Creative Director
Pax Nindi
Pax recently took the post of UK Centre for Carnival Arts Creative Director where among other areas relating to the carnival sector, he is responsible for producing and directing East England’s only Olympic project “Carnival Cross Roads – East Bound”. Prior to this Pax founded, Combined Arts Services Consultancy and Global Carnival Centre which he served for 6 years as its Executive Director following 5 years working as Artistic Director with St Paul's Carnival and being Vice President of the World Carnival Commission in Canada.
Among his contribution to combined arts in UK and abroad, Pax was Senior Officer at Arts Council England where he was instrumental in strategies relating to Circus, Carnival and Street Arts. As a renowned international carnival guru he developed the Carnivalnet website, Arts Council National Carnival Arts Strategy, edited the On Route carnival book and initiated International Carnival Fellowships in Brazil, Trinidad, Germany, Italy and Miami.
You can see his work at: www.hararedread.net and www.globalcarnivalcentre.com
National Designers
Ali Pretty
Ali founded Kinetika in 1997. Kinetika has 10 years’ experience in the design, production and performance of extraordinary shows that retain the essence of carnival whilst telling a story, working as a team of professional artists alongside young people.
Ali has directed and designed all of Kinetika’s productions including Roads to Freedom, Din Shuru, Yemanja and Tiger out East. She works internationally; including designing for the FIFA CWC Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Abu Dhabi in 2009, The Callaloo Company in Trinidad for the Atlanta Olympics Opening Ceremonies 1996, the Carnival of Human Rights, Johannesburg 1998, the Kumasi Carnival, Ghana 2004, Parade of the Circle, Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio 95-97 and the Solstice Parade, Seattle, 2001, Attakkalari Centre of Performing Arts, Bangalore 2009, WOMAD 85-91, In Britain she designed 3 winning bands for Notting Hill Carnival in 1998, 1999 and 2004 as well as designing costumes for the opening of the Millennium Dome and silks for The Torch Relay in 2004 and 2008.
You can see her work at: www.kinetika.co.uk
Helen Davenport
Helen Davenport is an artist/sculptor and carnival costume designer.
She specialising in ornate headdresses, Venetian mask decoration, sculptural costume making skills for carnival/pattern cutting, silk batik flags, willow sculptures.
Design illustration and artwork as part of the process. Helens background was in fashion, fine art and sculpture.
Performed and crewed in Notting Hill, Kolkata, Nice, Viareggio, and Venice Carnival's.
Diversifying into carnival in 2000 developed new techniques in structure through master classes with international carnival artists. Have recently formed own company called Quture.
You can see her work at: www.quture.co.uk and http:.//www.helendavenport.com/
Ray Allan Mahabir
Ray Allan Mahabir has 29 years’ experience in working in carnival arts; drawing on his Caribbean roots he has used his experience gained working in the masquerade tradition of Trinidad carnival and its rich cultural background. Budding entrepreneur, he set up the company called By Design (Trinidad) a fashion and costume company
Ray’s first knowledge and experience working in carnival was with Peter Minshall and Callaloo Company (Trinidad 1990-2000) this gave him the practical experience to bring designs and street performance to reality . He is proud of his Trinidadian carnival heritage and culture, his desire is to teach and pass on his knowledge to a wide and new community, helping them to use their culture and embrace the culture of carnival as part of the modern British culture.producing costume for Trinidad and other Caribbean carnivals (1987-1999).
Ray has worked as the Artistic Director for Sunshine International Arts (SIA) for the past 11 years SIA is a London base carnival company producing several winning bands at Notting Hill carnival. International projects include Greece, Germany, Istanbul, Palestine, Seychelles, Taiwan, India and Egypt. Ray is responsible for the overall management and artist directing for these project including budget, project/artist management and overall artist directing for all events.
Jessica Rost
Jessica Rost is a producer, sculptor and performance artist and also Director and Co-Founder of Festive Road CIC, www.festiveroad.org.uk. As a solo artist she has exhibited her work and taken part in many international residencies and workshops. More recently she has directed and co-produced a touring show, ‘Brewing Up,’ for Festive Road which has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark. Jessica is currently artistic director of FringeMK: Westbury, curating and producing a Festival Fringe for Milton Keynes International Festival 2012. Jessica also writes stories, keeps chickens and grows her own veg. She has a studio at Westbury Farm in Milton Keynes, writes a blog at: www.gaspingcoldtea@blogspot.com.
