BEST known for designing Guyana’s most famous sculptural work –  the 1763 Monument,  late artist Philip Moore creator of the iconic piece that immortalised the 1763 Rebellion led by Akan slave Cuffy, was posthumously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, last Friday evening at the Guyana Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition Award Ceremony.

The award was given for a life time of artistic and philosophic output of the highest order, for his sustained creativity, uplifting vision of humanity, commitment to the labour and craft of Visual expression and pursuit of education through visual art.
Moore died at the age of 90 at his residence in Lancaster Village, Courentyne, Guyana, on the 13th of May, 2012. Born in 1921, in what then was known as British Guiana, he had little formal education but received a school-leaving certificate in 1938.
He believed himself to be an ancient spirit reincarnated in a modern body. About 1940, Moore converted to Jordanite Christianity, which teaches self-help, personal pride, communal life, hard work, and study of the Bible. But his intense love for God by no means conflicted with his belief in the influence of spirits.
About 1955, Moore dreamed that a large hand reached down to him from the heavens, and a voice commanded him to begin his career as an artist. This is the reason Moore considers himself  “spirit-taught.” The dream was a decisive moment in his life. He began modestly, refining his skills by carving wooden canes and quickly developed proficiency in manipulating tropical hardwoods such as Purple Heart and cocobolo. His early subjects included portraits, animal figures, sports heroes and stylized magic drums. Eventually, he turned to other forms of art, such as painting and poetry.
By 1964, his intuitive carving abilities came to the attention of local authorities at the Department of Culture, who hired him to teach craft and arts. Motivated by love for his native Guyana and assisted by the government, he got the chance to create what would be the largest bronze sculpture in the region.
Over 204 entries by 75 artists vied for the enticing prizes in the Guyana Visual Arts Competition which came under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
The competition was in six areas: painting; ceramics, textile, photography, sculpture and drawing. In the Painting category George Simon won First Prize for “Homage to Wilson Harris: EBESO#1”, Betsy Karim won Second Prize for “We are the World” and Carl Anderson won Third Prize for “Afro and Indian Beauty Queens”.
In the Sculpture category the first prize went to Gary Thomas for “Lifeline Integration”, Second Prize to Desmond Alli for “Model of Regional Integration Monument” and Third Prize to Winslow Craig for “Saving Seeds”.
In the Drawing category First Prize went to Michael Griffith for “Through the Canvas”, Second Prize to Carl Anderson for “Mash Mass and Sambas Carnivals” and Third Prize to Paloma Bristol for “Men on the Other Side”.
In the Photography category First Prize went to Nikhael Ramkarran for “Shipwreck”, Second Prize went to Sharon Ramkharran for “Mangrove Seedlings” while Third Prize went to Michael Lam for “Final Entrance”. No winners were announced in the Ceramics and Textile categories as these had too few entries.
The Promise Award was bestowed upon Aneeza Coelo for” Guardian Mother”. Young artist Akima McPherson impressed the judges so much with her use of mixed medium in her piece “Walk with Me” that she was awarded a new award – The Judges Special Award.
For the first time a million dollars in prizes were offered in each category.  The first prize winners were awarded $500 thousand and a Gold Medal, the 2nd Prize winners $300 thousand and a Silver Medal and the 3rd prize winners $200 thousand and a Bronze Medal.
A ‘Promise Award’ of GY $ 200,000 and a Bronze Medal was bestowed on a young artist (25 years or younger) whose work, in the opinion of the judges, displayed exceptional promise.
Eligible Artists were required to be Guyanese by birth or naturalization (proof of citizenship will be required) who are ages 16 or older. Eligible works are (for the 2012 competition only)   artwork completed within the five year prior to the competition (i.e. between November 2007 and November 2012).
The panel of judges included Award winning Artist, Art Critic and Art Historian Stanley Greaves, Danish Born Curator and Author Theresa Hadchity, Arts and Craft Teacher Daphne Rogers, Art Critic, Film Maker, Cultural Researcher Dr Rupert Roopnarine and Art Collector, Musician, Composer and Consultant Ras Camo Williams.
The Guyana Visual Arts Competition seeks to give recognition and support to the creative work of Guyanese in the Visual Arts, and to provide a source of inspiration to Guyanese artists, thereby stimulating the development of the finest expression of visual imagination among Guyanese.