Pat Bishop R.I.P.

[Hammy Bolo]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PAT ... 37113.html


PAT BISHOP DIES
Cultural icon collapses during meeting with Planning Minister
By Kim Boodram

Story Created: Aug 20, 2011 at 11:47 PM ECT

(Story Updated: Aug 20, 2011 at 11:47 PM ECT )

CULTURAL icon and Trinity Cross recipient Pat Bishop has died.

Bishop, 71, passed away yesterday afternoon after she collapsed during a meeting in Port of Spain with Minister of Planning, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, masman Peter Minshall and a number of her cultural colleagues.

Bishop, who had complained earlier in the day of chest pains, collapsed during the meeting of Government's High Level Expert Panel to Guide the Implementation of Arts, Cultural and Entrepreneurial Projects and Patriotism Project, at the Ministry of Planning at the Eric Williams Finance Building, Independence Square, Port of Spain.

She was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Bishop, who was perhaps best known for directing the Lydian Singers and the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, died around 5.20 p.m. at the hospital.

The panel, of which Bishop was a part, consists of a number of members of the arts and culture community.

Tewarie told the Sunday Express last night that the panel met for about three-and-a-half hours before he was called in for further discussion.

The panel had held its final meeting before finishing a report on building institutions and identifying cultural projects on artistic developments.

It was while Minshall was speaking, Tewarie said, that Bishop suddenly "pulled up" into her chair and collapsed.

Head of the Artists Coalition, Rubadiri Victor and Dr Kiran Akal rushed to Bishop's side and tried, unsuccessfully, to revive her.

Others in the room were at the same trying to get an ambulance to the building, Tewarie said.

The ambulance arrived 20 minutes later.

It was another 20 minutes or so before the ambulance arrived at the Port of Spain General Hospital, where Bishop was admitted through the Emergency Department.

Doctors on duty were not able to revive Bishop and have so far diagnosed the cause of death as a combination of a heart attack and stroke.

An autopsy is to be performed tomorrow.

"This is monumental loss to the country," Tewarie said yesterday. "Pat has been not only an independent thinker but a cultural contributor of the highest order."

Tewarie said he did not have the pleasure of seeing Bishop often but they got along very well.

When Tewarie was being inducted as Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus in 2001, he asked Bishop to take charge of the programme.

"She was the one who did the cultural part of the installation ceremony," Tewarie said. "So personally, it is a loss."

Offering condolences to Bishop's family, including her sister, jewelry designer Gillian Bishop, Tewarie said efforts will certainly be made to have Bishop's "tremendous" work documented and remembered.

In an earlier statement, Tewarie's Planning Ministry said Bishop spent her life as an artist and as an activist in the creative community in Trinidad and Tobago.

She was from time to time outspoken on issues related to culture and the arts and was on of the country's most independent thinking citizens, the ministry said.

A saddened Rubadiri Victor yesterday described Bishop as "one of the greatest Caribbean citizens ever".

"She was a magnificent Trinidad and Tobago gift to the universe," he said.

"She was a complete renaissance woman.

"She was also one of our greatest cutlural theorists, curators and teachers. She is irreplacable, we have just lost an entire university."

Victor said Bishop was a "mother and mentor" to thousands of creative people, who must now work to realise her dreams for this country.

"This is tragedy of epic proportions because in her last years, Pat was not allowed to lead the creation of those institutions that would have made a difference to our Republic. Pat died battling for the realisation of a vision of that shining, golden Trinidad and Tobago, which is rooted in our unique, cultural genius. She leaves behind us, thousands of her children, to win this battle in her name."

[Hammy Bolo]

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2011/08/ ... ue-patriot

‘T&T has lost a true patriot’
Published: Sun, 2011-08-21 22:24
Michelle Loubon

Pat Bishop photographed during her tenure as a member of the executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Art Society in the early 1980's. Mere weeks before T&T celebrates its Independence, the country has been plunged into mourning at the loss of artist/conductor/musicologist Pat Bishop. Shockwaves swept across the country at her sudden demise. People were heartbroken. Still reeling from the shock, friends and loved ones slipped past the dense foliage at Bishop’s home at #8 Alfredo Street, Woodbrook. Last night, her distraught sister Gillian Bishop received a steady stream of people who came to offer condolences. Teary-eyed, Exodus manager Ainsworth Mohammed gave Bishop a hug. Former Education Minister Marilyn Gordon chatted about her legacy with other friends.

Among those who expressed heartbreak were members of the Lydians’ Choir who had been preparing a repertoire for the National Awards Ceremony. St Augustine Campus Librarian Jennifer Joseph penned the sentiments of treasurer Valerie Davidson. Davidson said: “The choir practice took place like normal at the Bishop Anstey High School on Friday night. She spoke about the need to promote Eddy Cumberbatch’s concert (Winterreisse) scheduled for early September. She was urging members to come out to practice.” Davidson added: “Pat died just as she would have wanted and literally with her boots on—in service to country.”

Davidson said the shows would go on as scheduled because that is “how Pat would have wanted it.” Joseph said: “T&T has lost a true patriot whose life was consumed with service—service to country, to people and to the arts.” Joseph said Bishop had taught her both Art and History at Bishop’s High School, Keate Street, Port-of-Spain. As darkness fell, more choir members flocked to Bishop’s home. Dissolving into tears, they raised their voices in unison singing “Sweet Chariot Carry Me Home.” Even New York artiste Ajahla telephoned to express his condolences at the passing a “great gifted patriot.”

