PHILLIP SUPERSAD

 Phillip Supersad was born in  Manchester, Jamaica on the 8th of June 1957. He is one of Jamaica's best known ceramists. He is described as a 'sculptor who loves the wheel'. I had the great honour of meeting this gentleman, when I was fifteen years old. While I was in Kingston, Jamaica. Being a Secondary school student who studied Art,  meant I would have to conduct a research project on visual artists.

 I selected Mr Phillip Supersad as I found his work to be truely magnificant. His work tells so many stories, his ability to sculpt clay into human forms and into various pots is one of a kind. To meet such a talented individual was something I could never imagine. As a ceramist myself, I love the fact, that I can make different objects.

I remember going to meet Supersad, meant I would have to go downtown to meet this great artist as he operated in a small pottery studio, named Supersad Studios, in the inner-city community of Fletcher’s Land in Downtown Kingston. Now Downtown Kingston is described as being very dangerous and known for crime, luckily I was reassured by my father, who explained the history of Down town Jamaica and how it became known as Downtown.

With that said, my father drove me downtown to meet Supersad. I was surprised to see how humble, kind and dedicated this man was. He was so dedicated to working with youths in the downtown area, giving them the ability to learn a new craft in order for them to stay away from Crime, drugs and gangs in the neighbourhood. Supersad was clearly on a mission to improve things within  this particular part of downtown. I found this to be very inspiring. Infact I even spoke to a few youths in the studio, who explained to me that Supersad was like a father to them teaching them new skills.

He also has a great appreciation and talent for drumming and he created his own line of ceramic drums. He is the lead drummer and a director of the Akwaaba Drummers. Phillip has proven to be a great artist who also wants to give back to his community. He is so optimistic about the youths he works with.  He really has a lot of faith in them, and I believe Jamaica needs more people like him.