community Archives - National Art Gallery of The Bahamas

NAGB hosts Open Community Forum: Making room for conversation and inquiry

9 July 2018

by Malika Pryor-Martin On June 27th, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas hosted its first ever Open Community Forum.

In Memoriam: Deon Dario McHardy aka Slime (1976-2017). The Bahamas loses another artistic talent.

9 January 2018

By Amanda Coulson. On December 13th, 2017, The Bahamas lost another creative soul. Unlike Jackson Burnside, Ronnie Butler, Amos Ferguson or Cleophas Adderley—to name only a few of the wonderful talents we have lost in the last decade—the death of Deon “Slime” Mc Hardy went sadly comparatively unnoticed. Neither the broader art community nor the general public seemed to pay much attention. Yes, it was noted by some with expressions of grief; yes, there were “crying emoticons” and “thumbs down” on Facebook, but outside of the Junkanoo community – of which Deon was an integral part – there were no lengthy obituaries, no packs of public figures claiming him as a great Bahamian son, to be fêted after his passing (since we do not the most stellar job of value these creative people when they are living).

Building empathy through culture: Taking a seat at your table

20 November 2017

By Holly Bynoe On Being: Timed Out On November 8 and 9th, over 250 members representing 26 countries from civil

Losing our steps: Intangible culture, living memory and the space for a culture to exist

14 June 2017

By Dr. Ian Bethell-Bennett. “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart. Deuteronomy 28: 23 + 28.” I cannot say why this quote from Los pasos perdidos (1953) by Alejo Carpentier the Cuban writer and musicologist resonates with the work of capturing or documenting cultural heritage in the Southern Bahamas. However, these words capture beyond reason so much of what time has done in these islands. We, as a people, also treat Bahamians as if they were second-class citizens in their country. The system of paradise and exploitation, created during piracy and continued during colonialism, is not about white against black but rather about a system of exploiting those who cannot—or are not allowed—to speak for self because they are repeatedly told they do not have souls, they are not human and they should be grateful to be allowed to be near such greatness.

Building Community Effort: The NAGB Sculpture Garden unfolds with assistance from Rotary Club of East Nassau

3 April 2017

After many years of discussion and a solid year of hard work and collective effort, the NAGB Sculpture Garden moved closer to becoming downtown’s native plant park and preserve, on Saturday, March 24, 2017.

NAGB Sculpture Garden Begins to Take Shape

20 April 2016

The NAGB is asking for anybody who wishes to make a mark in the neighbourhood to have a hand in the creating of a community park, to come out and get involved!! The cleanup will be taking place over the weekend of April 23rd and 24, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 3 pm daily.

The Drawbridge by Graycliff

18 April 2016

Anyone who’s walked or driven along West Hill Street probably can’t help but notice the healthy palette of colors on the buildings facing Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant. Paolo and Sharon Gazaroli, a husband and wife duo who are part of the Graycliff family, have undertaken a long-term commitment to revitalize West Hill Street, a main component of the area known as Historic Charles Towne.

Members of the Caribbean visual art community demonstrate unity, progression at Tilting Axis conference.

21 March 2015

Dedicated to forging infrastructure between independent art organizations and museums operating across the Caribbean, U.S., E.U., U.K., African continent and China, the international visual arts conference, “Tilting Axis: Within and beyond the Caribbean – shifting models of sustainability and connectivity”, was held recently in Barbados.