You can see her work at: www.flotsamandjetsam.org.uk
Steven Hoyte
He started his working career in management. In the year 2000, whilst taking his daughter to a carnival club she wanted to join, he decided he would stay there and help. The following year in the autumn of 2001 he became a builder and designer for the club. In 2002 he became a full member of the production team of Rampage Mas Band and, he has been working as a carnival artist ever since.
With his technical and mechanical understanding of raw materials, he acquired the skills needed to produce carnival costumes and excelled in frame building and wire bending. He also possesses a keen and imaginative eye for decorating striking costumes.
His carnival art skills have taken him all over the country and worldwide including Trinidad and Tobago, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, France, Denmark, Hamburg and Brussels. He has worked with people of all ages from pre-school right up to pensioners. This has enabled him to deliver a wide range of carnival skills workshops. His skills enable him to work alongside, and learn from other artist’s, community groups and carnival bands.
You can see his work at: http://www.rampagemasband.com/
Hub Designers
Deanna Tyson
Deanna Tyson’s work is a fusion of painting and textile art, narrative and politics.
She likes to paint with stitch, draw with her sewing machine and weave her canvases with ethnically related textiles. Deanna’s work takes the form of kimono, wall hangings, soft sculptures and paintings.
She has exhibited both nationally and internationally with solo exhibitions in Jamaica, Bali, Mexico and U.K. Deanna is a member of The Society of Designer Craftsmen and former Chair of The Guild of Silk Painters.
Julie Carpenter
In 2011 Julie was commissioned to make a pair of 12ft puppets inspired by Romeo & Juliet for the Shakespearean themed carnival. Her puppets were spotted by Dede Brown, Artist in Residence from the Bahamas, who subsequently invited her to collaborate on the 'Material Response' project which involved producing costumes for the Junkanoo carnival.
In 2012 Julie will be assistant Hub Designer for Ipswich. As such she will be working with lead designer Ray Mahabir to make a further two 12ft puppets, based on her own 'Big Sky Queen and Elm Tree King' design, and made in Ray's 'Sunshine Arts' style. Her design incorporates Regency costume, love tokens and the landscape paintings of John Constable.
This year Julie will be exhibiting her circus photographs and drawings of musicians. She is a co-director of CRAFTCO, a contemporary craft shop and gallery, run as a cooperative. Previously she worked as Artistic Director of The Village Stage, Womad and toured as technician/puppeteer with Nutmeg Puppet Company, performing in 'Tutu and the Sky Goddess' as Theatre in Residence at The British Museum, London.
Pat Howe
In 1974 she volunteered at a play scheme where her 5 sons attended and one of the play leaders was Frankie Goldspink. It was she who introduced Pat to Street Processions and Celebratory/ Carnival Arts.
Since 1976 she has been involved with many groups helping them design and make carnival costumes for Norwich's Lord Mayors Procession and other local carnivals and festivals.
Pat Howe has encouraged and helped to find funding for many groups to participate in many national Carnivals I.e. Notting Hill, Luton, Bristol, and Isle of Wight. Many of them have never travelled more than a few miles from their area but by organising visits to other carnivals in different parts of the country, it has widened their experiences of different cultures.
Pat is currently Chair/coordinator of spirit of Carnival- a voluntary run multicultural community arts group based in Norwich.
Halima Davis
Having carnival and arts in her genes, from youth Halima “played” and created ‘mas’ (masquerade), places include; Liverpool, London and Trinidad &Tobago. Now also a Holistic Therapist, her contribution to paying homage is ‘Keeping the art alive,’ linking art with holistic therapy. Being of service and sharing with diverse groups collectively adds to the individual’s reservoir of knowledge, and her own. She feels passionately that creative expression is equal to academia.
Halima initially studied performance, then six consecutive years full-time in fashion, theatre and costume design (BA Hons). She used her qualifications to help others earn the NCFE certificate in Fashion & Design with Brent Adult and Community Education Service; a Youth Worker/Fashion & Design Tutor with Brent Youth Service; taught fashion and art with Hillingdon Council; creatively directed fashion shows; and was a Visual Merchandiser in various fashion outlets.
