The IDB Cultural Center
presents the DC premiere of a new documentary by Dalton Narine on the Trinidadian Carnival artist
Mas Man Peter Minshall
Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
2010, directed, produced and introduced by Dalton Narine. Digibeta, 57 minutes, color documentary
Emmy award-winner Peter Minshall (1941- ) is a Trinidadian Carnival artist who describes his medium as “the Mas” (masquerade) and prefers to be called a “Mas Man.” He combines in his craft the qualities of sculpture with those of movement. His bands are never merely costumed parades, but exercises in total theatre, using music, drama, dance, and visual spectacle to communicate a metaphor-rich narrative. Through interviews and historical footage, this film traces his development over three decades from costume designer to allegorical fabulist who opens confrontation between good and evil against the backdrop of the celebrations. As he tells it, his mission is to awaken themes about humanity in mobile street theater with outrageously enormous and powerfully designed “dancing mobiles” moving among 2,500 masqueraders in Trinidad’s spring festival. His talent for filling open spaces with fantastic productions attracted the attention of the Olympic Games which hired him as Artistic Director for the Opening Ceremonies in Barcelona, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City.
DALTON NARINE is a Trinidadian-born writer and film producer. Mas Man Peter Minshall has been nominated as Best Documentary at eight festivals, winning in Trinidad and Tobago, New York and South Africa International Film Festivals; and also won Best Cinematography at Chagrin Falls Documentary Festival. Narine has written for the Village Voice; served as features editor at The Miami Herald, editor at Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and associate editor at Ebony magazine. He has also received awards for feature writing at Ebony and The Herald.
In November 2010, the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian reported that the country plans on working on the exportation of local mas to the world in the near future. The amount of US $355,000 has been granted by the IDB’s Multilateral Investment Fund to the twin-island country, following a request by the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI).
Free and open to the public, Inter-American Development Bank, Enrique V. Iglesias Auditorium
1330 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Metro Center 13th Street exit. Photo ID required.
Business casual. Unreserved general admission, 380 seats. 202.623.3558 www.iadb.org/cultural
2011 – Inter-American Year of Culture
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