User:Macushi
GUY JOHN-MARCO is a well known Amerindian culturalist and recognized artist, song-writer, researcher, and photographer. His father - Martin Marco - was an ALAYKUNA descendant whose roots were from Venezuela / Pakaraimas and his mother - Rosaline (Rosa) John-Marco - is a MACUSHI from TÎKA PÎSHE (Toka Village), North Rupununi, Guyana, South America.
He was born at Kono-Kono Bai farm hut,a premee (7 months), Katoka Village, in the North Rupununi, Guyana. He attended Yupukari Primary School (because there was no school at Katoka then) where he acquired a scholarship to attend St.Ignatius Secondary School. He taught at his former primary school immediately following his secondary education for a several months in 1978.
Guy also worked briefly for the Malaria Eradication Programme in 1979 as a DDT sparyman which took him behind the mighty Shiriri in the South Rupununi and the North Rupununi. During those months he first heard of the Burrowes School of Art when his supervisor named Boodhai encouraged him to apply upon observation of his natural talent in Art. However he was not interested in persuing Art as a profession because he was facinated with Auto Mechanic and Auto Electric.
Upon hearing about youth training in various trades in Guyana National Service he, not knowing anyone in Georgetown, booked a one way ticket and travel out of his beautiful home of Rupununi to query about the programme. Same day he visited the National Service Headquarters which was located on Middle Street. Very fortunate for him it was the day that GNS was recuiting voluntery Pioneers. Pioneering program was that one had to do military training first and then choose a trade area hence he boarded WWII Jaimito a few days later to go to the jungle of Papaya, North West, Region 1.
However his dream of becoming Auto Mechanic/Auto Electrician never became a reality for so many reasons - through GNS scholarship program. He however did theoritical studies of the subjects which were taught by GNS personels who were graduates of Bermine Trade School at Kimbia. As a result of this set back he was guided to grabe an opportunity in line of his natural talent - Art. He was sent to work as a Graphics Artist trainee at Guyana National Service Printery where his spervisor was Tyron Doris. Whilst there he apply successfully to the Burrowes School of Art where GNS sponsored him during his four years training.
Guy attended the E.R. Burrowes School of Art and graduated with distinction in 1985 (majored in Graphics Designs). After serving his contract he worked briefly at Guyana Communications Agency as a Media Program Officer.
He left there to attend Dr Doris E Rogers' Special Student/ Art Program at University of Guyana. During that program his professor encouraged him to apply to Howard University (where she studied) which he did successfully. She also asked him to apply to the University of Guyana be her Studio Assistance because he was self-employed so that she can arrange for him to be given a scholarship to attend Howard University but GOG was only giving 'scholarships' then to either Cuba or Russia. He opted non. Out of frustration he wrote to West Indian Commission asking why there wasn't BA Art program at the University of Guyana. Upon reading the responce from WIC his Professor thought they (Dr Rogers & Guy) both sit down and plan a BA Art Program specifically for Burrowes School Art Graduates. The UG Academic Board approved it and Guy had his dream come through. He graduated with credit in 1992 - Bachelor Of Arts - Art Education.
In 1992 Guy was chosen to be part of a documentry film entitled - VIEW FROM THE SHORE - based on Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean. His character was the last Lokono Chief who refused to be converted to Christinity which was the reason he ran away in a canoe through a creek/river but was overcomed and burnt on a stake on the sea shore. The shooting took place in Dominica where Caribs were also hired to be part of the documentry.
The Macushi moved to St. Lucia, West Indies, where his counterparts - KALENA (Caribs) and LOKONO (Arawaks) once existed, in 1993, where again he hopped on an aircraft without knowing anyone on the island. He spent six years teaching art at two secondary schools (St. Mary's College and Castries Comprehensive Secondary School). The experience there was a reliving the lives of his counterparts.
Guy is a member of the Baha'i Faith (a new religion that belives in oneness of mankind, Oneness of religion & oneness of God). He served on both the Local and National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Castries / St. Lucia. During his stint there he attended 8th International Convention in Haifa, Israel, in 1998. This was his second visit to the Holy Land. The first being in the Baha'i Holy Year 1992 - centenary celebration of the death of the Founder of the Bahá'i Faith - Bahá'u'lláh (Glory of God). He currently serves of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Orange County (West), Florida, USA.
Guy now resides in Gotha, Florida (where he was/is accepted to persue Master program at University Of Central Florida - reason he took off once again from St. Lucia in 1999 but is put a side (him being a full time baby sitter for Guy Jr) for time being, where he continues to work on his paintings and music/songs in Macushi, and his martial arts techniques. He is also making a study of his Mother tongue - MACUSHI - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Macushi At the same time he is in the process of making his grounds at Yupukari/Katoka/Toka where he will return permanently to serve his people of the Rupununi.
PRIZES AND AWARDS:
Best Graduating Student (Guyana National Service - Kimbia) 1981
Burrowes School of Art logo Competition - First Prize
Guyana Karate Association Logo Competition - First Prize
National Library Logo Competition (Guyana)- First Prize
President College (Guyana) Logo Competition - Third Prize
Guyana National Annual Arts Competition - Special Prize
NON-COMPETED DESIGNS:
Stamp Design (in commemoration of Clive Lloyd's - Cricketer - retirement 1984) - Guyana
Renwick and Company Limited (St. Lucia, West Indies / Caribbean)
MEMBER
International Shotokan Karate Federation (2nd Degree Black Belt)
FOUNDER - HONORARY MEMBER
Katoka Village Education Foundation
Toka Village Traditional Arts Academy
Guy Marco's Village Education Foundation
VOLUNTEER
Rupununi Learners
http://www.rupununilearners.org
RESEARCH:
1985- Members of the Burrowes School of Art whose works are in the National Collection (Dissertation - BSA)
1988 - An Approach to Graphics (Personal - BSA)
1990 - Life and works of a Guyanese Artist - Stanley Greaves ( University Of Guyana - an assignment paper)
1991 - Art In Search Of 'Light' (Dissertation - University of Guyana - BA)
2013 - MACUSHI CULTURAL BELIEF SYSTEM
With the Macushi cultural beliefs system, including paying homage to the ‘spirit-owners’ of the physical aspects in the natural world, what significance do the changes in the intangible cultural heritage related to the activities of the potters in Toka Village, North Rupununi, Guyana, have on the transmission of the Macushi Culture and Identity? (Dissertation - Newcastle University -MA)
PRESERVATION / CONVERSATION OF MACUSHI LANGUAGE THROUGH MUSIC
Albums:
MACUSHI; MACUSHI II; MACUSHI III; Ū SHENALǏ (My Musical Instrument - instrumentals) & Ū YEA-WANG SAYLINGA (My Heart Sings)- Bahá'í Inspired songs
On 15th june, 2011, the artist's music/Cds were launched by Walter Roth Museum at the Umana Yana where he and his son Izzat opened the presentation with a prayer song in Macushi and English. They both lead a circle dance which signified Unity accompanied by one of his songs entitled "Paleshala."
Limited copies of his songs are now available at the museum on Main Street, Georgetown, Guyana.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Macushi/Macushi_Songs
https://www.facebook.com/MacushiArts.guymarco
FUTURE DICTIONARY OF MACUSHI LANGUAGE:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Macushi_words
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Talk:Macushi
Contact:(if interested)
[email protected] / Tel.: 407 578 8327 / 07 840 515 802 Webpage:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Macushi/Marcos_and_Mac_Donalds_of_Rupununi