On Saturday, September 10, 2016, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas opened a one-week pop-up space in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera showcasing an exhibition entitled “Max-Amos: A Tale of Two Paradises,” composed of selected works from the National Collection by Bahamian master artists Amos Ferguson (b. 1920 Exuma – d. 2009 Nassau) and Max Taylor (b. 1939, Nassau).
We often ask what makes art Bahamian? Is it about living in The Bahamas? Is it about the colour of the sea, the sky, the play of light? Is it the way we capture images of people in their daily lives that is unlike anywhere else, but also similar to other places? Can Bahamian art be transcultural and also Bahamian?
In recent years, ceramic art has resurfaced and undoubtedly gained renewed respect internationally within contemporary art. For Bahamian ceramicist Alistair Stevenson, this is an exciting time to be pursuing studies at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in Jingdezhen, China, a world-famous historical capital city of porcelain.
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas was an idea long before it was a reality. Many artworks, therefore, had been purchased and earmarked for the collection before its eventual incarnation in 2003. The Bahamian National Collection, now housed with us in the magnificently restored Villa Doyle, was originally founded on the purchase of 25 Amos Ferguson works.
By 2050 the world sea levels are expected to rise a staggering amount, leaving low-lying areas like our archipelago nation to question our future existence and the way we live on this planet, not to mention the millions of people who could be displaced by this gradual flooding. Global environmental pressures are reaching a steady climax, and we are faced with having to change the ways we live to secure a more sustainable future, not just environmentally, but economically as well.
Exuma-blue waters, white sandy beaches and ruins overlooking magnificent views: Exuma has become the new place to vacation in The Bahamas, but Georgetown has had that honour since the 20th Century: it was the chic place to be. Offering a beach on the Tropic of Cancer that can compete with any in the world, Exuma is now the home of an all-inclusive Sandals resort that replaced the former four-star Four Seasons Emerald Bay that was beleaguered by labour problems and closed when it was unable to function at its customary high standards of excellence. Chat and Chill along with many small businesses offer entertainment and great food.
In last week’s Art and Culture feature, Dr. Ian Bethell-Bennett shared Chapter One of his travels and thoughts on development and sustainability on Long Cay. This week we follow up with Chapter 2, which expands on his observations. Long Cay holds beauty and tangible history.
The NAGB Mixed Media Summer Art Camp first session started with a bang with a diverse group of young campers, staff, and volunteers eager to learn about this year’s themes which focused on major art movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, and Impressionism. We wanted to display the importance of these movements and the impact that they have had on the Bahamian art scene, artists, and their practices.
Sitting on a breezy, sandy thoroughfare from the east to the west of Long Cay, silence is only interrupted by a creaking door and rolling seas washing ashore on a pink sandy beach, where history has been washed out by time and bleached by the sun.
Finnish artist, Karoliina Veijo writes about her trip to the NAGB where she viewed our permanent exhibition From Columbus to Junkanoo and the recent show EN MAS’: Carnival, Junkanoo and Performance art of the Caribbean. See her artwork inspired by our historical home, Villa Doyle.