Brian Mac Farlane Carnival 2011 Review #2

I arrived in Trinidad on Carnival Friday about 4:30 PM, got something to eat and headed to Mac Farlanes camp to collect my costume. Everything went well, the staff was friendly and helpful, no crowd maybe two people ahead of me. My top needed adjusting and that took a little time and the staff came out to reassure me that they were working on it. It didn't take much time and I was out of there in about 45 minutes. I paid on line through Moneygram and they had change for me due to the exchange rate.

Carnival Monday ...got there on time and the band was pulling out..got my paint applied by some very happy masqueraders and the party was on...I had a good time...got to Independence Square and all was well...found myself in the back of the band with the Laventille Rhythm Section having a ball..

Got to Frederick Street ...near Woodford Square probably around two...WTH! And things just went slow from there did not cross the stage till about 7pm. The stage was a blast.

Carnival Tuesday...met the band around ten and milled around adjusting my costume...took pictures etc...not sure what time we pulled out but it seemed like there was a bit of a wait. Nice flow..nice crowd...nice music...a little bottleneck just before competition downtown...then smooth sailing until we got to the sticking point on Frederick Street...slooow like molasses till we got to the stage that I crossed at around nine. I left the band right after we crossed the stage on both days as my people were waiting for me in the north stands.

As for services...Food...NONE..but we knew ahead of time because they only gave out drink chits...so I purchased my own..I'm not a big eater and did have a plate of pelau with sorrel etc before I left home on Tuesday, and made sure to have a good breakfast on Monday...so some boil corn near Aripita Avenue and wantons from I believe the Chinese restaurant on Frederick street was all I needed. They should have provided masqueraders with snacks..a lil allo pie and doubles ..you know some finger food to keep us going. About five pm on Tuesday they were passing out plantain chips......some people did not want to buy food on the road so I guess they took the chips. For the standard of costume etc Mac Farlane could have done better with the food situation...

MUSIC...the DJs were goood...Roy Cape and dem was a little too much for me I didn't want to hear Iwer crossing nobody stage, so I was glad that the DJ trucks accompanied me across the different competition venues.

SECURITY...where were they by that bottleneck by Memorial Park when the lil goontas in training tried to wine on me..I had to get myself out of that one alone.

DRINKS...what the de hell was that black forest beer ...now they were only serving juices, water and beer...the beer was Carib and Stag and then bout four o clock this strange beer appeared...I kept goin to the trucks and asking for a stag...and they told me there was none but I watchin cases of Carib and Stag on the truck and they passing them beers to other people...so it seems like there was some kind of "VIP" service for beers of which most of us common masqueraders were not a part of. So I just spent my money on the road to buy the beer I wanted.

Mac Farlane definitely has to do better with food and drinks. I don't care for hard liquor and a big set of food, it could be kept simple to keep down costs but the masqueraders deserve more. We gave out best as far as patience and presentation on the road and deserved a better. I did enjoy myself because I was determined to and did not let those things get in the way of my enjoyment. Oh and let me add...there were no pee pee trucks..I was okay with that I used the facilities at Woodford Square which was kept very clean. I noticed that the workers on duty there would clean the johns as soon as it was used.

I did enjoy myself a lot. Got a lot of feedback from spectators who enjoyed the band, had a lot of pictures taken on the road and the vibe was really nice. I hope that Mac Farlane makes the needed adjustments but all in all I had a good time, and was proud of my costume that held up on the road. The staff were continually seen throughout the band assisting masqueraders and adjusting costumes...nice touch. Again I was proud to be part of that production but they need to take a little more care with their masqueraders when it comes to the amenities.

