“I WANT TO keep my work with me, so if I die here my family would have a legacy to say ‘well my brother or my dad has this in Guyana and it’s all in one place, it’s not scattered all over the country.”That was the reasoning given by Wilfred Regan Martin, an overseas-based artist for transforming his home into an art museum.

Regan who has over 100 pieces of art work mainly of paintings with a few sculptures and drawings, has opted not to sell his pieces as he wishes to keep a legacy after his passing. “I’m not selling my work for $5,000 or $10,000 dollars. I think art is much more expensive than that so I will keep my work with me,” he affirmed. Donations however will be accepted at the goodwill of the visitor.

The 69-year old renowned artist was prompted to establish a museum, cognizant that Linden has none. The museum located at 14 Buck Hill, Wismar, Linden will be opened to the public from 9am to 4pm and will be free of cost to view the art. Interested adults can make an appointment since walk–ins will not be encouraged. There are several paintings depicting former Presidents and national leaders, sections of Guyanese culture, our flora and fauna etc.

Wilfred Regan Martin, born in 1946, started doing sign art as a boy as he emulated several renowned artists in the mining town which he described at that time as a “striving art community.” He was forced to put his newfound interest on the back burner as there was a need to seek employment.

Even as the mundane things of life and the responsibility of being a provider to his family took precedence, he always had art on his mind. Regan migrated to the United States in 1985 where he continued his trade as a welder, ironworker and contractor. Whenever time would allow, he would paint, but unfortunately that was rare. After the 9/11 incident, his view of life changed and this created a turning point. “After 9/11, my opinion about life changed drastically as I realized that tomorrow may never come.” “I decided to spend more time doing something I love, so the first thing I did was to give away my television and begin painting and inventing,” he shared. One of these was the sculpture “Captive” that was displayed in the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland for over a year. The sculpture of a captive which described the atrocities of human behavior was made of metal and weighed about 300lbs.

Regan Martin who is now back home continues to paint very often and says that opening the museum is one way he can give back to the Guyanese People. “I can share my work with the people of Linden and Guyana and that is how I decided to do this, since I know people have personal museums,” he said.

Regan is currently doing paintings in recognition of the 50th Independence celebrations and will be contesting in the National Art Competition in November.