Crossing different genres, Halima designs theatrical costumes for performances such as “Our Towns Story” at The Millennium Dome, and “Oliver” at the Compass Theatre. Halima produces carnival costumes throughout the country, some with London’s Mahogany Mas Band (1994-97); for Notting Hill, Euro 96 Ceremonies and The” Voice” newspaper’s Carnival float. She created and collaborated on costumes worldwide with; Showcase Int, D’ Midas TT and Int Soca Monarchs for Skinny Fabulous in Trinidad & Tobago. Currently, she creatively directs fashion photography with Big Flash Studio; designs fashion/costumes; is a Fashion Stylist; and since 2009 works alongside the successful touring Mas Band ‘Rampage’.
Commissions
Kiran Patel
Kiran Patel is a visual artist with a background in fine art which has evolved into a more illustrative style. she has also previously worked as a creative practitioner under the Creative Partnerships programme delivering art related activities into the mainstream curriculum. Having been commissioned to create carnival costumes for the Carnival Crossroads project kiran’s work has taken on the development of 2D form into 3D structures which has been an exciting and beneficial experience.
Colin Spalding
He is the Director and designer of the internationally acclaimed touring band Rampage Mas Band. With over twenty five years’ experience in the carnival mas and craft industry he is a dynamic designer, craftsman with use vast technique in lightweight frame and costume building. In addition to his design and frame building skills his expertise extends to design consultancy and conducting workshops for all ages and abilities. His motto is 'do the impossible now and miracles later.'
He work extensively across the country and has left his mark on carnival creations found in NottingHill, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Northampton, Coventry, the Isle of Wight and even France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, New York, Ireland Israel and Hong Kong. He has also celebrated successes after having collaborated on the designs and production of several award winning creations for both adult and junior carnival costumes in Trinidad Carnival 2008/ 2009. He was also selected to create costumes for the International Soca Monarchs Bunji Garlin and Skinny Fabulious 3 years in a row.
During the last few years he has worked in partnership with many of the legendary Trinidadian Mas Men on a number of traditional wire bending projects for example, together with band leader of D’Midas TT and renowned designer Steven Derek together combined an award winning formula of large lightweight costumes, without the use of wheels.
You can see his work at: http://www.rampagemasband.com/
Hughbon Condor
Hughbon Condor is an internationally respected Carnival Costume Designer and has been designing and making Carnival costumes form the age of 17. At this young age he also became a member of the Leeds West Indian Carnival Committee and remained an active member until a few years ago. He excelled in this art form by introducing his engineering skills in the design of the structures and created movements and drama in his portrayal of costumes. Over a 30 year period Hughbon was responsible for making 50% of all the winning costumes in Leeds. 8 of his costumes were featured in a recent 6 month Street Parade exhibition at the Leeds City Museum during the summer 2011.
He has taught others the art of costume making by leading Carnival Workshops and master classes for groups in Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Manchester, Luton, Preston and Hawes. In 2005 Hughbon was awarded an International Artists Fellowship and travelled to Trinidad and Tobago, which afforded him the opportunity to learn and develop new skills in Carnival Arts. Hughbon also visited and took part in the following carnival in France, Trinidad, St Thomas, Barbados, St Kitts/Nevis, Singapore-Chingay Parade, Hong Kong- Chinese New Year Parade and Nigeria Calabar Carnival.
Paul Mclaren
Paul is an Artist, and belongs to the history of the Industrial North England. It is perhaps a reason why he studied Art and Design at the Exeter College of Art and Design in the rural South West of England. As a sculptor, after graduation, with numerous exhibitions and performances in Manchester, London, Glasgow, New York, Prague, Canada, Norway and Russia. His work took a dramatic turn in 1990. He abandoned what he saw as the anticipated and expected artform enjoyed by a limiting elite and directed his attention to the street, where one could meet a broader and demandingly brutal public.
