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Smith & Benjamin's BAHAMIAN ART & CULTURE Sharing Art & Cultural News of The Bahamas for 15 Years • • • • Can't see the images? CLICK HERE! • • •
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Smith & Benjamin's BAHAMIAN ART & CULTURE
Sharing Art & Cultural News of The Bahamas for 15 Years
• • • •
Can't see the images? CLICK HERE!
• • • •
TOP IMAGE:
"Surrender", 2014, by Bahamian artist Claudette Dean.
This piece is part of Dean's solo exhibition entitled "Beautiful Burden"
opening on Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14th at
Hillside House Art Gallery on Cumberland Street at 6pm. |
Thursday, February 6, 2014 |
After the Parade
OPENS TONIGHT: Thursday, February 6, 2014 | 6pm
Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery, Market Street
Come to the Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery tonight for the opening of "After the Parade", an exhibition of junkanoo pieces from the 2014 New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade. |
Pauline Détective (2012)
TOMORROW:
Friday, February 7 | 6:30pm
Alliance Francaise Des Bahamas
The Alliance Française des Bahamas presents the film screening of Pauline Détective, a 2012 French comedy starring Sandrine Kiberlaine, Audrey Lamy and Claudio Santamaria and directed by Marc Fitoussi.
After being dumped by her boyfriend, Pauline lets herself be dragged along by her sister to a luxurious hotel on the Italian riviera. Instead of indulging in the pleasures of lounging around and doing nothing, Pauline convinces herself that a crime has been committed in the hotel and starts playing at being detective, carting along a seductive lifeguard with her into her investigations. French with English subtitles. Members: Free / Non-members: $5 donation.
Since June 2009, the Alliance Française des Bahamas has regularly held its French Movie Club on the first Friday of each month. These films are a part of its efforts to promote the French language and culture in The Bahamas and expose adults, adolescents and young children to a foreign language.
All films are shown in the French version with English subtitles. Films are made available to the Alliance courtesy of the Institut Français.
CLICK HERE to reserve your seat or call 327-8214 or 327-4145. |
Children's Pre-Valentine
Art Workshop
Saturday, February 8th
11am to 1pm
National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
West and West Hill Streets
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas' Education Department is pleased to announce its newest edition in promoting artistic creativity – a programme entitled “Saturdays Kids ARTerNoon”.
This first “Saturday Kids ARTerNoon” will be a pre-Valentine workshop, where participants will be able to create their very own personalised Valentine Day card for their someone special.
The Education Department will host one workshop each month on a Saturday for children and young adults. This effort will gear younger minds in considering the possibilities of the arts, exposing them to craft and fine arts aspects.
For further information on “Saturdays Kids ARTerNoon”, please contact Ms. Benjamin at 328-5800/1 or email at jbenjamin@nagb.org.bs. |
The Art of Chocolate
Wednesday, February 12
6pm to 9pm
Doongalik Studios Art Gallery
20 Village Road
A Chocolate, Champagne and
Art Event
Doongalik Studios Art Gallery announces the Opening of an exciting evening exhibition of gourmet chocolates, just in time for Valentine shoppers that will be held on Wednesday, February 12 at the Gallery on #20 Village Road.
Bootleg Chocolates, a hand-made chocolate enterprise owned by Daphne Ormerod-Cates and her daughter, Amanda, was started 10 years ago in Freeport, Grand Bahama. These delicious artisan chocolates are made using local fruit and spices with all natural flavours and fillings including ganaches and caramels that are enrobed in a blend of premium European Dark Chocolate.
The chocolates were originally produced as fundraisers for local charities and gained a small clientele that led to the mother/daughter team producing chocolates for sale on a regular basis in order to supply the constant demand. Two years ago, the team decided to enter the retail market and last year they launched boxed caramels with their signature Bahamian flavours. Another unique feature is that they also offer Kosher chocolates. |
Amanda, who is a producer based in Los Angeles, took the chocolate business with her to California and is successfully distributing them to production companies and editing houses that use them for their celebrity clientele.
Valentines, chocolate, and champagne go together like a hand inside a glove, so for this event, Bootleg will be offering their beautiful, signature hand painted chocolate heart boxes filled with special champagne truffles in a limited edition, along with their regular ganaches and caramels in flavours such as guava duff, gully wash and goat pepper. What an exquisite way to treat that special someone in your life!