Humanity Circle of Life Prices

Website http://www.macfarlanecarnival.net/

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TIME
UNISEX - $3595.00 

BAPTISM

F - $4395.00, M -$4295.00

BIRTH

UNISEX - $4395.00

FAREWELL

F -$4295.00. M - $3895.00

FREEDOM

UNISEX - $4095.00

GIVING AND RECEIVING

F -$2695.00, M- $2595.00

GOOD AND EVIL

UNISEX - $4595.00

JOY AND SORROW 

UNISEX - $3995.00

KNOWLEDGE

F - $3595.00, M- $3595.00

LOVE

UNISEX - $4495.00

MARRIAGE

UNISEX - $3395.00

PASSION

F - $3995.00, M- $3795.00

PRAYER 

UNISEX - $4395.00

Brian Mac Farlane - The Designer

Brian Mac Farlane's heart has always been into carnival, starting out as an unpaid proletariat with one of the bigger names in mas, Raoul Garib. He learned quickly and turned into a 'mas man' himself.

Brian's first Carnival King was portrayed by Junior Regrello which won South King of Carnival for his portrayal 'Prisma-Man of Colour'. He continued to do Kings and Queens of Carnival between then and 1994 which always placed in the top four of their respective competitions. It was in 1994 that Brian won his first King of Carnival and the best designer with the portrayal, 'The Conquest' by Anthony Paul. This costume went on that same year to be crowned 'Carnival King of the World', at the first ever, International King and Queen of Carnival Competition in Trinidad and Tobago which hosted entrants from some thirty-eight countries.

Brian has also designed for international bands, including one for Carnival in Australia. His creation won band of the year. A feat he repeated when he designed a band of the year for Carnival in Vancouver, Canada. In 2000 Brian designed for Rosalind Gabriel's junior Queen of Carnival entitled 'Exodus the Power and the Glory'. This spectacular creation gave the appearance of an entirely different design when the individual moved in different directions and broke all records for Carnival, winning the seventeen competitions in which it was entered. Later that year at the request of the Trinidad and Tobago Government, this costume was used in a performance for Prince Charles of The United Kingdom on the occasion of his official visit to Trinidad and Tobago.

Over the years Brian has designed Kings, Queens, and worked with all forms of mas. In 2005 he designed and led his first full presentation, 'The Washing by fire by water', which copped band of the year medium category title and created great hope for mas in Trinidad & Tobago. In 2006, his creation 'Threads of Joy'; won several accolades: Band of the Year Downtown, on the Greens, at the Renegade competition and 2nd place at the Savannah.

Brian continued his carnival tradition of hand crafting costumes for the theatre of the streets in last year's (2007) portrayal 'India: The Story of Boyie' which was the first ever portrayal of an entirely east Indian large band. This creation surpassed his efforts of 2005 and 2006 and received the top awards at all of the Carnival venues at which it was viewed. His 2007 presentation again copped Band of The Year Downtown, and on The Greens of Piccadilly. In addition, “India – The Story of Boyie” received the prestigious award of Band of the Year at The Savannah and was the highlight of the Champs in Concert.

In 2008 Brian’s presentation “Earth – Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope” copped first place in all of the major judging points.
A first for Trinidad Carnival, this band highlighted the effects man has had on his environment, and along with the endorsement of the United Nations sought to educate both masquerader and spectator of the potential benefits lifestyle changes can have on our environment.

2009 saw Brian again at the forefront Trinidad Carnival when his presentation “Africa – Her People, Her Glory, Her Tears” copped first place in all large band categories as well as the King and Queen of Carnival.

In 2010 Brian accomplished the Beaver Trick for the Large Band of the Year Title at the Queen’s Park Savannah with his winning portrayal of “Resurrection, the Mas” and garnered the Downtown title of Band of the Year in the Large Band Category for the Sixth consecutive time.

On the 31st August, 2010 at the Independence Day National Awards Ceremony Mr. MacFarlane was awarded the Chaconia Gold Medal in the sphere of carnival arts and culture.

Brian expects his 2011 presentation “Humanity, Circle of Life” to be his most creative and inspiring presentation to date.

Humanity Circle of Life Finale Video

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Brian Mc Farlane - " Humanity, Circle of Life" Photos

The Trinidad Carnival Diary photobucket account is presently not allowing me to upload any more photos so while that issue is being resolved with the website, photos from Brian Mc Farlane's Band Launch are hosted at another account. You can view all 247 of them HERE in high definition.

