🇯🇲Negril Tourists Are Missing Green Island's Best Secret #jamaica #art #sculptor #woodsculpture🇯🇲🇯🇲

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]tell me. But that's the only problem I have right now. Making them is no problem. I making them. I have fun making them. I enjoy making them. That's why I have so much. I love to make them love to make them that stop. So making them is not a problem. Selling them is is the whole so big so little you so much.

[00:00:29]I need a push out, a serious push out where people can find me and know that I am here and if they're looking piece of culture, they will find me here [music] and if they, you know, interested, they will purchase these. [music] >> Welcome everyone and thank you for joining us. Today we take you to the lush community of Green Island in Hanover to meet a remarkable Jamaican talent.

[00:00:57]For more than 50 years, Branza has been shaping wood into powerful works of art.

[00:01:04]Entirely self-taught, he has spent a lifetime honing [music] his craft, guided by patience, creativity, and a deep [music] connection to the natural materials he works with. From his workshop in Green Island, Branza continues to carve out pieces that reflect both Jamaican culture and the wisdom that comes from decades of dedication to his art. [music] Today, we're honored to sit with this veteran's culture and hear his story.

[00:01:36][music] Let's meet Branzo.

[00:01:39]>> Morning, Branzo.

[00:01:40]>> Morning.

[00:01:41]>> How are you?

[00:01:42]>> I'm all right.

[00:01:43]>> Tell us about your sculptures. [music] Well, I'm really doing the wood sculpture. I'm lover of wood sculpture [music] and I've been doing it a long time and I love it. So, I do it the time and I don't really feel I would stop. I continue my job.

[00:02:00]>> And you're based in Green Island and you have some gorgeous >> some very gorgeous sculptures.

[00:02:08][music] >> You were telling me earlier that most of them are made from Guango. Yeah, I do most from Guang because there's a [music] special wood which don't crack.

[00:02:18]It don't crack like the cedar mahogany crack too but cedar mi sometimes I use even lum I use all kind but I specialize in the guang. Yeah, it's give me a better work. And when I finish that piece, I feel satisfied cuz even the wood have its own duty and it it don't crack up. When it's crack, you like it fail away. So why use something which cracking no good? And people say, "Oh, this mash up, man. This is no good." You understand?

[00:02:57]So that's why I specialize in that. I get clean good work from it.

[00:03:03]So I use it even large pieces. [music] I don't got a problem with that. No problem at all with that matching.

[00:03:13]>> And you're based here in Green Island in Hanover.

[00:03:16]>> Hover in Green Island.

[00:03:27][music] I have some huge ones over here. So you have over here >> larger than you like them style.

[00:03:40]>> Yes.

[00:03:43]>> Okay.

[00:03:46]>> You've done any that are taller than you are.

[00:03:49]>> Well, not right here now. Time to come.

[00:03:54]I used to have but time to come. You're going to have same height. You know you call it life side human height.

[00:04:02]>> Yes.

[00:04:03]>> 5T hard six seven >> you know but I don't have that height right. You do any that um you give them names or so like this this man over here [music] because [music] in in the sculpture you can give them name like that unless you're doing a [music] portrait of a person you say this is Bob Marley this is Peter C you understand how could you do a a name and a pieces [music] really just a Jamaican restaurant. You understand?

[00:04:42]>> Right.

[00:04:42]>> Cuz the man came in the other day asking for Bob Marley. I told him I don't have a B. I have something can represent Bob as a raster man. He said no, you want Bob. That means you look the portrait of a B. Tell him I don't do portrait art like that. I do mostly abstract and decoration pieces for people to display and decorate their home. You know most of your art is abstract and none is portrait looking like real person which takes so much time. [music] So you know it's abstract all the way through.

[00:05:23]So your sculpt sculpting it's um natural you or you you learned it in school or you it just was innate [music] more natural now those two school if you go to school you still have to bond with it because going school and you want to be like that if you wasn't be like that why go to school [music] to be like that so is an inborn thing wherein you know you go to school to get the the right measurements and the distance and the depths cuz the school is more measurement depths and distance wish I don't go to school I'm a self taught I I just go freely and do whatever I want to do that's why I do abstract [music] you know it it will cost more than the rest because in the art school [music] now you have measurements where you have to learn these [music] things so when do that's why they can do important.

[00:06:23]When you go to high school now, they they give you the measurements. That's what the distance from your height to your [music] and and measurement straight across from your height to your middle of your ear to your nose and your mouth to that cheek. You know, you measure it up [music] like from this bone straight across in your mouth to the next bone or something. You see what I mean? Under your nose, you watch [music] me hand straight under your ears and find your eye, over your ear, straight your eyes. [music] So those kind of betterments them teaching the art school. You may have some of that that guideline me off [music] by seeing people and talking to people and looking at them.

