Following on the heels of its popularly and critically acclaimed inaugural staging, the second edition of the Caribbean Fine Art (“CaFA”) Fair with over 35 exhibitors of paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, original limited edition prints and new media exploring the cultural traditions of the Caribbean, will be staged at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, Barbados, West Indies.  The CaFA Fair opens Wednesday, March 7, 2012 with a Gala Reception and the presentation of the Caribbean Luminary of the Arts Award to internationally recognized, Barbadian-born, Ras Akyem I Ramsay, and runs through Sunday, March 11, 2012.

Patricia Brintle- Bayou (Acrylic on canvas)

The exhibits will feature works by leading Caribbean artists from countries including Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nevis, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, and U. S. Virgin Islands, with styles ranging from the intuitive self- taught to the classically trained.

Fulfilling one of its key goals of enhancing the knowledge, appreciation and market for contemporary Caribbean art, CaFA fair will include a Caribbean Art Symposium on Saturday, March 10. This brings together academicians, curators, and artists from the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States to explore issues vital to the growth of the Caribbean Art movement. Among the topics to be explored are:  The Relationship between Caribbean and Latin American Art; Caribbean Art in Regional Collections; and Strategies for Developing the Region’s Cultural Industries.

Underscoring the importance of collaboration among the different art forms, a special feature of CaFA 2012 will be theatrical and musical performances by artists from around the Caribbean. Internationally renowned performing and visual artist David Boothman of Trinidad & Tobago, will perform at the Opening Gala Night and also showcase his paintings at the Fair. Barbara Russell, a U.S. born artist of Jamaican heritage will present her ‘Doodle To Da Beat’ performance on Thursday, March 8 while Barbadian artist Nala will perform his insightful poetry on Friday, March 9, and Barbadian reggae artist Lady Virtue will be the closing performer of CaFA Fair Barbados on Sunday, March 11.

Event sponsors include Barbados Tourism Authority; Barbados National Cultural Foundation; Carib Voice Radio; Caribbean Webcast; Intimate Hotels of Barbados; Laparkan Shipping; Lush Life Resort; The Nation Publishing Co.; and Starcom Network.

For additional information, please call 646-267-8831 or visit www.cafafair.com. Tickets available at www.caribbeaneventshub.com