The most specific demand, he saw, was the design and presentation of large moving objects and worn installations and costumes contextualised by the street carnival. The challenge of worldwide traditions, rites and myths through masquerade and carnival to effect change and maintain a living culture are sources of inspiration, which coupled with his passion for the works of Artists such as Gustave Courbet, Jean Tinguely, Francois Picabia, Josef Beuys. Through Dadaism, Constructivism, Duchamp, Tatlin, Hausmann, Tzara, Alfred Jarry, William Blake and Peter Greenaway to the music of Stravinsky, puts into context Paul McLarens world of making sense from the absurd, from the hidden, from the ignored and the forgotten, from the beauty that is inextricably tied to the grotesque.
As a result, he leaves us with finely honed and precisely built mechanic, kinetic costume constructions. Objects, whose function is to bring the machine to life, with the power of human energy. Dancing Sculptures whose human performer stands at the heart of the Art., whose body brings about colour, rhythm, dance, performance and Art to living emotion. If the idea `Play Mas´ is a carnival tenet, then turning the World on its head, for Paul McLaren is a way of life.....
Ricki Outis
Ricki is a textile artist specialising in screen printed, stitched and felted fabrics. As well as producing her own creative work, for the past 12 years she have been teaching classes for both mainstream adults and for people with learning disabilities. Ricki has extensive experience in working with community groups ranging from school children to the elderly. She has made banners for various events such as the Huntingdon Charter Celebration and last year, printed flags for the Carnival Crossroads parades. Ricki says she is delighted to be working on this year's Carnival Crossroads project
Lead Choreographer
Mariana Whitehouse
Mariana Whitehouse studied at the Brit School, Goldsmiths and LISPA, alongside working in carnivals over the last 10 years in the UK for groups like Mandinga Arts and the London School of Samba, as well as for carnival groups and organisations abroad in other parts of Europe. As an actress, physical theatre practitioner and carnival arts practitioner, Mariana has a particular interest in costume design and street theatre and works with carnival’s theatricality, sense of play, community, and thematic narratives towards creating movement that balances spectacle, performance, the inclusion of spectators and quite simply…fun.
Musical Director
JP Courtney
Irish born, JP is considered by many to be one of the best Brazilian carnival specialists in the UK Having studied and performed with many great names he has become a calling card for the music of the Carnival Carioca (Rio Carnival). If you go to Rio at Carnival you will normally find him at the Sambodromo performing with a Samba School or on the street with blocos such as Monobloco or Kizomba. J P is also the Creative Director of the Luton International Encounter. A festival of all things Brazilian carnival held at the UKCCA. He is Musical director of Orchestra Bombo, one of the only Cuban Carnival groups in the UK. Also, he is the musical director at several Brazilian carnival groups - Toque Tambor (Hitchin) Nova Guarda (Birmingham), Ziriguidum (Bristol). Performer with Dilanga the UK's only Cuban Rumba group.
Hub Musicians
Licio Aurelio De Oliveira
Licio started capoeira and brazilian percussion at the age of 10 years, in Fortaleza, Brazil. He travelled round Brazil for over 15 years to gain valuable experience in Capoeira and Brazilian Percussion.
Licio started music classes at schools of samba, maracatu and performances in the street, learning many traditional rhythms of the north east and the rhythms of Samba from Rio. Later on to give many street performances, playing at many Carnivals and joining many bands to play shows.
At 19 he began giving classes to adults in Fortaleza, where he continued his work with the local community. In 2004 Licio made his first trip to Europe, visiting the UK, Switzerland and France, working with locals groups with Capoeira and music. In 2007 he returned to Europe visiting groups in France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and then finally deciding begin his cultural work with Capoeira and music in England.
Licio has supported many events around the UK giving workshops and shows with Capoeira and music. He has regular classes in London and Essex, where his aim is to share his knowledge and promote the benefits of Capoeira and Brazilian rhythms. He is also continuing his project work with children working in schools promoting not only capoeira and music, but Brazil and its culture.
Marcus Patteson
Marcus Patteson has studied and performed Brazilian music for over 12 years. He set up Norwich Samba in 2000 and co-directed the band with Paul Weston for 10 years, participating in over 200 carnivals and events. In 2002/03 he undertook three months of research and development in Brazil, split between Rio, Salvador and Recife, followed in 2007/08 by a 14-week residency with Rio bloco, Monobloco, including performances as part of Rio carnival in January 2008. Between 2002 and 2004 he studied under Dudu Tucci on One Voice Music’s Advanced Instruction in Percussion course. He also co-founded the 100-strong super bloco, Bloco do Sol Nascente, which performed at the opening of the UK Centre for Carnival Arts and at 2009’s Thames Festival.
