Basil Watson: World Renowned Sculptor opens Studio in Atlanta
By Glen Laman
Basil Watson
I knew I had found the right place when I glimpsed the larger than life cast of Jamaica’s queen of track, Merlene Ottey, through the doorway. I had come to interview, Basil Watson, the world renowned artist and sculptor. And there he was, standing in a corner of his studio, busy at his workbench. He dried his hands, welcomed me and then offered a chair near the center of the large room filled with objects of art that were in various stages of completion.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Basil Watson attended Kingston College from 1969 to 1976. His father Barrington Watson and brother Raymond also attended the college as did his four uncles. This streak was continued by his son Kane who is a recent graduate and now attends UTECH.
At KC, he played Colts and Manning cup football and was a member of the 1974 and 1975 teams. The 1975 team was only the third team to be crowned triple champions in schoolboy football. During that time he came under the tutelage of legendary coach, George Thompson for three years.
His contemporaries at school included, Patrick Dallas, Clinton Watson and Cedric Lazarus but his long lasting friend in those days was Maurice Weir; they were inseparable with a friendship that endured all the way from first form to sixth form. In one report the papers confused the two boys and printed their names as “Maurice Watson” and “Basil Weir.”
His teachers at KC included Joyce Baxter who taught Mathematics; Foggy Burrowes who taught French and Wally Johnson. He enjoyed art classes taught by Alexander Cooper more than any other class and Mr. Cooper was his most influential teacher and the one who provided him with great encouragement.
After KC, Basil attended the Jamaica School of Art which is today the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. He operated his own studio in Jamaica for many years and his work is acclaimed internationally. His main focus is sculpture of the “human figure”. He is very proud to have public sculptures on display in each of the three universities in Jamaica: the University of the West Indies, Northern Caribbean University and the University of Technology as well as sculptures at the National Stadium (“Merlene Ottey” and the “Netballer”) and Sabina Park (“George Headley”). He recently unveiled a sculpture in Montego Bay at the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club.
Basil met his wife, Donna who is originally from Guyana at the Jamaica school of Art. They have four children: three boys and one girl. Basil’s artistic ability should come as no surprise when you realize his father is none other than Jamaica’s master painter, Barrington Watson, OJ, CD. And it is safe to say the tradition will continue as his eldest son Kai who is a talented painter, recently graduated with a BA in Art and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Art. His oldest, daughter Tanya broke tradition and is pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Virginia.
Basil has settled in Atlanta which he thinks has just the right mix. His father once lived in Atlanta when he lectured at Spellman College and even had a day proclaimed “Barrington Watson Day” by the city in his honor. In his spare time Basil focuses on his other passion, karate. He feels a key to living is the “love of life and respect for people of all kinds.”
Basil and another KC old boy, Greg Phillips are owners of the Orange Park Gallery International http://orangeparkgallery.com/ . When not traveling to exhibitions and showings, he can be found at the Basil Watson Art Studio which is located at 1278 Murphy Avenue just south of Atlanta’s West End.
