Exhibition

PULSE

As we move into a world of social distancing, public art takes on new meanings as it encourages us to continue to engage with each other and with our communities. PULSE is a three-fold exhibition, centred on Bahamian public art, asking us to pause in our everyday lives. This triad—livingPULSE, onePULSE, and naturesPULSE—reflects on the power of art in the public realm during the current crisis of COVID-19, among other historical moments. Themes such as Bahamian identity, local economy, public safety, and community togetherness are addressed in the artwork of this show.

PULSE is curated by Richardo Barrett with curatorial support from Amaani Hepburn and Tiera Ndlovu.

Dates
17 September 2020–23 March 2025

Location
NAGB
T1 & T2 Galleries

livingPULSE

livingPULSE is a “living participatory” show that highlights the work of two pioneering Bahamian muralists, Allan Wallace and Angelika Wallace-Whitfield. During a time of crisis public art can serve as a beacon of hope and an anchor for a society. In The Bahamas muralists, street artists, and public art continue to evolve and take on different roles within their communities. These forms of art allow for a reflective pause in the midst of difficult times. livingPULSE is the first iteration of three part exhibition series called PULSE that centers on the various forms of public art in The Bahamas through virtual and on-site shows.

Artists: Allan Wallace, Angelika Wallace Whitfield

onePULSE

onePULSE features artwork by Bahamian muralists as the central pulse of Bahamian society. As we move into a new way of living and seeing the world around us art encourages us to continue to engage with each other and our communities. This mural exhibition allows us to reflect and pause during the new normals of our everyday lives. onePULSE will live at NAGB from 26 November 2020–23 March 2021. It will then move into communities throughout the Bahamas.

Artists: Amaani Hepburn, June Collie, Jodi Minnis, Lemero Wright, Matthew Rahming, Alisa Streather-Robinson, Benjamin Ferguson.

naturesPULSE

naturesPULSE features flora and sculptures in NAGB’s Art Park. The area is associated with the site of the first African hospital on New Providence in 1780. It was re-envisioned in 2016 by the NAGB to focus on the healing aspect of the arts—music, gardening, farming, and sculpture. Building on these grounding principles of the Art Park, naturesPULSE offers an outlet for rest, respite, and meditation.

Hundreds of native trees and shrubs were brought from the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve’s (LLNPP) plant nursery stock to the NAGB’s Art Park. Our virtual flora walk features sixteen plants indigenous to The Bahamas. naturesPULSE also features sculptures from NAGB’s outdoor collection. The arts and botany presented at the NAGB’s Art Park tell us about the history and culture of The Bahamas. naturesPULSE serves as beacon of hope and an anchor for society. This virtual sanctuary of reflection honours Bahamian sculptors and public art.

Artists: Katrina Cartwright, Tyrone Ferguson, Antonius Roberts, Netica “Nettie” Symonette, Alex Timchula, Drew Weech, David Wynne