Masmen were once true artists

THE EDITOR: I was on a flight from New York recently and had the pleasure of reading the in flight magazine Bee Wee Caribbean Beat, and I must commend the writers and publishers of the book, as this issue is truly a collector’s item. The magazine paid tribute to several of the nation’s top designers of Carnival past and lamented the fact that we are now reduced to view a parade of bath suits and beads over some bodies of various sizes, shapes and forms.

Many people say how disgusted they are with the sameness of the 20th century mas portrayals yet, here it is written in black and white, and drawing reference to some young designers who attempted to change the face of today’s mas. The historical look at people like Irvin Mc Williams, Cito Valasquez, Wayne Berkeley, Diamond Jim, George Bailey, Peter Minshall and Harold Saldenah to name a few, made me proud of the artists we sometimes refer to as “Mas men.” Now we have bad leaders who are straight off businessmen and care very little about the art in mas. It is my wish that the publishers will expand the articles into a full scale coffee table publication, as they have only mentioned just a tip of the iceberg that is the great artist of mas. This would be a bestseller and maybe an inspiration to young designers out there.

ROSLYN HOWARD
MC GILL
Brooklyn, New York