Jyoti Communication: Mas man Wayne Berkeley dies at age 71

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Mas man Wayne Berkeley dies at age 71

Wayne Berkeley, one of Trinidad and Tobago's most talented mas designers, has died. He was 71.

Berkeley won nine Band of the Year titles, including five in a row from 1990 to 1995. He was born in Belmont, Trinidad in 1940. He was educated at St. Mary’s College, Port-of-Spain where he became involved in debating and drama and teaching art.

His exposure in the debating and drama society at the college that gave the young Berkeley teaching art and participating in the Debate Society and the Drama Club.

It was the Drama Club that gave young Berkeley the opportunity to develop the creativity that blossomed into making him one of the top designers in the country.

Berkeley is probably best known for for his original approach to costume design. In his Carnival designs, Berkeley tried to portray and represent ‘that which cannot be represented’ – the spirit of Carnival.

Berkeley's view was that Carnival costume designing was like poetry or storytelling, which incorporated a theme from human nature. His Carnival designs changed the face of Carnival.

His designs have been acclaimed both nationally and internationally and he was considered to be one of the greatest designers in Carnival costuming.

On February 17, 2000, Berkeley suffered a severe stroke, but he never let that cramp his style. Instead, he began to draw with his left-hand. His carnival presentations are listed below: