Christine Matthäi's Fine Art Photography Exhibit Thursday January 29th at Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty Offices

Please join us this coming Thursday evening, January 29, 2015, from 6 to 8 pm

for an exhibit of Christine Matthäi's fine art photography

at the offices of Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty

on Retail Street at the Grand Lucayan Resort.

Enjoy a glass of prosecco

and listen to the sultry sounds of Jazz Bossa by Counterpoint.

And it's for a great cause too: 30% of any art sold that evening will be donated to the

Big Brother / Big Sister youth mentoring program of the Rotary Club of GB Sunrise.

Invite your friends—hope to see you there!

Grand Bahama's Art Nucleus Launches New Series of Art Talks: Introduction to Inspiration with Artist Susan Moir Mackay

by Paula Boyd Farrington

ART NUCLEUS—a new community-minded creative studio gathering place in Grand Bahama—begins a series of ARTiculate TALKS this Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 8 p.m. at L’Utopia, located at Les Fountains on East Sunrise Highway in Grand Bahama.

Introduction to Inspiration: One Degree to Brilliance is the theme of the first talk and will be presented by contemporary artist Susan Moir Mackay—a BA (Hons) graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland—who will speak about what it takes to follow the creative process from brainstorming to finished project, with an open discussion of ways to foster and enhance personal creativity and artistic vision.

The public is invited, with no charge to ART NUCLEUS community members, and a small $5 donation requested from non-members, which will be used to support ongoing art events, projects, sculptures, and this new open welcoming space for Grand Bahama artists to practice their art, and interact with other artists.

For more information on ART NUCLEUS, their events and membership options, click here.

Grand Bahama resident displays art work at Popopstudios Center

By THEA RUTHERFORD

Guardian National Correspondent

The process spanned roughly eight months. But the product consisted of images based on musings with much older birthdates for art students Khia Poitier, Steffon Grant and Jeffrey Meris.

The trio exhibit in "Process Product", the culminating show of their Junior Residency at Popop-studios Center for the Visual Arts. Popopstudios awarded the prize to the College of The Bahamas art majors in conjunction with the D'Aguilar Art Foundation early last summer.

The show officially opened with a reception on January 14 at Popopstudios.

"I thought it was so humbling," said Grant of receiving the residency prize.

"It's a blessing and I think it might be the product of something, but the whole thing at the end of the day is going to continue to be a process."

A mixed bag of reflections, "Process Product" hovers on themes of self discovery, religion and the male figure within society . The artists use a variety of media both on and off the canvas to explore their topics.

Khia Poitier's portion of the group show came together in a series of small, interconnected paintings and a video. Viewers could watch the artist, enveloped in the "cocoon" she crocheted, as she hopped throughout scenes of her daily life. The multi-colored cocoon lay inches away from the video screen, allowing a glimpse into her process. Poitier's rhythmic guitar plucking provided the soundtrack for the entire experience.

"I was thinking about college," said Poitier, who is in the midst of completing applications to Bachelor's degree art programs. "I was thinking about choosing a major ... and I was getting really stressed out about it because you feel like you haven't lived a quarter of your life yet and yet you have to make all of these big decisions about who you ultimately have to be and it feels so permanent at the time."

The cocoon posed an hypothetical alternative route for the young artist.

"What if you could be enveloped in some kind of cocoon where you still have a chance to grow up and try things and experiment before you make a decision," she said. "I was just kind of playing with that idea a little bit."

Where Poitier's cocoon swaddled, Jeffrey Meris' paintings of devotees dressed in gleaming white at a moonlit ceremony explored other worlds. The series examines the voodoo religion.

"I went and I analyzed my situation, being of Haitian ancestry, and the quintessential religion that people attach to Haitians, being voodoo, and really analyzing the ins and outs of it," he said.

Steffon Grant's conversation about being male in Bahamian society is as broad as it is personal. The artist comments on how males interact with each other through, among other works, his depiction of an ideal, two young boys holding hands in a mixed media painting. Grant calls his series "Homosensual."

"We have males sharing a bond but because of our homophobia we don't say that 'okay man, I love you.' So we kind of encourage each other in our wrongdoing," he said. "We kind of encourage people to continue down the wrong track so to speak and we think that these kinds of things make us a man as men."

Grant said that the inspiration for his graphic-like paintings came from what he observed along the city's streets.

"I took my camera and I walked around the streets of Nassau taking pictures of what could possibly be something that everybody could see, but they're not looking at."

Poitier, Meris and Grant expressed gratitude for an experience that included art-based trips to New York City and Abaco.

"The residency on the whole was completely life-changing, honestly," said Poitier. "I'm very, very grateful and it's made me believe that actually I can pursue art now."

Said Grant, "I've been every night just thanking God for the D'Aguilars, and for Popop, and for everyone here who has worked with us."

GBAA Valentine Art Exhibition

ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
GBAA ARTISTS
SEND AN INVITATION TO YOU

To celebrate the love and passion of the month of February the members of the Grand Bahama Artists Association invites the community to participate in their annual “VALENTINE ART EXHIBITION from February 10TH until February 28th at the Glory Banks Art Gallery.

