Baney’s life to be celebrated tomorrow

Baney passed away almost four months ago at the age of 84 in his Maryland home on January 21.

Ralph Ramoutar Baney was born in Trinidad in 1929. He attended Naparima College and Naparima Teachers College (1951-53). He received a Government Art Scholarship to study at Brighton College of Art (now Brighton University) in England where he earned the NDD and ATC degrees (1957-1962).

After nine years as Art Officer in the Ministry of Education and Culture he embarked on Graduate studies at the University of Maryland (1971-76) earning the MFA, and PhD degrees.

He had 12 one person shows including Georgetown University 1974 and a Retrospective at the National Museum in Trinidad, 2004. He has participated in numerous group shows in the US, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, England, Japan and Jamaica. Baney has won prizes for his sculptures and has been commissioned to do an 8”x10” sculpture of the National Coat of Arms (1970) and a 22’x4’ mural for Scotia Centre in Port-of-Spain (1984).

Honours include an Honorary Doctorate (DLitt) from the University of the West Indies in recognition of his lifetime achievements in sculpture (2004). The late Dr Baney is one of only two local artists who have received the title of Master Artist by the National Museum of Trinidad and Tobago (2004). He was also named professor emeritus at the Dundalk campus of the Community College of Baltimore County in 2000.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be given in memory of Ralph to the Vera Baney Memorial Scholarship fund. Gifts can be sent to the Susamachar Presbyterian Church.