Legacy of T&T icon
In Bishop’s living room stood Bishop’s grand piano, dwarfed by an extensive library. Every nook and cranny of her spacious home, with its gingerbread architecture, bore evidence of her taste—including exquisite sculptures and paintings. A water feature trickled gently next to bamboo. Apart from her extensive art collection, Bishop left a legacy of productions like Misa Cubana from November 2010 which she did in conjunction with Cuban composer Jose Maria Vitier. In his greetings, Vitier had paid tribute to the genius of the Lydians. He said: “The thrill of hearing this music sung by the Lydians, and accompanied by this amazing steel orchestra allows us to contemplate this work against the much vaster landscape of our Caribbean culture.”

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[Hammy Bolo]

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2011/08/ ... ishop-dies

Pat Bishop dies
Published: Sun, 2011-08-21 22:24
Shaliza Hassanali

Pat Bishop Pat Bishop, the holder of T&T’s highest national honour, the Trinity Cross, went to her grave expressing concerns about her failed attempts to bring mainstream culture to the fore. The concerns were registered by Bishop yesterday at a meeting of the Panel of High Level Experts Culture and Creative Arts minutes before she died. Bishop, 71, an artist and musician is believed to have died of a stroke and heart attack around 5.20 pm at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. “One of the things she said ironically was that ‘I am too old now.’ Then Bishop indicated that she had been to a lot of talk shop sessions, trying to bring culture to the mainstream and that she was a little sceptical of the outcomes of these events,” said Minister of Planning, Economic and Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs, Dr Bhoe Tewarie, who was present when Bishop suddenly fell off her chair around 4.20 pm.

At the time of her collapse, masman Peter Minshall was on his feet addressing the members. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Planning and Economy, was attended by 16 members, who were scheduled to submit a report. Tewarie said when Bishop fell, Dr Kiran Akal together with Rubadiri Victor rushed to her assistance. Initially people thought she had fainted. “They tried to revive her. We got the ambulance as quickly as we could and took her to the hospital.” Tewarie said at that point in time Bishop, who was still breathing remained unconscious. However, within an hour she had passed away.

“We basically had to call people who were at the meeting to tell them she had died. It was not an easy thing to do and not the best experience I had.” Victor, Tewarie said, called Bishop’s younger sister Gillian who came to the hospital. “The three of us stood there. I had to break the news to her (Gillian). She became emotional. She held on to me and gasped.” Tewarie spoke highly of Bishop stating that when he was appointed Principal of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus in 2001 he personally called her to put together a cultural programme for his installation. Bishop, Tewarie said, outdid herself bringing her choir the Lydian Singers. “She did a wonderful programme for me. This is a sad day for our country because she was such a talented person.”

In tears, Victor said Bishop was one of the Caribbean’s greatest, who will be irreplaceable. “We have just lost an entire university. This is a tragedy of epic proportions.” Victor described Bishop as a complete renaissance woman, one of our greatest choir masters, conductors, steel orchestral arrangers and musical curators. She was also a gifted painter, writer and historian. In her last years, Victor said Bishop was not allowed to lead the creation of those institutions that would have made a difference in our Republic. “Pat died battling for the realisation of a vision of that shinning, golden Trinidad and Tobago which is rooted in our unique cultural genius.” Victor said Bishop leaves behind thousands of children to win the battle in her name.

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[kurpal_v2]

rip...

[Picasso]

Way! Pat dead!

Who else again now..??

Michael Jackson and now Pat Bishop! Oh lawd!

[eViLwOn]

Rest in peace, noble daughter of this land.
Your talent and wisdom would be missed!

[RBphoto]

I was fortunate enough to have been tutored by her as part of Naps chior,and she was truly an inspiring person. A few months ago, at Lydians in concert at Naparima bowl, she was as sprightly as ever, with her evervescent showmanship and tallent in conducting the show. My heart goes out to your family. R.I.P.

[Michael Knight...]

R.I.P

[shogun]

The news of this, was quite a shock ...R.I.P

[rfari]

sad news RIP. hope its not the 'go in 3s'.

[thunder7554]

R.I.P. Ms. Bishop.

[redmanjp]

my sisters were in Lydians & knew her personally

RIP

[rollingstock]

I was fortunate enough to have been tutored by her as part of Naps chior,and she was truly an inspiring person. A few months ago, at Lydians in concert at Naparima bowl, she was as sprightly as ever, with her evervescent showmanship and tallent in conducting the show. My heart goes out to your family. R.I.P.

I was also tortured by her being in Naps choir.

But i kid, rip to her a very kind loving person, i am happy that she did not suffer much knowing she had several medical problems recently.

[RASC]

Truly a cut above the rest. May she R.I.P
Daughter of the Soil, and a true Trinbagonian.

[Monk BANzai]

RIP to a tireless woman that understood the value of hard work... met with her briefly last week on that same cultural project. She was so juiced about it "working this time Rawle.....it really looking like it coming together this time"......her last words to me.

[Morpheus]

RIP to a true local icon.

[SUNNYB310GUY]

RIP...Thanks for all your contributions to our culture!! You will be missed!!