[00:07:17]If you look for me if you want me to tell you notice here [music] where things are line up straight under your nose over your head [music] straight in your eyes. You notice it if you look for me you see the same thing. [music] So get that kind of a thing off my [music] go by practicing and seeing it.

[00:07:42]>> So you grew up in in [music] Hanover.

[00:07:45]>> Yeah. Open. Okay.

[00:07:48][music] My father paint. That's why it's me like me cousin [music] home. They used to paint first and then me do the two of them and then switch to this. That was younger days between 14, 15, [music] 16 growing up. I sell all painting already. that I do [music] and my job was out as an artist to paint pictures not to carve wood [music] but using the wood and doing the painting my cing doing painting [music] I want to change and I doing the same thing you know make some little things and find myself develop in you know in the world [music] I like and stay with it you know you like the thing you stay with [music] it that's They go it go that I can't believe something sometime something that I have done I don't know I could do that [music] but you seen it so you know it's like you inspire seen it [music] if you cannot see it I feel it you cannot do it even if even if you go and say you don't draw it out you make sense then you cut out the lines what you going to do after you dry your line.

[00:09:08]You know, no more line to work off. So, [music] you imagination to bring it out.

[00:09:14]>> The line you don't work off. It is just a a form of sketch to [music] balance where you're going that they teach you. they have.

[00:09:28]>> But even though you have all these beautiful sculptures [music] and so on, you're not getting a lot of guests or or tourists coming here or Jama.

[00:09:44]That's what my problem right now is [music] to meet people who interested in art. You got you know some will purchase it, [music] some will not. You understand? But that's the only problem I have right now. Making them is no problem. [music] I making them. I have fun making them. I enjoy making them.

[00:10:04]That's why I have so much. I love to make them. [music] But to make them that stop. So making them is not a problem. [music] Selling them is the whole so [music] big so you don't >> so much.

[00:10:24]I need a push out, a serious [music] push out where people can find me and know that I am here and if they're looking piece of culture, [music] they will find me here and if they, you know, interested, they refer to street.

[00:10:41]>> Give us a number with a number where persons can [music] contact you.

[00:10:47]>> Well, the number is like the phone number. Which number? Otherwise, >> any number that they can get you. There is one on the shop and you have another anyway check out the one miss shop and people because I have another number and >> all right I will put it I will put it up >> I'll put it up [music] but your your your um sculptures are just gorgeous people anything you're doing and your life will be to make people like it too. If you like it, go try the best cuz you know that me making them and say they're not good.

[00:11:30]>> Yeah. I look at them and they're beautiful >> to you and that's what I want. And other people will say [music] the same what you say. That's what I want.

[00:11:39]>> But to me, [music] >> no, they're not good to me. They want more.

[00:11:45]So >> the author, you know, the authors and the artists always sometimes the [music] things that you think are are not the best. They try to be like masterpieces.

[00:11:52]>> Yes.

[00:11:53]>> But [music] if you don't have that kind of feeling, you're going to stop making.

[00:11:57]>> Yes.

[00:11:58]>> The feeling is like boy think you want to make better.

[00:12:04]>> Yes.

[00:12:04]>> So if you have that kind of feeling, you will >> Yeah. She's a nice [music] face. The best face to do look like human. This is the best face.

[00:12:15]>> Best face. [music] >> Beautiful.

[00:12:17]>> Have a long time.

[00:12:19]>> I do that face around 10 or [music] 16 years.

[00:12:23]>> Oh, okay.

[00:12:24]>> Long time. Ever [music] noticed this place?

[00:12:28]>> It it have what I was telling you about, you [music] know, the the depths of the jaw >> cuz you see that?

[00:12:35]>> No, that's a >> bango.

[00:12:38]a long time make it.

[00:12:40]>> Mhm.

[00:12:40]>> But I think that's the one that look like a like a human. [music] >> Yes.

[00:12:45]>> Every hard rest.

[00:12:48]>> Yes.

[00:12:48]>> You look different.

[00:12:49]>> Yeah.

[00:12:50]>> You have [music] pink in in in in you know movements and face. [music] Not too old, not too young, but he have a little face. [music] You know some people face the way [music] they >> so this this >> restian [music] gentleman over here what is he doing?

[00:13:20]Well, what he's doing now [music] [music] is just rising [music] up looking at the sun beauty of this creation. [music] Some people don't lift up. Some people just looking up [music] >> looking in the sun.

[00:13:53]>> Yeah.

[00:13:55]Sky.

[00:13:57]I I love to look [music] up in the sky.

[00:14:00]>> Yes.

[00:14:01]>> I enjoy the sky.

[00:14:03]>> Yes. Come [music] here. See you smiling this dark and you know it's something like that.

[00:14:14]>> They have more [music] >> here.

[00:14:21][music] You see better work [music] first time.