To complement the champagne truffles, Young’s Champagne will provide a champagne and wine tasting bar for the guests at a nominal fee for pairing with these elegant morsels which will be nestled amongst a Valentine’s Art Exhibition of Bahamian masters kindly on loan from the Collections of the D’Aguilar Art Foundation, Dawn Davies and Pam Burnside under the theme “Love is in the Air”.
The public is invited to attend this memorable evening of chocolates, champagne and art. For further information, please contact the Gallery at 394-1886, or email them at doongalikart@batelnet.bs. |
Because Drawing Round
Squares Takes Practice
Thursday, February 13, 2014 | 6pm to 9pm
Popopstudios Art Gallery, 24 Dunmore Avenue, Chippingham
New collaborative art by Tessa Whitehead and Heino Schmid at Popopstudios International Center For The Visual Arts in Chippingham. |
Abaco Artists Valentine Art Show
Friday, February 14, 2014 | 5pm to 9pm
John Watling's Distillery, Delancey Street
Join artists John Paul along with Abaco artists Marjolein Scott, Jo Bradley, Atilla Feszt and Dr. Vincent McQueeny at John Watling's Distillery on Delancey Street for a Valentine art show on Valentine's Day evening. |
Beautiful Burden
An exhibition of powerful new work by Claudette Dean
Friday, February 14, 2014 | 6pm | Hillside House Gallery
"Beautiful Burden presents musings on life in a world of duality where there is no peace without struggle, no joy without pain; it explores issues of sanctity, of finding solace and of achieving and maintaining balance and connection while in the midst of the battle." – Claudette Dean |
 "Beautiful Burden" by Claudette Dean |
Beautiful Burden
by Susan Moir Mackay
Art has many functions beyond aesthetic. One of the functions is to satisfy the need to create: art exists because artists are moved to produce. There is an inner imperative that the artist is compelled to follow and the consequence—the piece of art—is the by-product of that inner mandate.
Claudette Dean's latest body of work, Beautiful Burden, explores and expresses her personal and yet universal journey into her spiritual beliefs. Springing from her like a visual meditation, the work infers a private mythology. It is imbued with secret meanings and imagery—there is a sense that she is showing us a path that is clearly the result of a profound and unique inner directive.
This series is reminiscent of her first paintings, gesturing towards surrealism. There is an air of the dream state. As if Dean had to lose herself and this reality to find these images. An unknown narrative underpins the work, creating a connecting, yet silent, structure to the pieces. She hints at paradox and duality, themes of male/female, life/death, full/empty, body/spirit, even the title of the show, Beautiful Burden, succinctly surmises one such paradox. |
 "Grace" by Claudette Dean |
Dean's work has often been rooted in her beliefs about life and love, often from a strongly female perspective. In this new work, she introduces a male element – The Guard IAMs. The 'GuardIAMs'— masculine golden ghost-like figures — hover in and out of physicality. They carry shields and bear symbols that tie them, as Dean explains, “to Africa, and earth”.
The 'GuardIAMs' were inspired by Dean's need to create a sense of safety and also by the writings of Paul Ferrini in The Silence of the Heart. Ferrini discusses the importance and the role of the masculine energy in relationship to the feminine. Dean brings that idea into form with her 7 depictions of male protectors. Through the process of her work, she concluded that the male protagonists were guards of the self—the I am, hence, the name, 'GuardIAM'.
In contrast, the piece Beautiful Burden exudes a deep intrinsic understanding of the feminine. There is a resounding fullness to this work. She is abundant, full and sensual, yet powerful and confident. Dean's images of women, once again, exude an assured and saturated satisfaction. There is a redolent peace and ecstasy to Beautiful Burden. Grace and Surrender swim from other-worldliness. However, one must acknowledge the presence of the male protectors and their implication to the body of work: The stoic presence of the 'GuardIAMs' witness and hold space for the exultation, contemplation, and meditation, of the wise women—they inform and balance with the feminine. |
 "GuardIAM-Humbra" | |  "GuardIAM-Sansu" | |  "GuardIAM-Endread" |
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As a whole, the works challenge, tantalize, entrance and inspire — it is a phenomenal gift to pull into imagery the unimaginable inner world, yet Dean does it with a quiet confidence. There are many functions to art, and telling stories of a different spiritual reality is the happy and intriguing by-product of Dean's need to create. |
50th Annual Heart Ball
Saturday, February 15th, 2014 | 7:15pm
Melia Nassau Beach, Cable Beach, Nassau |
5th Annual Sidney Poitier Film Festival
February 20-23, 2014 | College of The Bahamas
CLICK HERE for more information at COB's Facebook Page or contact the School of English Studies at COB at 302-4381. |
Baha Mar makes general call for artists
The Creative Arts team at Baha Mar has a convoluted yet exciting task; curating three million square feet of the luxury resort’s space with local artwork.
