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Even if you've never been to Kingston, Jamaica, you've probably heard the sounds of the city. Ska, Reggae, Rocksteady, Dub and Dancehall (all genres were born and raised in coastal cities) have performed on radio waves around the world for the majority of the past century. There is a reputation for music before Kingston and there is food. Jamaican staples such as beef patties, jerk chicken and broken oxtails are ubiquitous in many American cities. “If the US is an economic superpower, I often say Jamaica is a cultural superpower,” says Ebony G. Patterson, a visual artist born in Kingston and now splitting time between her and Chicago. “There are so many roads going through here.”
Kingston, the island's capital and undoubtedly its cultural hub, is located on the southeast coast. The city was almost destroyed on multiple occasions. In fact, the aftermath of a natural disaster, the 1692 earthquake, the 1692 earthquake, was built in the 1692 earthquake that destroyed Port Royal, a colonial trade center that was once frequented by pirates. Another major earthquake occurred in 1907, followed by a fire, which once again overturned the city's infrastructure. Shortly afterwards, in 1923 the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew officially formed an area of about 175 square miles that many residents now simply call “Kingston.”
Approximately one-fifth of Jamaica's population lives in the area, and visitors can travel by car. Or, booking catamarans to explore the harbor means a significant portion of the old pirate city is still hidden beneath the surface, as recommended by gem designer Mateo Harris. In many ways, Kingston's best gems are just below the surface. “Most people don't know that we have great Indian and Chinese food. (These communities) have left these stamps in the country,” says Harris. “Our national motto in Jamaica is “from among many.” That's the reason. Because so many different people come here from all life. And while the music scene is undoubtedly strong, the city was once said to be home to the world's largest recording studio, including a well-known studio recorded by Bob Marley, Patterson says, “The visual artist community here is incredibly rich.” She adds that despite the fact that there aren't many commercial institutions, “people are still committed to making things,” visual artist-driven initiatives such as museums like Jamaica's National Gallery and new local spaces have made Kingston “mecca” on the island.