Brian Mc Farlane Humanity, Circle of Life The Aftermath

Last night Brian Mc Farlane launched his Carnival 2011 presentation, "Humanity, Circle of Life" at the newly renovated Mobs 2. The event was also part of Eventology 2011. On arrival at the venue it was nice to see Mobs 2 being used as an entertainment venue once again and to view the changes to the layout and space. I liked the upgrades to what was formerly the "VIP" area and this was where the main portion of the launch was held.

The decor was all black and white with candles, lighting and fabric panels used for effect. All inclusive meant a  premium bar, including a wine bar, and an array of local favourites such as bake and shark, roti, pulorie, accra, stuffed curry crab and dumpling ,corn soup, doubles and a range of "Trini" snacks like sugar cake and tamarind balls, the food was tasty I must add and service swift with no long lines.

Start time to the show was delayed by about 30 minutes for President Maxwell Richards arrival, however it began promptly after that. The Alternative Quartet opened the show with a nice rendition of David Rudders Oil and Music on acoustic violins.

Following their performance the presentation began with characters dressed in black slithering on stage to reveal a large silver fist. A flurry of winged white costume characters twirled as the closed fist slowly opened to reveal an eye in the middle of the palm as Mc Farlane  appeared from within and addressed the audience with a quotation from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran..

Now, unto the costumes! Each section and their description 

BIRTH

YOUR BIRTH IS THE EXTENSION OF LIFE’S CONTINUED CREATION.  IN BIRTH, YOU BECOME CHILDREN OF THE CREATOR THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF LIFE’S LONGING FOR ITSELF.  FOR LIFE GOES NOT BACKWARD NOT TARRIES WITH YESTERDAY.

BAPTISM

ANOINTED YOU ARE BY THE SPIRIT OF YOUR CREATOR.  YOUR DAILY LIFE IS YOUR TEMPLE AND YOUR RELIGION.  WHENEVER YOU ENTER INTO IT TAKE WITH YOU YOUR ALL.  TAKE THE PLOUGH AND THE FORGE AND THE MALLET AND THE LUTE, THE THINGS YOU HAVE FASHIONED IN NECESSITY OR FOR DELIGHT.  FOR IN REVERY YOU CANNOT RISE  ABOVE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS NOR FALL LOWER THAN YOUR FAILURES.  AND IF YOU WOULD KNOW GOD BE NOT THEREFORE A SOLVER OF RIDDLES. RATHER LOOK ABOUT YOU AND YOU SHALL SEE HIM PLAYING WITH YOUR CHILDREN.  AND LOOK INTO SPACE YOU SHALL SEE HIM WALKING IN THE CLOUD, OUTSTRETCHING HIS ARMS IN THE LIGHTNING AND DESCENDING IN RAIN. YOU SHALL SEE HIM SMILING IN FLOWERS, THEN RISING AND WAVING HIS HANDS IN TREES.

LOVE

WHEN LOVE BECKONS TO YOU, FOLLOW HIM, THOUGH HIS WAYS ARE HARD AND STEEP.  AND WHEN HIS WINGS ENFOLD YOU YIELD TO HIM.WHEN YOU LOVE YOU SHOULD NOT SAY, “GOD IS IN MY HEART,” BUT RATHER, “I AM IN THE HEART OF GOD.”  AND THINK NOT YOU CAN DIRECT THE COURSE OF LOVE, FOR LOVE, IF IT FINDS YOU WORTHY, DIRECTS YOUR COURSE.

TIME

YOU WOULD MEASURE TIME THE MEASURELESS AND THE IMMEASURABLE. YOU WOULD ADJUST YOUR CONDUCT AND EVEN DIRECT THE COURSE OF YOUR SPIRIT ACCORDING TO HOURS AND SEASONS.  OF THE TIME YOU WOULD MAKE A STREAM UPON WHOSE BANK YOU WOULD SIT AND WATCH IT’S FLOWING.YET THE TIMELESS IN YOU IS AWARE OF LIFE’S TIMELESSNESS, AND KNOWS THAT YESTERDAY IS BUT TODAY’S MEMORY AND TOMORROW IS TODAY’S DREAM.  SO LET TODAY EMBRACE THE PAST WITH REMEMBERANCE AND THE FUTURE WITH LONGING.

PRAYER

YOU PRAY IN YOUR DISTRESS AND IN YOUR NEED; WOULD THAT YOU MIGHT PRAY ALSO IN THE FULLNESS OF YOUR JOY AND IN YOUR DAYS OF ABUNDANCE.  FOR WHAT IS PRAYER BUT THE EXPANSION OF YOURSELF INTO THE LIVING ETHER? AND IF IT IS FOR YOUR COMFORT TO POUR YOUR DARKNESS INTO SPACE, IT IS ALSO FOR YOUR DELIGHT TO POUR FORTH THE DAWNING OF YOUR HEART.  WHEN YOU PRAY YOU RISE TO MEET IN THE AIR THOSE WHO ARE PRAYING AT THAT VERY HOUR, AND WHOM,  SAVE IN PRAYER, YOU MAY NOT MEET.GOD LISTENS NOT TO YOUR WORDS SAVE WHEN HE HIMSELF UTTERS THEM THROUGH YOUR LIPS IN PRAYER.

KNOWLEDGE

KNOWLEDGE AND HE ANSWERED, SAYING: YOUR HEARTS KNOW IN SILENCE THE SECRETS OF THE DAYS AND THE NIGHTS. BUT YOUR EARS THIRST FOR THE SOUND OF YOUR HEART’S KNOWLEDGE.  YOU WOULD KNOW IN WORDS THAT WHICH YOU HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN IN THOUGHT.SAY NOT, “I HAVE FOUND THE TRUTH,” BUT RATHER, “I HAVE FOUND A TRUTH.”  SAY NOT, “I HAVE FOUND THE PATH OF THE SOUL.” SAY RATHER, “I HAVE MET THE SOUL WALKING UPON MY PATH.” FOR THE SOUL WALKS UPON ALL PATHS.

JOY & SORROW

YOUR JOY IS YOUR SORROW UNMASKED AND THE SELFSAME WELL FROM WHICH YOUR LAUGHTER RISES WAS OFTEN TIMES FILLED WITH YOUR TEARS.  WHEN YOU ARE JOYOUS, LOOK DEEP INTO YOUR HEART AND YOU SHALL FIND IT IS ONLY THAT WHICH HAS GIVEN YOU SORROW THAT IS GIVING YOU JOY.WHEN YOU ARE SORROWFUL LOOK AGAIN IN YOUR HEART, AND YOU SHALL SEE THAT IN TRUTH YOU ARE WEEPING FOR THAT WHICH HAS BEEN YOUR DELIGHT.  BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, THEY ARE INSEPARABLE. TOGETHER THEY COME, AND WHEN ONE SITS ALONE WITH YOU AT YOUR BOARD, REMEMBER THAT THE OTHER IS ASLEEP UPON YOUR BED.

MARRIAGE 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER, BUT MAKE NOT A BOND OF LOVE:  SING AND DANCE TOGETHER AND BE JOYOUS, BUT LET EACH ONE OF YOU BE ALONE, GIVE YOUR HEARTS, BUT NOT INTO EACH OTHER’S KEEPING.  FOR ONLY THE HAND OF LIFE CAN CONTAIN YOUR HEARTS.  AND STAND TOGETHER YET NOT TOO NEAR TOGETHER FOR THE PILLARS OF THE TEMPLE STAND APART

PASSION

PASSION, UNATTENDED, IS A FLAME THAT BURNS TO ITS OWN DESTRUCTION. AND WHEN THE STORM COMES, AND THE MIGHTY WIND SHAKES THE FOREST, AND THUNDER AND LIGHTNING PROCLAIM THE MAJESTY OF THE SKY, THEN LET YOUR HEART SAY IN AWE, “GOD MOVES IN PASSION.”  AND SINCE YOU ARE A BREATH IN GOD’S SPHERE, AND A LEAF IN GOD’S FOREST, YOU TOO SHOULD REST IN REASON AND MOVE IN PASSION.

