More Than Music.

AKTO art&design College and the founders of the International Reggae Poster Contest (IRPC), Michael Thompson and Maria Papaefstathiou, are pleased to announce the opening of the second major IRPC exhibition in the past two months. On 22 November 2012 the renowned art and design school in Athens will open the IRPC exhibition which follows up on the first of its kind at the National Gallery of Jamaica. The exhibition opening in Athens will include the top 100 posters as well as special contributed works from respected designers. Reggae sound system ‘selector’ Hille, who tours internationally with the German sound system, Soundquake, will provide the music for the evening. The opening event is coordinated in conjunction with the Jamaican Consulate in Greece and Consul William Argeros. The exhibition is open to the public. Contemporary art as well as Caribbean music fans and followers of pop culture are encouraged to both see and hear this important milestone on 22 November. Doors open at 7pm. For more information about AKTO visit  http://www.akto.gr/welcome-to-akto.aspx.

The exhibition will continue at AKTO for four-weeks during which time several special events are scheduled to reflect not just the music but the message in modern poster design. Events include a discussion panel on “How Design Can Help Spark Change”, a silk-screen printing demonstration by Manolis Angelakis from TIND (from which attendees will be invited to take home free editions of silk-screen posters designed by IRPC founder Michael Thompson), and a reggae party at the end of the exhibition hosted by the selector Rankin Johnny. Combining music, art and public awareness, the International Reggae Poster Contest seeks to actively engage people in a discussion through the visual and creative arts.

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Going once…_________________ Going twice…______________ Going three times…

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Sold! The Reggae Poster Charity Auction at the National Gallery of Jamaica completes successful fundraising effort for Alpha Boys School with support from both the music and visual arts communities.

Celebrity entertainment, great music, an exciting atmosphere and competitive bidding on reggae posters for a great cause made for an extremely successful charity auction on Sunday at the National Gallery of Jamaica to benefit Alpha Boys School. Consisting of limited edition prints of the top 50 posters from the First International Reggae Poster Contest as well as special contributions from jury members and renowned poster designers, the auction drew fans of Jamaican music and culture, art aficionados and Alpha supporters for an afternoon of good-natured competition. Although an event of this sort had never been attempted before, auctioneer Douglas Reid of the Grosvenor Galleries in Kingston kept the vibes moving and directed an exciting auction in which many posters surpassed their estimated values. Prior to the auction getting underway, Bunny Rugs, lead singer of 10-time Grammy nominee Third World, treated the crowd to two songs from, Time, his critically acclaimed new album, DJ Afifa and Baye Beluchi provided crucial real time musical and lyrical commentary and members of the Alpha Boys Band blessed the place with a handful of specially selected songs to launch the event. Adding to the unique format, celebrity auctioneer Bunny Rugs joined Douglas Reid for the sale of Luba Lukova‘s special poster contribution featuring Sister Ignatius. With Bunny Rugs providing color commentary, back-and-forth bidding between a number of interested parties reached a crescendo until the buyer was identified which sparked a long moment of spontaneous applause.

Posters that were not sold on Sunday and others from the top 100 that were held back will be put up for auction via eBay in February when Jamaica celebrates Reggae Month. In this way, art and music fans as well as Alpha supporters abroad may participate and take home a unique work of art.

Auction organizers send special thanks to the auctioneer Douglas Reid, DJ Afifa, Baye Beluchi and Bunny Rugs as well as Market Me JA and the auction sponsors: WISYNCO, Caribbean Producers of Jamaica, Caribbean Broilers, Elite Kreations, Blackwell Rum, Scotia Bank and Griot Music.

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