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CARLISLE CHANG
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DATE OF BIRTH: |
April 21, 1921 |
PLACE OF BIRTH: |
San Juan, Trinidad |
EDUCATION: |
Tranquillity Government School
Washington School of Art
New York Institute of Photography
LCC Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, England
Instituto Statale d'Arte for Ceramics, Faenza, Italy
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CAREER: Chang began his career as an artist by painting, and received his early education with a correspondence course from the Washington School of Art. He switched to photography for ten years and obtained a Master's Certificate from the New York Institute of Photography. However, he returned to painting and won a British Council scholarship to study poetry, painting, and mural painting at the LCC Central School of Arts and Crafts in England. He left Trinidad for England in 1950 and received his diploma in 1953. He then went to Italy to complete studies in ceramics and mural painting after winning an Italian Government scholarship to attend the Instituto Statale d'Arte for Ceramics in Italy. He returned to Trinidad in 1954 and opened his own painting studio in 1955. He went on to do art work for Carnival bands and many dance and theatre productions.
Chang rose to fame in 1958 when he designed the Coat of Arms for the short-lived Federation of the West Indies. He followed this by designing the Coat of Arms for Trinidad & Tobago when it became an independent country in 1962. He was also a member of a sub-committee that designed the flag and insignia of Trinidad & Tobago. His 1961 40-foot mural "The Inherent Dignity of Man" at Piarco International Airport was demolished in 1980 when the airport was expanded. At the 1967 Expo in Montreal, Canada, he was part of a team that painted a 120-foot mural that copped an award. Chang served for five years as President of the Trinidad Art Society and, from 1964 to 1975, designed Carnival bands for Stephen Lee Heung. In 2002, his other major public mural "Conquerabia," a 41-foot long concrete mural, continued to be displayed at the Port-of-Spain City Hall. |
AWARD:
- 1969 - Trinidad & Tobago Humming Bird Medal Silver (for Fine Arts)
- 2001 - Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Carnival Bands Association
- Bienal de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Medal
- Citation from the Press Club of Lausanne, Switzerland
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DIED: |
May 6, 2001, in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad |
Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit |
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