WORK 

YOU WORK THAT YOU MAY KEEP PACE WITH THE EARTH AND THE SOUL OF THE EARTH.  FOR TO BE IDLE IS TO BECOME A STRANGER UNTO THE SEASONS, AND TO STEP OUT OF LIFE’S PROCESSION, THAT MARCHES IN MAJESTY AND PROUD SUBMISSION TOWARDS THE INFINITE.AND WHEN YOU WORK WITH LOVE YOU BIND YOURSELF TO YOURSELF, AND TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO GOD.  WORK IS LOVE MADE VISIBLE.  AND IF YOU CANNOT WORK WITH LOVE BUT ONLY WITH DISTASTE, IT IS BETTER THAT YOU SHOULD LEAVE YOUR WORK AND SIT AT THE GATE OF THE TEMPLE AND GIVE HELP OF THOSE WHO WORK WITH JOY.

GOOD & EVIL

OF THE GOOD IN YOU I CAN SPEAK, BUT NOT OF THE EVIL.  FOR WHAT IS EVIL BUT GOOD TORTURED BY ITS OWN HUNGER AND THIRST?  VERILY WHEN GOOD IS HUNGRY IT SEEKS FOOD EVEN IN DARK CAVES, AND WHEN IT THIRSTS IT DRINKS EVEN OF DEAD WATERS.YOU ARE GOOD WHEN YOU ARE ONE WITH YOURSELF, YOU ARE GOOD WHEN YOU STRIVE TO GIVE OF YOURSELF.

GIVING & RECEIVING 

GIVERS: YOU GIVE BUT LITTLE WHEN YOU GIVE OF YOUR POSSESSIONS.  IT IS WHEN YOU GIVE OF YOURSELF THAT YOU TRULY GIVE. YOU OFTEN SAY, “I WOULD GIVE, BUT ONLY TO THE DESERVING.”  THE TREES IN YOUR ORCHARD SAY NOT SO, NOR THE FLOCKS IN YOUR PASTURE.AND YOU RECEIVERS: YOU ARE ALL RECEIVERS ASSUME NO WEIGHT OF GRATITUDE, LEST YOU LAY A YOKE UPON YOURSELF AND UPON HIM WHO GIVES.  RATHER RISE TOGETHER WITH THE GIVER ON HIS GIFTS AS ON WINGS. FOR TO BE OVERMINDFUL OF YOUR DEBT, IS TO DOUBT HIS GENEROSITY WHO HAS THE FREE-HEARTED EARTH FOR MOTHER, AND GOD FOR FATHER.

FREEDOM

YOU SHALL BE FREE INDEED WHEN YOUR DAYS ARE NOT WITHOUT A CARE NOR YOUR NIGHTS WITHOUT A WANT AND A GRIEF, BUT RATHER WHEN THESE THINGS GURDLE YOUR LIFE AND LET YOU RISE ABOVE THEM NAKED AND UNBOUND.

THE FAREWELL

HOW SHALL YOU FIND DEATH UNLESS YOU SEEK IT IN THE HEART OF LIFE?  FOR LIFE AND DEATH ARE ONE, EVEN AS THE RIVER AND THE SEA ARE ONE.  FOR WHAT IS IT TO DIE BUT TO STAND NAKED IN THE WIND AND TO MELT INTO THE SUN? AND WHAT IS IT TO CEASE BREATHING, BUT TO FREE THE BREATH FROM ITS RESTLESS TIDES, THAT IT MAY RISE AND EXPAND AND SEEK GOD UNENCUMBERED?ONLY WHEN YOU DRINK FROM THE RIVER OF SILENCE SHALL YOU INDEED SING.  AND WHEN YOU HAVE REACHED THE MOUNTAIN TOP, THEN YOU SHALL BEGIN TO CLIMB.  AND WHEN THE EARTH SHALL CLAIM YOUR LIMBS, THEM SHALL YOU TRULY DANCE.