MAS HERO
PETER MINSHALL
By Michael Alexander
Caricom Regional Youth Ambassador
Regional Youth Ambassador Program
cryap2002@hotmail.com
http://www.caricom.org
Newsday
July 15, 2002
Page 53
Born: 1941 Georgetown, Guyana.
Minshall grew up in Port of Spain where he attended the Queen's Royal College and was exposed to Carnival at an early age.
He made his first costume - an African witch doctor - at the age of 13. Later he studied at London's Central School of Art and Design and was the recipient of a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship in 1982.
Minshall has designed many Carnival bands and Carnival King and Queen costumes. His creations have traveled the world, his Madam Hiroshima from the band Callaloo (1984) led the parade in Washington DC on the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Tan Tan and Saga Boy from his 1990 band "Tantana" have since appeared in France, England, America, Japan and in the Caribbean.
Minshall has also earned critical acclaim as designer of the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympic opening ceremonies.
In recognition of his accomplishments, locally and abroad, Minshall was awarded an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters by the University of the West Indies in 1991.
He was also awarded the Trinity Cross.