"The Short Happy Life
of Alexander Mann"
Book Launch

TONIGHT: Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012
6.30pm at Doongalik Art Gallery
Village Road

Distinguished Bahamian diplomat Dr. Davidson L. Hepburn officially launches his newly published book "The Short Happy Life of Alexander Mann" at Doongalik Art Gallery on Village Road at 6.30pm.

This novel is a tragic-romantic tale. Alexander Mann in his search for the perfect wife tested three women of completely different character with unexpected results.

CLICK HERE to view sample pages on Hepburn's website.

'To Sir Sidney
with Love'
Weekend of Celebration

THIS WEEKEND:
Friday & Saturday
November 2 & 3, 2012

The Islands of The Bahamas invite you to celebrate their 40th Anniversary of Independence with a celebration honouring one of our greatest sons – Sir Sidney Poitier. As The Bahamas begins a year-long celebration of their independence, join us as we honour Sir Sidney with a bridge dedication and fireworks spectacular.

Friday, November 2 at 7.30pm:
A Soulful Celebration on Paradise Harbour
Featuring performances by an exciting lineup of Bahamian artists including the legendary Ronnie Butler and Grammy Award winners Baha Men. There will also be a special performance by Grammy Award winner Bebe Winans and an all-star Bahamian Choir. To finish it all off will be a spectacular fireworks display – the likes that has never been sen in The Bahamas before!

Saturday, November 3:
Atlantis LIVE presents Jennifer Hudson
Atlantis Resort hosts a Gala Concert featuring another Grammy award winner – Jennifer Hudson – benefiting the Sir Sidney Poitier Centre for the Performing Arts in the Grand Ballroom at Atlantis, Paradise Island.

CLICK HERE or HERE for more information.
CLICK HERE for video announcing celebration.

Bahamian Artist's
work awarded to
American Actor

Actor Giancarlo Esposito receives lifetime achievement award at The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival in Grand Bahama this past week.

The artwork of Grand Bahama artist Chantal Bethel was chosen as the award given to Esposito; it featured a brightly coloured Junkanoo Drummer. Bethel was very honoured and happy to have her work chosen. Congratulations Chantal!

Schooner Bay designer Orjan Lindroth receives prestigious architectural award

On Saturday the 20th of October, Schooner Bay, Abaco, town founder Orjan Lindroth was honoured in Palm Beach with an Addison Mizner Award as a Patron for his work to further classical architecture. This award bestowed by the Florida chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, is one of the most prestigious awards in architecture that can be earned.

In naming Lindroth as the recipient the ICAA noted “for his ongoing support and interest in the achievement of excellence in Classical and Traditional Design in Architecture, Culture, and Literature, we are honoured to present this patron medal to Orjan Lindroth of The Bahamas – a country that should be proud to have such a dedicated individual as a resident and developer”.

Presented by the Florida Chapter of the ICAA, the Addison Mizner Medal recognizes excellence in the creation of 21st-century classical and traditional architecture and related fields. The awards are open to projects completed in the past ten years by Florida Chapter members regardless of location and all ICAA members who have completed projects in Florida and the Caribbean in the same period of time.

Orjan Lindroth, President of Lindroth Development Company, is a Nassau-based community builder whose projects emphasize sustainable architectural patterns as means of addressing modern ecological challenges and preserving local cultural identities. Orjan was born in Sweden, but grew up in The Bahamas where he attended St. Andrew's School in Nassau. He later graduated from The London School of Economics and Political Science with an Honours degree in Economics. After an international career in construction, design and property development – including significant projects in British Columbia, Alaska and the south of France – Orjan returned to The Bahamas in 1993, where he has developed several successful properties, including Old Fort Club and Islands at Old Fort, as well as producing A Living Tradition, the first Bahamian architectural pattern book.

Orjan is part of a team of Bahamian pioneers currently building Schooner Bay, a village in South Abaco that is setting new benchmarks for thoughtful, sustainable development. He believes that The Bahamas can play a leadership role in the 21st Century by showing how sustainable living can enhance the cultural, environmental and economic health of island communities. Orjan lives in Nassau with his wife, Amanda, a noted interior designer, former President of The Bahamas Historical Society and a current board member of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporations, the principal heritage conservation agency of The Bahamas. Orjan is also a founding member of the We the People advocacy group.

Bahamian poet published on Canadian poetry blog

Trinidadian-Bahamian poet Lelawattee Manoo-Rahming was honoured to have five of her poems featured on the Zócalo Poets blog. Lelawattee is an engineer, poet and fiction writer. She won the David Hough Literary Prize (2001) and the Canute A. Brodhurst Prize (2009) from The Caribbean Writer Literary Journal; and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association 2001 Short Story Competition. She is the author of two poetry collections: Curry Flavour, published by Peepal Tree Press (2000) and Immortelle and Bhandaaraa Poems, published by Proverse Hong Kong (2011).

Zócalo Poets is based in Toronto, Canada. They feature multilingual creations in Poetry. Their name is derived from EL ZÓCALO, México City’s enormous public square – a location so grand, it has space for all.

CLICK HERE to read poems on Zócalo Poets blog.

5 Ways To Be Kind To Your Creative Self

It’s common for artists and creative professionals to be their worst critic. As creative individuals we beat ourselves up if our productivity or level of creativity doesn’t match up to our expectations.

Learning how to treat yourself with kindness is essential to your professional development and most importantly in surviving the challenges of pursuing a career in a creative industry.

So, it’s important to practice ways of being compassionate towards yourself. Try integrating some of the following forms of self-compassion into your daily life.

1. ACCEPTANCE
Accepting things as they are is a great way to give yourself permission to be exactly where you’re at in your creative process even if that means struggling to maintain motivation or coming up with ideas. In other words, not judging your current situation as good or bad, but that it is what it is.

2. LETTING GO OF EXPECTATIONS
Sometimes, we place too rigid or high expectations on ourselves. For instance, some creative professionals have this idea that success means creativity would come easy for them, when in reality, creativity is an ebb and flow process. So, always evaluate if your expectations are reasonable or unpractical and don’t be afraid to modify them in order to be more flexible.

3. SAY KIND WORDS TO YOURSELF
It’s interesting how without question, many of us treat our loved ones, the people we care about with loving-kindness. Yet when it comes to ourselves, we’re not so kind. We are quick to judge and tell ourselves unkind words. Adopting a nurturing and supportive inner voice is a huge part of practicing self-compassion. Become aware of the statements that you tell yourself. Are they nurturing or are they critical? Are they supportive or are they judgmental? Are they kind or are they mean?

4. FOCUS ON THE SUCCESSES IN YOUR PAST
When we’re struggling with our creativity, it’s easy to lose sight of our past accomplishments. We begin to define ourselves with struggling. Don’t forget how far you’ve come and what you have accomplished this far. When we forget our strengths, talents and past accomplishments, we judge ourselves negatively versus treating ourselves with kindness.

5. SMALL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE EQUALLY DESERVING
Whether your art is showcased in a local paper versus a national art magazine or you directed a commercial versus a blockbuster, it’s important to give yourself credit for even the small achievements. Even if you haven’t yet arrived at your ultimate goal, your small successes are vital stepping-stones. So, don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back for even the little accomplishments.