At the VALENTINE ART EXHIBITION once again local and international artists gather in the Glory Banks Art Gallery to present their latest eclectic collection of still life, abstracts, island life, sea and landscape works in a variety of mediums that does much to whet the palette of art collector and art novice alike.

In addition, for those who wish to express their creativity through the visual arts but as yet are not exhibiting artists, a visit to the Valentine Art Exhibition to meet members of the Grand Bahama Artists Association might give fresh inspiration. Many of the members of the GBAA are professional art teachers and provide instruction in a variety of art forms.

So mark your calendar to ensure that during the month of February, you, your family and friends visit the Valentine Art Exhibition.

For more information contact:

Del Foxton
Adagio Papermaking Studio and Gallery
242 353 4333 cell 727 4333
www.delfoxton.com

Authenti-City comes to Grand Bahama, November 25-27th

Freeport, Grand Bahama - The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation and The Ministry of Tourism presents, The Annual Grand Bahama Trade Show: Authenti-City from November 25th to 27th on Retail Street at Our Lucaya Resort.

A place to find everything Bahamian! Over 20 booths featuring artisans and manufacturers from Grand Bahama.

Products to be showcased: jams, jellies, conch shell items, bath and body products, candles, designer straw bags, portfolios, wallets and more. Wood carvings, sand jewelry, Bahamian packaged foods and much, much more!

Grand Bahama Artist Association hosting Thanksgiving Art Exhibition

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- The Rand Nature Center is once again hosting the Grand Bahama Artist Association Thanksgiving Art Exhibition.

To insure that residents and visitors are aware of where this upcoming event will take place members of the GBAA are standing by the Art Gallery Sign on East Settlers Way in the photo.

The GBAA Thanksgiving Art Exhibition opens Thursday November 4, 2010 and continues in the Glory Banks Art Gallery until Saturday November 27th. The Exhibition includes the works of local and international artists in a variety of mediums. For more information call (242) 353 4333.

BIFF presents their 7th Annual Film Festival Poster by artist Dede Brown

Nassau, Bahamas - Bahamas International Film Festival present their 2010 Festival Poster designed by Dede Brown.

Dede Brown - Artist, Designer and Photographer

"When I was first approached about designing BIFF’s 7th Annual Film Festival Poster, I felt that it was a great opportunity for me, to engage in, what I consider to be a professional, creative and challenging design project. It also gave me the chance to build on my rrelationship with BIFF. As artists, individual or collective groups/entities, I feel that it is very important that we all support and encourage one another as we all make up the Bahamian Arts Community, a small yet steady growing enterprise, which will continue to grow as long as we’re all working together," said Brown.

Born in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island and is currently living and working in Nassau, Bahamas.

She has a BFA in Interior Design, Minor in Photography, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah Georgia, 2002- 2006

Love My Bahamas Art Experience Officially Unveiled to Public

Nassau , Bahamas- According to historical accounts, downtown Nassau was the heart of the city. The streets were kept alive by the soothing timbre of jazz music, and the vibrancy of calypso and rake & scrape.

Downtown Nassau in those day was compared to London or New York City. It was the place for gathering and engaging with natives and visitors to the island. More importantly downtown Nassau is and has always been an icon in Bahamian history and attraction for visitors all around the world.

The Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca Cola have joined forces with the Downtown Nassau Partnership, the Ministry of Tourism and the National Art Gallery to bring this same buzz and excitement back to the downtown area with the unveiling of the Love My Bahamas Art Experience. This is a great display of art installations by local and international artist, that is designed to enliven and restore historic Nassau.

Now, the collection of art known as Love My Bahamas is officially open after a ceremony held on September 7 at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.

The evening included a cocktail reception, an opening ceremony, and a tour of the art installations.

On hand at the event was Deputy Governor-General Frank H Watson, Minister of Culture Charles Maynard, international and local executives from Love My Bahamas co-sponsor Coca-Cola, and other sponsors including the Ministry of Tourism, Downtown Nassau Partnership and the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas.

Walter Wells CEO of Caribbean bottling Company said although the Downtown area has a long way to go, the Love My Bahamas Art experience is one step closer to the rejuvenation of Bay Street.

“I call Love My Bahamas a journey because that is how I see this, as one step on a long and eventually fruitful journey that will transform downtown Nassau into a vibrant, exciting city where there is a strong mix of retail, dining, art, professional offices and financial institutions.

“I believe we can bring that buzz back which is why we at Caribbean Bottling and Coca-Cola have joined forces with the Downtown Nassau Partnership, the Ministry of Tourism and the National Art Gallery to sponsor Love My Bahamas. We understand the enormity of the revitalisation. That is also why we selected Love My Bahamas as worthy of the single largest sponsorship in the company’s 70-plus year history,” Mr Watson said.

He hopes others can use this as inspiration to take part in the restoration and preservation of the area.