In March 2008, Marcus formed Brazilian samba-funk-rock outfit, Rabo de Foguete, bringing together experienced local musicians to offer a high quality exemplar of Brazilian music and seeking to break new ground with this format. In 2011 the group received funding from Arts Council England, through Escalator Outdoor Arts to develop a street show.
Marcus’ artistic and musical direction experience includes Celestial Carnival, a street theatre-based carnival event created by Norwich & Norfolk Community Arts (NORCA) and Theatre of Adventure, in 2003; NORCA’s ‘Back to the Streets’ project in 2009; cultural fusion group, Globalbeat (an African, Cuban, Indian and Brazilian music and dance fusion) in 2006/07; and ‘C’ Attack, part of Seachange’s Out There Festival in 2008. Marcus is Executive Director of Norwich & Norfolk Community Arts (NORCA). Websites: www.myspace.com/rabodefoguete. www. norcaarts.co.uk
Blake Vickers
Music has been a long standing passion of mine since childhood, and since finding samba almost 10 years ago, it has been a mild obsession! As well as playing in a variety of musical/percussion groups, I've been helping to run Arco Iris (Cambridge's community samba band), and have been the Musical Coordinator for this group the last 3 years. I also co direct the 'Sambajunkies' who are a team working with schools, youth groups and the community, giving samba percussion workshops throughout Cambridgeshire and beyond. Last years Carnival Crossroads project was great fun, and I look forward to this year being even bigger and better!
John Halls
International Float Designer
Milton Cunha
Milton Cunha is a world renowned Brazilian Carnavalesco (Artistic Director) who has worked for many years designing parades for many distinguished Brazilian Schools of Samba. He began his career as a Carnavalesco at the Samba School Beija Flor de Nilópolis and later went on to work with a different Samba Schools such as União da Ilha, Unidos da Tijuca, Viradouro, Porto da Pedra and São Clemente. During this time, he has won 3 Estandartes de Ouros the most important prize in Rio’s Carnaval. Since 2005 he has been the artistic Director of Rio’s City of Samba, and he represents it in international projects period he organizes Samba shows every week, drawing and designing scenery and costumes.
He holds a PhD in Semiology from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. He also works on special project with many Brazilian pop singers such as Ney Matogrosso and Luã Santana.
He is currently spreading his love for developing Carnival in projects in Argentina, Canada and Angola.
Float Hub Representatives
Bee Farrell
Exploring and being creative with materials is what Bee finds inspiring. Bee Farrell has a background in community arts, heritage projects and museum work. This has developed a wide range of skills and knowledge of materials and practices which enhance the ways she explores and creates.
Ali MacKenzie
Since graduating from Wimbledon School of Art in 1993 (BA Hons Theatre design-Technical arts Interpretation) Ali has worked in a freelance capacity as a prop maker, sculptor, workshop leader and artist for many years.
Since 1998 she has been based in Norwich, Norfolk where she is also a Director and artist with Tin House, a local Participatory Arts Company bringing extensive experience of working with all sections of the community to offer bespoke creative solutions for individuals and groups, enabling access to the arts for all.
Tito Vega
Tito Vega has been creating floats, giant puppets and masks for more than ten years for the main carnivals in the UK such as Notting Hill, Thames Festival, Lambeth Country Show etc.
He is currently the director of Gozart, which specializes in using puppetry to bring people together, build community and make change.
They specialize in giant puppetry, mask, and street art to create highly participatory, issue-oriented, outdoor theatre that is accessible to all.
Gozart uses art as a vehicle for community building and education to promote cultural diversity through carnival art workshops.
You can see her work at: http://www.gozart.com
Clement Emeka Akpang
A practicing Nigerian Artist (Sculptor), Born on the 3rd of July 1983 at the Hills of Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State. Teaches Visual Arts & Technology at the, Cross River University of Technology (Crutech). Creates sculptures with a variety of materials and has worked on several commissions. He is currently studying Masters of Art & Design at the University of Bedfordshire (Luton).