[00:14:28]>> Yeah man. Better work.

[00:14:32]>> Why? Because you know the abstract and [music] >> you know certain kind of material [music] right >> materializ [music] [laughter] >> what >> this piece here is 1976.

[00:15:01]>> Yes. And he's saying a music piece.

[00:15:05]>> He's saying that a silver medal for this.

[00:15:09]>> Okay.

[00:15:10]>> I need a D and a B to rock festival. You hear that song? Yeah, man. I know it.

[00:15:16]>> You know, I do this piece before your festival. [music] >> Yes.

[00:15:20]>> Cuz I need a bird and a bar to come together.

[00:15:24]>> Yes.

[00:15:25]>> In peace.

[00:15:26]>> Yes.

[00:15:27]>> And unite. [music] So the festival song come the wind and me do this before the festival song.

[00:15:35]>> So the artist [music] who sing it I do it before him.

[00:15:40]You see what I mean? [music] >> You see that you see this thing here.

[00:15:47]This is [music] when I come green.

[00:15:50]>> Okay.

[00:15:51]>> Up on the fence side put up.

[00:15:54]>> Okay. This green people know I'm right here. Same place.

[00:16:03]So [music] a long time doing some pieces of work again. [music] >> Yes.

[00:16:12]>> Oh, this is the getting award.

[00:16:16][music] >> Okay.

[00:16:22]>> Okay.

[00:16:23]Yeah, that was the truth.

[00:16:26]Pieces me doing right. Look at this. You see different from that?

[00:16:33]>> Yeah. [music] >> So, it's not the first time doing it and my locks different, >> right?

[00:16:39]>> Doing them a long time. This piece here is a family piece wearing. You see, [music] it's a family.

[00:16:48]Look at [music] me. Look at me and look at me now.

[00:16:51]>> Yeah. I'm a whole man now. And you see all that long time this beast [music] here.

[00:17:00]>> How about my height? [music] You see some big pieces.

[00:17:07]>> Again, [music] see this one now at the show. The lady buy this one.

[00:17:15]>> Okay.

[00:17:16]>> At the show.

[00:17:16]>> Yes.

[00:17:18]And there are many more do [music] not do again.

[00:17:22]>> Yes.

[00:17:26]>> You know you see different things from our >> different and even look better [music] right now.

[00:17:35]>> Yeah.

[00:17:37]India show is is more like a fruit fruit lady.

[00:17:47]>> [music] >> Oh, look at the tree.

[00:17:57]Like this.

[00:17:58]>> Okay.

[00:17:58]>> So, you can imagine first time used to do better.

[00:18:02]>> This was a baby mother and child.

[00:18:05]>> Oh, that's nice.

[00:18:10]>> Mother and child. But he you see you see man better [music] >> in his head.

[00:18:20]>> Yeah, 40 60 this is know win that display win the best display winning.

[00:18:33]>> Yes the best display. You see how long them >> Valentine long time.

[00:18:42]>> Okay.

[00:18:46]>> You see they are different style. See the lady you see lot of food.

[00:18:53]>> Oh you see anything look like this.

[00:18:57]>> Then who used to buy these like the hotels or tourists just come?

[00:19:02]>> Buy them. See natural.

[00:19:04]>> Yes.

[00:19:06]some work man. [music] So >> even the young man go back and do some piece them food basket and >> they say yes but you need the right material. You cannot make these thing for any any kind of work. No, not work.

[00:19:27][music] >> Special wood man.

[00:19:36]See this one.

[00:19:42]All right. [music] >> Okay.

[00:19:51]>> This is like the trail of >> Okay.

[00:19:59]Oh, so heavy man.

[00:20:06]>> Yes. Anybody learn this skill from you or >> interesting?

[00:20:20]>> This one goes >> tall that piece maybe.

[00:20:27]>> So anybody learns learn the skills from you?

[00:20:30]>> Yes ma'am. This tattoo here this tattoo here was >> Oh this was life >> size. Yes.

[00:20:37]>> Tall like me big like that.

[00:20:45]>> It took you like how long to make something like that?

[00:20:47]>> Take weeks and weeks. But no matter the time.

[00:20:49]>> Yeah.

[00:20:50]>> Maybe even take me one two hours.

[00:20:53][music] Take me months.

[00:20:55]>> Yeah.

[00:20:56]>> Make it not specialize in the time.

[00:20:59]>> I was asking if you trained other persons or other persons expressed [music] interest.

[00:21:04]>> Around five of them tell you. Oh, okay.

[00:21:06]>> This was a piece of me.

[00:21:08]>> It's more like a family >> lot of lot of heads like >> used to work better.

[00:21:34]So you see what I going now?

[00:21:36]>> Yeah.

[00:21:37]>> It goes down to the top.

[00:21:40]>> Yes.