dominique (who was interning here at the studio) and I walked to Chefette (Barbados’ version of KFC/Burger King/ Pizza Hut), which is my new favorite thing. I’M NOT EVEN ASHAMED to say I’ve been eating fast food (ok, a little ashamed). Anyway we cut through the field to get back to the studio. I had to limbo under the electrical wires to get through!

The Wretched of the Earth – #CCF

May 27, 2015June 2, 2020Leave a comment

This week Ronald Williams has written a review about Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth; a book that addresses the complex role violence plays in decolonisation. He describes Fanon’s stance on colonisation as being reversible only through extreme force. For him, it feels particularly personal given the recent surge in police brutality aimed at Black youths in the United States of America.

Read this latest addition to the Fresh Milk Books Tumblr – the online space inviting interaction with our collection in the Colleen Lewis Reading Room.

For new Critical. Creative. Fresh reviews, look out for our #CCF responses and see the great material we have available at Fresh Milk!

Thais Francis’ Residency – Week 1 Blog Post

May 26, 2015Leave a comment

Trinidad-born, Brooklyn based multi-disciplinary performance artist and writer, and current artist in the Fresh Milk International Residency Programme, Thais Francis reflects on the first week in Barbados. She writes about her hesitation to confront her “quarter life identity issues” with a group of eager students from Workmans Primary School. After an eventful time with the children, she focuses on the challenges and rewards of writing her first feature screenplay. Read more below:

“You look like my auntie!”

“I look like your aunt?”

“I like how you does say Auntie…say it again?”

“Ummm…aunt?”

“Where you from?”

Their names are Nyesha and Ramaya- one is bedecked in her brownie outfit, the other wears her school uniform topped with three plaits and ribbons. Nyesha thinks I look like her aunt, and Ramaya has picked up on my accent. She asks me the question that I dread answering. What do I tell her? Do I go into a spiel about emigrating from Trinidad…or do I just say Maryland? My brain goes into overdrive and my “quarter life identity issues” resurface. More classmates join them, and all stare at me expectantly. Innocently invasive brown eyes filled with questions and excitement. They are reminders of the beauty of being 9 years old.

“I live in America”.

They are satisfied with my response. We then all walk over to the open field.

When I first saw the students at Workman’s Primary school, I was elated. The ribbons, uniforms, brown skin-all images of a past life tucked away in the folds of mind. However, it wasn’t hard to remember and transform with them. With Ms. Bradshaw’s class of 17 students I found myself using theater, music and dance to add more color to the kaleidoscope of their lives. We used our bodies to mime and form shapes that were parts of speech; we became a human orchestra, and created a dance to work on focus and memory. They referred to me as “ma’am”. After the class, I thought about that. “What is a ma’am and how did I become one?”

In other news, here in Barbados, I have learned how to light a stove, with a match. Like, I can strike a match and light a stove. I’ll be sure to show my granny this new skill when I visit- she’ll be impressed.

However, the main reason I am here is to work on my first feature screenplay. It’s actually weird, and frustrating, but sometimes cool, sometimes I like what I’m saying…most times I don’t. Mostly I’m excited to complete it, and then have people read it and rip it to shreds in a few weeks. I’m still figuring out what I’m saying- but I’m really into it the overarching idea, and the realness of the characters. I’m at page 78, luckily I worked on this A LOT in Trinidad and Abu Dhabi a few months ago-so I’m really happy I’m not starting from scratch. It makes this process less overwhelming.