With Sip N Paint (fi di Pickney dem) being one week ago, it is officially a great opportunity to recap the event.
The Concept
The 2024 edition of the Sip N Paint (fi di Pickney dem) is the first staging of the fundraiser. It was launched in an effort to raise funds for The Prudential Foundation JA’s Celebrations Is Sweeter When Shared flagship yearly campaign. The event featured:
- A sip and paint experience (led by Master Teacher Tish)
- Delectable light bites (sponsored)
- Lives performances by two of Jamaica’s finest stars (Capleton and Hezron)
Of course, what the event promises to be and what the true-to-life experience turns out to be are certainly not one and the same. Below, we take a closer look at the latter through the lens of the evening’s highlights.
The Execution
01. Setting the Stage
Fitted with a registration table and a 360 photo booth, it was clear from the get-go that attendees were in for a dynamic night with lots of fun. Once inside, attendees would be ushered to their seats; each complete with its own easel, canvas, paint palette, brushes, water, and of course, wine.
02. A Winning Start
Atypical of events in Jamaica, Sip N Paint (fi di Pickney dem) got off to a timely start. The team was ready and waiting to welcome the guests and lead them into a simply awe-inspiring evening. As guests streamed in and made their way into the event hall, we officially started our activity with an almost full complement of guests within 20 minutes of the published start time.
The event got underway with the live singing of the Jamaican national anthem by the host Kei Dubb. This was followed promptly by the welcome led by Prudential Foundation JA’s president and founder Prudence Hall. As Prudence handed over to the evening’s host once again, we were ready to introduce guests to their teacher (Master Teacher Tish) and allow the festivities to begin. Tish introduced the guests to their 5-colour paint palette, gave a few more important instructions and then
03. Great Fun for All in Attendance
One of the great features of a sip n paint, is the mystery of not quite knowing what it is you will be painting. The mystery is half the fun (particularly when the experience is skillfully led by the likes of Master Teacher Tish). As Tish guided the guests in their experiences, it was interesting to see the different interpretations of the instructions. Perhaps what was most unique about this Sip n Paint, was that virtually none of the final paintings were a far cry from the stimulus picture. Perhaps all our guests were artists of sorts, albeit undiscvered.
04. Performances Galore
While there were two headlining acts slated for Sip n Paint (fi di pickney dem), guests were treated to so much. As is often the case with Jamaica’s legendary stars, Capleton brought with him a few of his talented friends, which included everyone from reggae and dancehall staple Munga Honourable to the extremely talented emerging talent Fiyaneer among others!
A soothing opening set: Hezron opened the performances for the evening with a soulful set featuring both his beautiful vocals and his musicianship as a guitarist. Among the songs played and sung by Hezron was the foundation’s theme song Save the Children.
A fiery closing: Capleton, followed Hezron’s set with a customary fiery performance that left guests leaving on a high. The reggae legend
05. Additional Highlights
- Capleton’s colleagues were not the only stars among us for the night. While she didn’t perform, the great Sherita Lewis (whose production and vocal can be heard on just about every hit Jamaican song) was in attendance as well.
- The evening also featured children who were able to enjoy the painting activity while sipping on age-appropriate fruit juice. This was a welcomed touch as Jamaica’s children were the focus of the event.
- The evening’s festivities were truly a family affair. For starters, everyone in attendance knew someone else, and by the end of the night even strangers became acquainted. Best of all, there were giveaways and trivia to add to the fun and camaraderie of the evening.
- An addition to the experience of the evening, was having our president and founder’s mentee on hand, as well as voluntary support from young men and women who were beneficiaries of the foundation’s work as youth and wards of the state.
The Final Analysis
From concept to execution, it is safe to say the 2024 staging of Sip n Paint (fi di pickney dem) was a resounding success. The evening went off without a hitch, and wherever there were minor challenges behind the scenes, the same weren’t easily discerned. In a word, the night was magical!
