Alexis Ballie

B. 1930

Alexis Ballie is the Art teacher at Corinth Teachers' College. In 1966-1967 he studied art in England at goldsmith's College, University of London, on a United Kingdom Commonwealth Bursary. His main interests are painting and Printmaking. His works are of a technically high Quality and have been shown in mixed exhibitions locally, in the West Indies, in Canada (Expo'67), United States, England and Sao Paulo.

He paints mainly landscapes and people in semi-objective and non-objective manner. His earlier works depicted people in work situations as well as landscapes in a realistic style. Later on he developed a more personal and semi-objective style.
 

His works have been exhibited in mixed exhibitions sponsored by the Trinidad Art Society and the Division of Culture locally in the West Indies, in Canada - Expo '67, United States, England, Brazil - Sao Paulo Beinal in 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, and 1975.

Ballie has also lectured in art at the Naparima Teachers' College in San Fernando, the Government Teachers' College in Port of Spain, Corinth Teachers' College, the Carnegie Project in Grenada through the School of Education, UWI, St. Augustine and the Weeks of Arts in Trinidad and Tobago sponsored by the Division of Culture.

Ballie was assigned to the Curriculum Division of the Ministry of Education in Port of Spain prior to his retirement.

His works of art reflect many of the styles, techniques and themes employed by the artist from earlier years, with more recent developments in his manner of perceiving, interpreting and rendering experiences.

Ballie employs the language of art as an avenue to react to the tensions and conflicts in the world around and to re-examine the values and standards of society.

Within recent years he has also devoted much of his time to writing poetry.

Accomplishments

Since 1960, several of his paintings have been acquired by the Trinidad Hilton, the National Museum and Art gallery and numerous collectors, both nationally and internationally, (e.g. former British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago - Norman Costar, British Commonwealth Secretary - Arnold Smith, Captain Jack Hawkins - Assistant Commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, D.C., etc.)

His works have been exhibited in mixed exhibitions sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Art Society and the Division of Culture locally, in the West Indies, Canada - Expo '67, United States, England, Brazil - BienaldeSaoPauloin 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969 and 1975.

In 1964, a painting entitled "Builders" purchased by the Trinidad Hilton in In 1965, two paintings by a twelve- year-old student under Ballie's tutelage, at the San Fernando Presbyterian School were chosen to be exhibited alongside other Trinidadian artists.

In 1966, Ballie was awarded a British Commonwealth Bursary to study art at Goldsmith's College, University of London.

In 1972, the Vessigny Government Secondary School, where Ballie introduced and taught art from 1968 to 1973, won the Reeves outstanding art from the Division of Culture and Art Teachers' Association.

Ballie also achieved outstanding success as an Art lecturer at Naparima Training College from 1960 to 1961, Government Teachers' College from 1967 to 1968 and Corinth Teachers' College from its inception in 1973 to 1987.

One - man Exhibitions

1988 - Art Creators Gallery (Port of Spain)
1996 - 101 Art Gallery (Port of Spain
1999 - 101 Art Gallery (Port of Spain)

If one were to cite the accomplishments of Alexis Balhe, it would be quite difficult to decipher where to begin and where (or when) it would end.

Therefore it may be safe to acknowledge his own beginning, when he was born on the 11th September, 1930 at Reform Village, Trinidad. He attended Reform Primary school, and excelled in the arts there. Later on, he graduated into the Naparima and Kenly Colleges, during his adolescence. Approaching adulthood, Mr. Ballie temporarily employed himself at the Point-a-Pierre Oil Refinery, after which he chose to become a teacher.

Unbeknownst to himself, both education and art would become integral parts of his life. Influenced by rural society, Ballie produced paintings such as 'Reform Hindu Temple", "Laawah"j'Tassa",etc. Academically however, in 1959, he secured distinctions in Practical Teaching, Psycology, Philosophy, Principles of Education, General Science, Basic Art and Craft and Elective Art. Thus he made both art and education his priorities. During the sixties, Ballie's painting style altered to facilitate more political

and social issues, conforming to semi-abstract and non-objective styles of painting. For example, Nocturne", "Builders" commented on the Cuban Crisis in Guyana, while "Human Situation" and "Shacks" dealt with environmental degradation and human conditions at Beetham, Trinidad.

After securing a job as a lecturer at the Naparima Teacher's College (1960-1961), Ballie participated in several government sponsored art courses, from many persons like former tutor M.P. Alladin and foreign professor Arthur Young (New York). However, it was in 1962 that Mr. Ballie's works were first exhibited at the Independence Exhibition of the National Museum and Art Gallery, Ministry of Education and Culture. In the years following, Ballie continued to progress within both the artistic and educational society as may be observed during:

1965: As a San Fernando Presbyterian (Primary) School teacher, he tutored the first eleven year old boy whose works were exhibited alongside prominent Trinbagonian artists at the time.

1966-1967: Ballie studied Art and Design at Goldsmith's College and at The University of London in England, on a United Commonwealth Bursary: finding a main interest in painting and print-making.

1968-1973: During these years he lectured at the Vessigny Government Secondary School, La Brea. The school was awarded the Reeves Challenge Trophy Shield in 1972 for outstanding work in Art during 1971 to 1972, and was sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the Teachers' Art Association.

1973-1987: At Corinth Teachers' College, Alexis Ballie tutored Art to hundreds of teachers, finally retiring from the Curriculum and Planning Division of the Ministry of Education and Culture in 1987.

Other noteworthy facts of the artist lie in the several government projects he undertook in Trinidad and Tobago as a lecturer. "Weeks of Arts", a Junior Secondary Teacher Programme, a Cabinet Appointed Committee geared toward formulating art programmes for such schools as well as the Supervision of Art Teachers at Secondary Schools are examples of such projects. Additionally, in 1970-1971, he participated in the Cranegie Project of Teacher Training in Greanada under the auspices of the School of Education, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad. Ballie also was a member of the Trinidad Art Societies and Teachers Art Association, Port-of-Spain and San Fernando and interacted with other artists such as, Isiah Boodoo, Ralph Baney, Samuel Isak, etc.

Alexis Ballie regularly participated in mixed and one-man, exhibitions, both nationally and internationally since 1960, and toured in countries throughout the West Indies, South/Central America and attended Universities of the U.S., England and Scotland, etc. A short bin of Ballie the Trinidadian Artist was even placed in a German encyclopaedia, during his stay in the country (1972).

Throughout the years therefore, Ballie's works have been in high demand, since they have been acquired by many prominent names such as, The National Museum and Art Gallery, Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Ian Smith, - Luis Chavez, Peruvian Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago - Captain Jack H. Hawkins, Assistant Commander of the Naval Facilities of Washington D.C. and many other private collectors from around the word.

Through his works, its may be said that Alexis Ballie has made an impact on the perspective, devclopment and recognition of art in Trinidad and Tobago by using his careers as both artist and teacher to further facilitate the need of art and education in this country.

 


Pollonais

Three Women