Lights, camera… Tivoli
Chris Brown’s name magnetises the masses in a major way. Case in point the hundreds of Tivoli Gardens residents who came out to see him on Tuesday.
The R&B superstar, who jetted to The Rock last Tuesday for Solid Agency Company and Jay Upscale’s Chris Brown & Friends Live! at BZR Weekend Jamaica, was in the community shooting content for an upcoming collab with artistes Sean Kingston and Talibans singer Byron Messia.
Reports are that the scenes will feature in a Talibans Remix.
But it was Brown’s stop in Bumps Park in the west Kingston community to sign the now-famous mural that warmed the hearts of community members. The signing — an effort organised in part by Social Enterprise Director Oniel Coke, included Jamaican-American singer Sean Kingston.
“Last year we decided to impact our community in a meaningful way, so we decided to use art as therapy, especially after experiencing the [security forces operation into Tivoli Gardens to capture Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke]. We saw it fit to try and affect the mind in some way shape or form.” said Coke.
When asked how he felt about Brown’s visit to Bumps Park, Coke said: “It’s always a good feeling when we get influential people to experience the place we call home. It was an inspiration for the kids and the elders who have been seeing him on TV for years,” he continued.
Adirah Chardae, the artist responsible for the section of the mural that Brown signed, was equally elated.
“I’m just glad that Chris Brown could come and see the space and bring more awareness about what we’re doing here, because… we just want to paint, we just want to do the work that we came here to do. I’m just glad that we got other persons to see it and appreciate it and help put the word out,” explained Chardae.
The visit wrapped with the Under The Influence singer graciously singing autographs on anything members of the community could get to him.
Bumps Park’s artistic transformation began last year as the first phase of a community-wide project. The project, executed through a collaboration with 15 artists, Berger Paints, and artist Marlon “Life Child” Spencer, has become the pride and joy of the community.
