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The National
Art Gallery of the Bahamas:
by Ester Napoli
Celebrating Bahama Art
Founded in Villa Doyle, Nassau in
the 1860’s, the National Art Gallery of
the Bahamas was first and foremost the private
residence of Chief Justice Sir William Doyle.
The residence has been enhanced drastically
since that time, the interior having been totally
restored. Today, Villa Doyle is home to an art
gallery that celebrates Bahamian culture by
exhibiting works of native artists. It also
features, on a smaller scale, artists from other
countries. Visitors to the gallery will find
a wide variety of Bahama art: paintings, photography,
sculptures, ceramics, and textiles.
The Third National Exhibition
In 2006, The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas held an anniversary
exhibition marked ‘The Third National Exhibition’ to commemorate
the Bahamas, its people, and their way of life. This special exhibition,
which takes place every two years, usually focuses on the various social
Bahamian issues occurring at the time of the exhibition. It puts Bahama
art in the limelight, and offers professional and amateur artists an opportunity
to display not only their creative talent, but also their political views.
However, not every artist’s work is accepted. Every piece is assessed
by a jury panel that has the final say in the selection. For the third
national exhibition, only 35 pieces from 23 artists were accepted, out
of a total of 200 pieces submitted. The chances for successful entry in
the exhibition are low, but nevertheless, the Bahama art community embraces
the odds. Dr Krista Thompson, The Third National Exhibition’s curator
said, “…the national exhibition moved the bar – it raised
the standard of artistic excellence on the island and inspired artists
to meet it.”
The Jury Process
When the last of the artwork had been submitted for The Third
National Exhibition, a small jury of five people sat down together to
discuss and evaluate the various pieces. In accordance with Dr. Thompson,
four important elements were considered for the selection:
- The process used by the artist
- The artist’s success in using a particular material
- The presentation of the artwork
- The manner in which all factors worked together to convey the piece’s
content.
Dr. Thompson firmly stated, “We chose what we thought was the best
representative sample of contemporary Bahamian art.” Moreover, it
was understood that the jurors were not looking for artwork that could
be described as ‘pretty.’ They wanted pieces that projected
meaningful significance, and well-represented the Bahamian society’s
identity.
The Fourth National Exhibition
On July 9th of 2008, the gallery held its fourth National Exhibition,
curated by Erica James, the Director of National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.
This exhibition, like the gallery’s prior national exhibitions,
only accepted a small number of works from professional and amateur Bahamian
artists. Out of over 300 submissions, only 51 works by 31 Bahamian artists
were chosen for the exhibition. Many of these artists had also participated
in the third National Exhibition. The fourth National Exhibition featured
a rich diversity of art, ranging from sculptures, paintings, photography,
video, installations, prints and mixed media to alternative media creations.
The exhibition’s success promoted the art gallery’s reputation,
and stimulated the local artists to continue to participate.
The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas
has become popular since its grand opening in July of 2003, and it will
continue to promote its exhibitions for years to come. It has been able
to help shape the development of diverse Bahama art forms in the community
and has enhanced the careers of many Bahamian artists. Although a significant
number of artist’s works do not get accepted into the national exhibitions,
it does not reflect the worth or importance of their art, according to
Dr. Thompson. Since the national exhibition is a reoccurring event, artists
continue to strive to produce pieces that demonstrate their creative abilities,
and their personal views.
About the author:
Ester Napoli: They say if you want to be happy, you have to do something
you are passionate about. One of my passions is traveling and the one
place I fell in love with was the Bahamas; the white sand, clear waters,
friendly environment. It is paradise on earth. I enjoy all aspects of
the Bahamas; the culture, the history, the countless sports and activities
to keep you busy, and of course, the fabulous weather. Website: Glorious
Bahamas Real Estate (www.gloriousbahamas.com).
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