ARTISTS in Guyana face many challenges in commercialising their work, especially those in the far-flung areas. However, local leather artist Deborah Mathias has been trying her utmost to assist other artists in bringing awareness to their work, through a company she created called ‘Rave Designs’.

Company PRO Roger Evelyn said that Rave started operations as a marketing company in 2008, and transitioned into an Art Production Company in 2010, where they stacked pieces from local designers, mostly between the ages of 20 and 30.

This transition, he said, came as a much-needed course of action.
“This is both a labour of love for both me and our founder, Deborah Mathias.” Evelyn said, adding: “We have noticed the plight of all of the producers, because we were producers as well. This was our hobby before it became our main interest. We have a lot of talent, and we have a lot of high-quality finish available in Guyana. But a lot of people do not have faith in the products.”

He explained that what they do is buy pieces from artists in the hinterland regions, and places like Mahaica Creek, Georgetown, and East Coast who have a hard time selling their products. And they sell back those pieces at their location in the Regent Multi-Complex Mall.

Even though both Mathias and Evelyn are artists themselves, their love for art transcends competition, and their main focus is getting everyone in the industry to appreciate them more and use the industry to sell our beautiful country. In fact, he said the competition shouldn’t be amongst themselves, but rather the international market to ensure that Guyana as a country can be known for its produce.

“Art is a part of our identity, we would like to see persons representing Guyana fully, in that they understand what our produce is and where it comes from, and what is the significance of wearing and why we should have it. So that if anybody from abroad or places where they are not probably aware of all the different types of things, you could be an ambassador for culture for Guyana. We are right with culture; we are right with everything: Wood, leather, everything you could think about. You could be an ambassador, have a piece, wearing it and showing off that this is from Guyana,” Evelyn said.

“We are competing with people who have generations of experience in producing products, so we have to get our marketing up, we have to get our finishing up, and most importantly, Guyanese people have to have that identity that says I appreciate the Guyanese art forms, and I support it. A lot of people do not understand what their purchasing power is. Their purchasing power gives us, the persons who are producing, the incentive to start to produce… If you have an option to buy something and you have a Guyanese option that is of equal quality, and you choose a foreign product, then you’re saying that you’re giving in to that foreign market, that foreign influence. What we have to do is to have more events where we are exposing people to the finish and the quality. We want them to know that we are right there when it comes to quality and finish,” he further stated.

Though the company is not at the level they are hoping to be, Evelyn said that they are on track.

He said that later this year they want to venture into costume making that speaks to Guyana’s cultural norms and practices.