In its fourth meeting at the Baha Mar Academy last week, a general call was made to artists for the submission of portfolios to jump start the process.
The meeting attracted artists from a broad cross-section of disciplines who were eager to submit portfolios and hear of Baha Mar’s plans to establish an ongoing exchange with the creative community. The resort says it is committed to using art as a major part of guests’ experience.
Royann Dean, Baha Mar’s public relations officer and strategist, said the programme is going well and has received a great response.
“We have had a very great response from the creative community. We have had a full house for every meeting, some people have been coming earlier, because they are very excited about what we are doing,” she said. “We want all artists to submit portfolios of their work. We want to know where you are, we want to know that you are out there, we want to show the world what you can do, and we want to provide an opportunity for people to do that. So I think we will get a lot of response. I think we will get a lot of submissions, and a lot of quality work because we have a very vibrant visual arts and creative community,” she said.
Portfolios are to be submitted along with six to 10 images of artwork, an artist statement, and information about work experience. The deadline for the submission is February 14 at 6pm.
The team of professionals, led by Bahamian artist John Cox, who has been named the creative arts director of the programme, are excited about what they believe is the beginning of a successful relationship with artists [...]
CLICK HERE to read full article by Jeffarah Gibson of The Tribune. |
 BTVI students listen attentively to co-owner of Educulture Mr. Silbert Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson enlightened them on many aspects of Bahamian culture including Junkanoo during the presentation at the museum on West Hill Street. |
BTVI students experience cultural awakening
Students of The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute recently experienced a cultural awakening when they visited ‘Educulture’, a museum on West Hill Street.
Archilene Hepburn O’Brien, an instructor of one of the institution’s Student Success classes, the opportunity created a greater awareness of who we are as a people and where we came from. The field trip was not solely for students to view artifacts, but to participate in an experience.
“The trip was to refresh and deepen the understanding of some BTVI students about culture. In the words of one student, ‘Now I see,’ confirms that the mission was accomplished,” said Ms Hepburn O’Brien.
“The preservation of culture demands introspection, retrospection and progression. That is, first we must look inside ourselves to discover and develop self; then look in the past to see where we came from and then look ahead and plot our course for the future,” she added.
During the visit, many students saw the “goose” for the first time - 10 pounds of pure iron that use to be filled with coal to press clothes. Also on display were the kerosene lamp, coconut branches that were used to sweep the house or rake the yard and an oversized brush that was used to scrub wooden floors.
This glimpse of historic practices drew outbursts of laughter from the mature students and questions of curiosity from the younger ones. “Today we simply push a plug in and turn a knob to iron. Today it is tiles and the Swiffer machine,” said Ms Hepburn O’Brien.
Making the presentation to students was Silbert Ferguson, who owns and manages the museum with his wife, former educator and Junkanoo enthusiast, Arlene Nash-Ferguson. The museum sits on a parcel of land that has been in Mrs Nash-Ferguson’s family for centuries [...]
CLICK HERE for full article in The Tribune. |
New reality TV show features The Bahamas
Experience the ‘war’ that is waged each year throughout the islands of The Bahamas, chasing spiny lobsters, one tail at the time in a new show on the Sportsman Channel called 'Bahama Lobster Pirates'.
This war is based on the rivalry between hardworking crews feverishly building and deploying condos or habitats, only to be sought out and raided by pirate boats. The ‘Bahama Lobster Pirates’ follows life on the Atlantic Ocean aboard six lobster boats during the annual lobster season.
