Norma Elaine Talma

Born: December 11, 1936

Detail of "Barbadiana" Assemblage: wood, fabric, found objects 36” x 21” Date:1974, Location: Barbados Barbadiana was one of my many wooden assemblages created during the 1970\'s. It incorporates pieces of furniture, fabric, old keys, and other found objects with wood stain and traces of paint. It was my impression of the plantation houses and life in Barbados of an earlier age. The title, which encompasses Barbadian heritage, has become part of the Barbadian lexicon. « previous image next image »

Occupation: Artist, teacher

Art Education:

School: Walden School N. Y.C., U.S.A Date: 1954 College/University: Bank Street College of Education. N.Y. Teacher’s certificate Date: 1955/56   Sarah Lawrence College Date: 1958   New York University Graduate studies in Art Education (1year) MA Date: 1960

Statement

Collage has been the connecting media throughout most of my career. Having worked with paint, collage and drawing materials for many years, in 1980 I began experimenting with Japanese handmade paper. In 1986, I staged an exhibition of these early works and my own handmade paper collages. I now create paper collages using handmade paper that has been poured, shaped, embedded, coloured, textured, printed and layered, often becoming sculptural. I am also producing series of linocuts and drawings on “paper paintings”. Consequently, each linocut or drawing is unique. Most of my handmade paper is made from indigenous fibers such as banana-leaf stems, wild cotton and corn husks. But, more importantly, the paper is simply a vehicle to express my feelings and thoughts. My observations of the changing landscape and the natural environment serve as a microscopic study for human existence, the dynamics of colour, line, texture, form and rhythm present an opportunity to make statements about my psychological and spiritual life. They are paper poems that speak of the beginnings of life and the passages of time, incorporating autobiographical iconography and images of Amerindian and other early civilizations. Biblical, geological and space travel discoveries have also informed my art work. These themes have evolved from my initial and ongoing reaction to and fascination with the tropical sun and landscape, and through extensive explorations of space, light and time in the Caribbean. Periodic changes in colour palette and scale have brought new directions in my work.

Keyworks:

Makeba Takes a Bow, 1966, oil on canvas, Barbados   Barbadiana, 1974, assemblage, mixed media, Barbados   Sunscape, 1980, painted collage, Barbados   Cloudscape #1, 1983, handmade paper collage, artist's collection   Evening Clouds, 1985, handmade paper collage, Barbados   Green Flash, 2003, handmade paper collage, Barbados   Earth’s Song #2, 2003, sculptural handmade paper collage, artist's collection   Land of the Many Suns #2, 2005, handmade paper collage, artist's collection   Born of the Sea #1, 2005, sculptural handmade paper collage, collection of the artist   10. Mother Earth.2009. Linocut on handmade paper. John Webster Collection. Barbados

Exhibitions (Group):

2008, 2004/2005. Barbadiana. Paris, Brussels, Montreal, Ottawa, Barbados   2. 2008. Naples Art Association Founders Juried Awards Exhibition, The von Liebig Art Center. Naples, Florida   1990, Museum of Modern Art of Latin America, selected works from the Art Collection Foundation of Barbados, USA   1986, Museum of Modern Art of Latin America, Contemporary Art of Barbados, USA   1971, 1967: Biennial de Sao Paulo, Brazil

Exhibitions (Solo):

2010, Awiepo Gallery. The Crane, Barbados   2004, Grande Salle, Lifetime Achievement Award Exhibition, Barbados   2004, Zemicon Gallery, Poetry in Paper, Barbados   1988, Art and Antiques, Sculptural Collages of Handmade Paper, St. Croix, USVI   1986, Queen’s Park Gallery, Norma Talma, Barbados

Publications (Discussed):

Barbadiana - Exhibition and Printmaking Catalogue Date: 2008   2. Acquisitions 2001-2006, Exhibition, National Art Gallery Committee, Barbados catalogue Date: 2006   Norma Talma: Lifetime Achievement Award in the visual arts catalogue Date: 2005   Nou, Barbados Date: August-November 2000   Art in Barbados: What Kind of Mirror Image? Date: 1999

Commissions (Public):

1989, handmade paper box, 6.5’ x 4.5’, including lining for wooden and metal box, location unknown   1970, Power of Youth, acrylic collage, Barbados

Commissions (Private):

1984, Memories in Sand, 11” x 14.75”, handmade paper collage, Barbados   1984, Sun-washed Beach, handmade paper collage, location unknown   1984, Sun over the Land, 71.75” x 48”, handmade paper collage, Barbados

Collections (Public):

Ilaro Court, Barbados   Government House, Barbados   Barbados Gallery of Art, Barbados   National Art Collection, Barbados

Collections (Private):

D.A. Wilson, Barbados, USA   Monica Procope, Barbados   Sir Henry and Lady Forde, Barbados   Cynthia Thomas, USA

Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award in the visual arts, Collectors Club. Barbados Date: 2005   Purchase Award for “Evening Clouds”, Art Collection Foundation, Barbados Light and Power Date: 1985   Award for Best Mixed Media in Exhibition, Queen’s Park. Barbados Date: 1985   ILO 50th Anniversary Art Competition, Pelican Village Gallery, Barbados Date: 1969   Second Prize, Expo ’67 Sculpture competition. Barbados Date: 1967