By Natalie Willis. Averia Wright’s “The Straw Paradox: The Pig That Built His House of Straw” is something of a paradox in the name itself. Straw work in The Bahamas is a bit of a misnomer – it isn’t really “straw” in the Western traditional sense at all. Our straw is not made of barley, wheat or things of that ilk at all, rather, it is a pale gold weaving made of Silver Top Palm. Wright comes from a family of straw market women, and has been plaiting her whole life.
On tonight’s Blank Canvas Amanda Coulson, Executive Director, is joined in the studio by two Bahamian artists, both with current solo shows.
On tonight’s “Blank Canvas” we invite the Smith family to speak about THE BRENTON STORY. Brenton Smith, was 17-years old in 2009, when he was shot dead by the police while walking on Village Road, apparently mistaken for another youth who had committed a robbery. His family: grandmother Shirley, father Hector and brother Bernard, are committed to maintaining the memory of a bright young man who was first and foremost innocent, as well as loyal, peaceful, loving, kind, and many other attributes.
Tonight we are re-airing an earlier show as the NAGB team works to support our brothers and sisters who have suffered in the wake of Dorian. We are operating as a donation site as well as a safe space for healing, respite and sanctuary. The NAGB will also be FREE for the month of September!
Two emerging talents join Amanda Coulson (NAGB Executive Director) in the Blank Canvas studio tonight!
Dyah Nielson (left), who was born and raised in The Bahamas and returned home after having completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at York University in Toronto in 2018, speaks about her journey as an artist and her current exhibition, “Love & Fear.”
On tonight’s “Blank Canvas” we are talking about the exciting new initiative between the NAGB and the University of The Bahamas (UB). The NAGB and UB recently signed a memo of understanding allowing for greater and closer collaboration.
On tonight’s “Blank Canvas,” we shine a spotlight on “Women’s Wednesdays,” an initiative initiated by Equality Bahamas and is supported by the NAGB. The event has been hosted once per month on our campus for nearly two years. “Women’s Wednesdays” was founded as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another.
