Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

53 fascination with the art world. Throughout a 60-year career in art, Chang was a mural and easel painter as well as a designer for Carnival, theatre and ballet. He was even a photographer and handicraft manufacturer. As a designer of Carnival costumes, Chang won the designer’s prize several times. Some of his designs have been depicted on national postage stamps. Chang rose to fame in 1958 when he designed the Coat of Arms for the short-lived Federation of the West Indies. He followed this by designing the Coat of Arms for Trinidad & Tobago when it became an independent country in 1962. He was also the leader of a sub-committee that designed the Flag and insignia of Trinidad & Tobago. Chang also sculpted some of the most influential works of public art in Trinidad and Tobago. His murals include “The Inherent Nobility of Man”, “Conquerabia” and a host of others located at the Central Bank and City Hall. There is a collection of his material at the West Indiana and Special Collections Division at UWI. • 1969 - Humming Bird Medal Silver • 2001 - Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Carnival Bands Association • 2006 His piece “Nobility of Man” featured on a postage stamp RUDOLPH CHARLES (1938-1985) R udolph Valentino Charles, also known as “The Hammer”, was born in Laventille and gained respect and admiration as a steelpan innovator, tuner and community leader. He was the leader of the West Indian Tobacco Desperadoes steel orchestra from 1961 to 1985. He was very active in the fight for better recognition of steelpan players and was the subject of David Rudder’s famous calypso The Hammer. He is credited with introducing the 9-bass steelpan, the rocket pan, the 12 bass steelpan, the quadraphonic pan and the triple second with foot bass. He also changed the appearance of the steelband, replacing the oil paints of the fifties and sixties with silver chrome. In tribute to his outstanding contributions, Pan Trinbago has created the Rudolph Charles Award for Innovation in the creation of steelpans.