Sabeeney ready for Women in Art

The exhibition, which takes place at the Gallery at Fine Art on Rosalino Street in Woodbrook from September 19 is under the patronage of Zalayhar Hassanali. It will run until October 1, from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

Among the new members whose work will be featured is Abigail Sabeeney. She is submitting three pieces of work, one in oil, another in watercolour and an acrylic.

Asked what it means to be a part of this exhibition Sabeeney told Newsday: “This is truly an awesome feeling to exhibit for the first time as a member of the organisation and also for this special occasion of their 20th year anniversary. This is a juried exhibition and I love to paint and exhibit my work. It is an honour as a woman and a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago to be part of a group of women who have the same passion to paint as I do.” Sabeeney said she had the privilege of attending the exhibition opening night last year, is even more excited to be participating this year. “Last year the energies totally excited the artist in me and I just had to become a member. I am so grateful to be part of a very powerful WIA group here in Trinidad and soon to link the women in Tobago, even though I haven’t met all the artists, but those who I’ve had the pleasure to meet are very powerful women.” Sabeeney was born in Trinidad in 1970, grew up in Cascade and always had a liking to art. She attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale received an Associates of Science Degree in Visual Communications, and during her stay there, she was selected to be part of Design Honours Group and was also on the National Deans list for two years while attending the Art Institute of Ft Lauderdale (AIFL).

She graduated with honours and was also awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the counselling office at the AIFL, before returning home and at once exhibited in the Women Who Paint in 1996 in Tobago organised by Martin Superville.

That’s when her professional career began.

She said being a stay-athome mom/artist it has never stopped her from painting or exhibiting along the years. She normally takes part in two or three exhibitions a year but her ultimate dream is to exhibit in the Louvre – the world’s largest museum and a historic monument in Paris, France, where the likes of Picasso and Van Gogh are displayed. That is where she wants her career to take her.

“I have always loved to doodle and create since I was a child. I feel alive when I paint, the paintbrush takes a life of its own and everything around me ceases to exist. I am transcended into a world of my own,” Sabeeney said.

“Pencil is my favourite medium because it allows me to capture the intricate detail and essence of the subject but I usually paint with oil, acrylic or watercolours. I am inspired by our nature, however, flowers and plants in particular captivate me! I enjoy influencing the shape, balance and energy of my work. I love to introduce colours to the painting that do not exist in the natural space because in my mind, colour is vibrant exciting and passionate, thus causing the subject to explode as if alive yet at the same time invoking a calmness.” Sabeeney said the current president, Michelle Tappin-Davis, together with the members of the WIA invite the public to share and enjoy the event with them and promise an awesome, creative experience marking WIA’s 20th anniversary.