The show takes place in one of the most picturesque tropical settings on earth, here in The Bahamas. The show follows the hard work it takes to preserve this highly coveted commodity, and the compelling drama that unfolds during the first 30 days of the lobster hunting season.
The show features underwater footage of the thousands of diverse marine species, and some of the most interesting characters of the islands. It captures the experience of everyday life, drama and competitive rivalries within the crews and between the fleets as they compete to come home as the top crew and boat.
Bahama Lobster Pirates premiers on February 15, on the Sportsman Channel, Saturday nights at 8.30pm. Fishtales Film Productions is a Florida based film production company, dedicated to production wildlife, nature and documentary films specialising in underwater film production.
CLICK HERE to view trailer of show. |
Lyford Cay Academic Scholarship Application now open
The Lyford Cay Foundations are pleased to announce that online applications are now being accepted for academic scholarships for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels at colleges in the USA, Canada, the UK and the Caribbean. Applicants must be Bahamian citizens who pledge to return to The Bahamas upon graduation. All applications must be made online. Deadline for all applications is March 31, 2014.
CLICK HERE to apply today! |
Harvard offers design
scholarships for Bahamians
Four scholarships called the Exuma Fund will be offered for Bahamian college students and others interested in a career in design to participate in the Career Discovery Program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
Scholarships include tuition, housing, and return flight from The Bahamas to Boston. Applicants must demonstrate both Bahamian citizenship and residency. The scholarship program will run between 2013 and 2015.
Scholarship applications should be made at the same time as the Career Discovery Program application by submitting an additional essay—of not more than 500 words—detailing how you anticipate your participation in the Career Discovery Program will benefit you and the Bahamas. Preference will be given to candidates whose participation in the program is likely to lead to a positive impact on the Bahamas’ built environment. Questions can be directed to: discovery@gsd.harvard.edu
All decisions regarding scholarships and awards are made solely at the discretion of the GSD in accordance with established policies and procedures.
CLICK HERE for more information on the application process.
CLICK HERE to view short video on the Career Discovery Programme. |
Performing arts school hosts information sessions
Holland College in beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada invites aspiring young Bahamian visual artists and performers in music, dance, and theatre to information sessions in Freeport and Nassau. The Freeport session takes place on Thursday, February 20, 7:00 p.m., at the Grand Lucayan Resort; and in Nassau on Friday, February 21, 7:00 p.m., at the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel (formerly Sheraton) on Cable Beach.
Holland College has one of the largest Bahamian student populations in Canada. Their school of Performing Arts offers programmes in Music Performance, Dance Performance, Theatre Performance and Performing Arts Foundation. If you have the talent and the desire, they would love to meet you at the information sessions and arrange for an audition. Yes, they do offer scholarships.
For more information, you may contact the the Vice President of Holland College, Michael O'Grady at email mogrady@hollandcollege.com.
CLICK HERE to view Holland's website.
CLICK HERE to view Holland's Performing Arts programme.
CLICK HERE to view Holland's Facebook page. |
Caribbean magazine seeks submissions
Moko is currently seeking submissions for its next two issues. Issue two will be published in March; another issue will follow in July. Moko accepts submissions of fiction, poetry, criticism, and visual art that reflects a Caribbean heritage or experience. Issue one, published in November, featured a diverse collection of works by artists and writers from around the Caribbean region and its diaspora.
Moko accepts submissions of all varieties of unpublished creative work from artists from, or working in, the Caribbean. The journal is currently seeking more fiction and criticism (reviews, essays, and interviews) especially.
All submissions should include a brief biography along with your contact information emailed to submissions@mokomagazine.org.
CLICK HERE to view Moko Magazine's website.
CLICK HERE for submission guidelines. |
Smith & Benjamin's
Bahamian Art & Culture Newsletter
Art & Culture were created to
uplift the spirit of mankind.
Bahamian Art & Culture Newsletter is an email newsletter concentrating on the art & culture of The Bahamas and also the world around us. It is published once a week and is a service of Smith & Benjamin Art & Design, a design firm based in Nassau, The Bahamas offering graphic design, custom illustration, fine art, art marketing, art brokerage and publishing.
Dionne Benjamin-Smith, Editor & Publisher:
dionne@smith-benjamin.com
Stephanie Shivers, Account Manager:
stephanie@smith-benjamin.com |
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