This fall, the NAGB’s Inter-Island Travelling Exhibition (ITE) will be travelling with the exhibition “Refuge” to the Glory Banks Gallery in Grand Bahama. “Refuge” was conceived by curator Holly Bynoe to uplift and give space to visual artists and writers in The Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian. It was intended to provide a space for reflection and community. Refuge closed on August 2nd, 2020.
The exhibition began as a call to our community to think about this tragedy and these moments of climate trauma. Artists and visitors alike were encouraged to use the space—creatively or as a viewer—as a form of therapy and healing, giving us an opportunity to reflect on how we pull ourselves up and bring the pieces back together. Our hearts and nation have been splintered, but our spirit is now called to do the important work of healing and becoming grounded even deeper in our communities and our humanity.
As an accompaniment to this exhibition, the NAGB will be unveiling a mural in Grand Bahama as a part of the wider ITE programming. To this end, the NAGB invites residents and/or native Grand Bahamian artists to submit proposals to create a mural that comments on the indomitable Bahamian spirit through the lens of climate crisis. The mural created should allow onlookers to reflect on the catalysts and outcomes of existing in our status as a small island developing state in the context of climate crisis. It should speak to healing, survival, humanity, and rebirth. Ideally, it will also spark discussions on the importance of preserving and sharing our history, culture and traditions with future generations as an invaluable educational tool.
The artist, or group of artists, whose proposal is selected will receive resources and a stipend to create the mural in a public space in Grand Bahama. The selected artists will also be expected to work with community groups in the creation of the mural.
The deadline for submissions is July 1st, 2023. For more information or to apply, contact Zearier Munroe-Wilkinson at 328-5800 or [email protected].