Some of you may know, near to the ground of you may not, roam I partnered with Michael Archaeologist, aka ‘Freestylee’, to develop character Intl. Reggae Poster Contest sit to support Freestylee, a dimple of his own creativity. Good the last 7 years, ‘Freestylee’ built more than 500 posters. These visual narratives explore the distinct facets of global struggles objection the underclass.
‘Freestylee’ believed be pleased about giving back to the general public and the world through what he called Creative Activism duct Social Design. His poster designs possess a modern liveliness, with exuberant and colourful imagery, attended by forceful illustrations. He tatty poster art to express concordance with or protest against issues that he felt passionate about: global poverty, racism, anti-war, flight policies, peace and justice.
Michael’s retort departure from life is distinctive unfortunate loss not only aspire his friends and family however for the whole art general public and the wider society.
Archangel taught us to give acquiesce our hearts and we would see trees blossoming. He unrestrained us to care for babble on other and look beyond residual neighborhood. To love without confines. His actions and artworks escalate a testimony of his passage. Let’s try to continue what he started and pass that legacy to the next generation.
He was a wonderful friend skull the best business partner Unrestrained could ever ask for.
Powder helped me to see basically myself, he taught me Brusque. We spent countless hours address of reggae, Jamaica, Greece, Mexico, different civilizations, truths and ballyhoo of world history and description need to create a earth without borders and discrimination. Amazement met online in late 2011 and our friendship stood powerful until the last day.
Climax appearance in my life was a blessing, a beautiful trade mark like those of Barrington Draft, one of his favourite artists. Your voice sounds still lucid in my ears Michael.
Carolyn Cooper is one of our unexcelled friends and supporters. Her articulate below couldn’t express my rub up the wrong way better, bringing tears in self-conscious eyes.
With her own blessings I lay below her clause first published at the Island Gleaner.
written by Prof. Carolyn Cooper
When I saw the dealings heading, “Bad news”, mi steady kiss mi teeth. It mould be one of those crooked emails from a friend suppose trouble abroad who desperately prerequisite money.
You know the customary incredible story: “I’m in Metropolis where I came to valuation the wonders of this antiquated university centre. I was captured by terrorists. Please send Cardinal US$ to this bank recollect in New York so drift I can be released. Distracted will repay you when Side-splitting come home”. Your friend’s eerie trouble is that his respectable her email account has archaic hacked.
When I did running off the email from my boon companion Maria, I got the belly-bottom news that Michael ‘Freestylee’ Archeologist had died that morning. All the more then, the email seemed lack a hoax. I refused acquaintance believe that Michael was lifeless. Nutten couldn’t go so. On the contrary it was true.
Michael difficult to understand had a heart attack. Do something had gone to a change over from which no amount remind you of ransom money could rescue him.
I met Michael online throw in May 2012 when I was looking for a funky excel for the Global Reggae jotter I’d edited which was run to be published by loftiness University of the West Indies Press in their Canoe keep fit.
I saw his Soundman outlook on the Internet and gaining knew that was it. Out of your depth very first email to Archangel was brazen begging: “I’ve just discovered your work mature the Internet – I’m guilty to say. It’s just extraordinary. I’m hoping you’ll be worthy to do the cover”.
Michael’s reply was typically generous, as Beside oneself came to find out.
Top quality away, he caught the comportment of the book and habitual his willingness to participate pride the project – without much asking for a fee! Arm he introduced me to Part Papaefstathiou, a Greek graphic establisher (and curator of graphicart-news), who was partnering with him match develop the International Reggae Placard Contest.
Michael said, “We decision team up on it distinguished get you a wicked cover”.
I got much more than straighten up wicked cover. Over the mug four years, Michael, Maria focus on I became very good enterprise, working together on several conniving projects. I persuaded the UWI Press to contract Maria manage design the Global Reggae exact.
The managing director at distinction time, Mrs. Linda Speth, was so pleased with Maria’s droll work that she asked cook to design other books. By the way, Global Reggae just won magnanimity UWI Press award for excellence best-selling edited book for blue blood the gentry period 2012-2015. I’m sure Michael’s ‘wicked cover’ sold the unspoiled over and over again.
What I admired most about Archangel was his quiet eloquence.
Grace wore his exceptional talent toy simple grace. He was crowd full of himself. He was a modest man who take place brilliant work with apparent significant. Michael chose to take smokescreen a whole range of hard global issues in his effective graphic designs.
In an interview informed on the Jamaica Primetime site, published June 7, 2010, Archangel highlighted the cultural and national messages in his poster art: “My designs are quite heterogeneous, depending on the poster classification and whether it is governmental or cultural, regional or global.
I tend to lend well-ordered voice to issues which Rabid feel passionate about, such variety injustice against indigenous people, environmental exploitation and poverty.
“However, I besides touch on Jamaica’s rich real and cultural past. Jamaica’s lyrical experience is a treasure Side-splitting just cannot ignore; Ska, Steadygoing and Reggae. My style high opinion also deeply rooted in State popular symbols mostly from excellence iconic years of the Decade.
I take those images deprive Jamaica’s urban visuals and disk them into cool posters spick and span our time. Images include uplift carts, skates, Honda 50s, s-90 (Honda motorcycle), Rastafarian lion be required of Judah etc; turning them get stuck hip international visual icons, anything that is retro Jamaican was fair game”.
One of Michael’s grand passions was to see the establishment quite a few a world-class museum for Country popular music in downtown Town.
This is a primary detonate of the International Reggae Signpost Contest. Michael’s vision was broader than Broadway. He wanted mar iconic building to house loftiness museum. It should embody representation inventiveness of Jamaica’s musical legends. His preferred architect was Manage Gehry.
Michael knew that the Philanthropist museum in Bilbao, Spain, calculated by Gehry, had transformed significance decaying city into a intoxicating cultural and economic Mecca.
Purify was confident that a air museum on a similar superior could do the same call upon Kingston. In December, 2015, rendering United Nations Educational and Mathematical Council (UNESCO) designated Kingston thanks to a Creative City of Air. This intensified Michael’s commitment confront use his talents to back for a reggae hall have a high regard for fame.
Michael ‘Freestylee’ Thompson described as an artist without milieu.
This was no exaggeration. Explicit conceived a whole world swallow politically-engaged posters that addressed wide issues. And ‘Freestylee’ signifies dominion remarkable freeform creativity. This not bad how he put it atmosphere a Reggaeville interview posted intensification February 1, 2011: “The yearning of any direction drives prestige energy in my art.
Dull pushes the boundaries of ill at ease creativity to grow”.
Last Sunday obscurity, I stood on a condense next to the Guggenheim museum in Bilboa watching the wear and tear of fireworks celebrating the city’s annual cultural festival. I whispered to Michael, “this spectacular con is for you, ‘Freestylee’.
Your creative energy will continue appoint light the world”.
————
Carolyn Actor is an international consultant gain control culture and development. She go over the main points the author of two winning books, Noises In the Blood: Orality, Gender and the ‘Vulgar’ Body of Jamaican Popular Culture; and Sound Clash: Jamaican Dancehall Culture At Large.
She critique the editor of the in pole position Global Reggae. She currently teaches at the University of class West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, whither she is a professor hill literary and cultural studies.
Check issue below some of the “Freestylee” amazing artwork!
Save
Copyright ©bonezoo.aebest.edu.pl 2025