“We hope that our contribution inspires others to take the City of Nassau, our own historic treasure, and make it their own, to adopt a project or a block or a bit of landscaping or lighting to lend a hand and make an investment.”

Fifteen artists, including two from Grand Bahama and two from the United States, toiled for months creating murals that depict Bahamian themes and scenes. The artists included Antonius Roberts, John Beadle, Chantal Bethel, Lillian Blades, John Cox, Claudette Dean, Tyrone Ferguson, Maya Hayuk, Jace McKinney, Toby Lunn, Kishan Munroe, Jolyon Smith, Allan Wallace, Arjuna Watson and Daniel Weise.

Bahamian Artists supports Miss Bahamas Charity Auction & Braneka Bassett

Braneka Bassett stands next to a donated work of art by Claudette Dean. 

 Nassau, Bahamas - Two well-known Bahamian artists generously donated to the efforts of this year’s Miss Bahamas Contestants Launch and Charity Auction on April 9th to raise funds to support the Red Cross/Haiti Earthquake Victims.

Artists, Claudette Dean and Alisa Streather are both from Grand Bahama.

About the Artists…

CLAUDETTE DEAN

“EXPRESSING THE INEXPRESSIBLE THROUGH COLOR AND FORM”

Claudette Dean’s work is a part of the National Art Collection of the Bahamas. A Grand Bahama based artist, she was honored in 2008 by the Bureau of Women’s Affairs for her outstanding work and contribution in the realm of Fine Arts.

She has exhibited extensively since 1995, including: “Lumiere” a one woman show in Freeport Grand Bahama in 2008, “Bahamian Art, Pre-Columbian to the Present” featuring the National Art Collection at the NAGB in Nassau in 2007, “Across a Sea of Dreams” a one woman show in Canada in 2006 and NE1, NE2, NE3 and NE4 Juried Exhibitions at the NAGB.

“Sisters”, a much celebrated piece of her work, was purchased by The Paradise Island Promotion Board in 2000 and is on display at The Lynden Pindling International Airport greeting visitors as they arrive in the Bahamas.

A published artist, she is found in many private and corporate art collections in the Bahamas and abroad.


www.claudettedean.net

About the Painting: “A Girl’s Prerogative” is intended to be a light hearted painting which plays with the idea that it’s a girl’s prerogative to change her mind. It was exhibited at the inaugural exhibition of Art International in Lyford Cay in 2005 which featured catalogue with a foreword by Lady Micheline Connery wife of Sir Sean Connery. An accomplished artist, she also had a painting on display at the exhibition.

ALISA STREATHER

Donated:  “In The Groove”

Framed Original, Soft Pastel on Acid Free Light Grey Canson 

Artist Statement: As a Grand Bahamian artist I’m happy to be able to support Grand Bahama’s Braneka Bassett with the donation of an original oil painting and as a citizen of a Caribbean nation and am also very happy that this painting will be auctioned in aid of the Haitian relief efforts.
Born in Nassau, and graduated from high school in Freeport, with top awards in art. Alisa attended college in Atlanta and moved home to Grand Bahama, where she worked at Freeport Advertising.

Deciding to make a change in her career, she attended the college of the Bahamas to obtain a Teacher’s Certification.

Children have always been a pleasure to work with, and bringing out their talents in Abaco, Nassau and Grand Bahama has been and still is very fulfilling.

Alisa’s work can be seen in local and international homes, and businesses such as Geneva’s Seafood, Island Java, and Mamadoo’s Restaurant exhibits some of her work.

The Junkanoo Girl captures the spirit of junior Junkanoo, and with the funds raised by this event it is hoped that children in Haiti will greatly benefit from this endeavour. We must all work to help the children, and there by our future.

Miss Universe, Stefania Fernandez with Braneka Bassett 

 Follow Braneka Bassett and the other 16 young ladies in pursuit of the Miss Bahamas 2010 Crown on Facebook, Twitter and www.missbahamas.net

Summer TO DO: Visit the Exhibition at the Glory Banks Gallery‏

By Del Foxton, GBAA

Freeport, Grand Bahama- Summer is a great time for parents and children together to experience Nature and Art living happily side by side at the Rand Nature Centre

Just minutes from downtown Freeport is an oasis where residents and visitors alike have the opportunity to walk quiet trails through native plants and birding sights.

Although this oasis, the Rand Nature Centre, is known to many, what many not be known is that off the nature trails and into the refreshingly cool Rand’s Visitor Center, there is much to see.

Well known for its award-winning contributions to cultural and educational programs, the Rand Nature Centre has large story boards about Grand Bahama and its eco systems, books and gifts for sale and an Art Gallery.

The Visitor Centre is home to the Glory Banks Art Galley. Glory Banks, herself an artist, was anxious to give Grand Bahama, her adopted home, a centre for art. The Glory Banks Art Gallery was officially opened in February 2008 at the nature preserve on East Settler’s way and has become the Centre for many cultural, educational and artistic exhibits.

Continuing in the Glory Banks Gallery is the exhibition launched June 10th. The Regional Branch of the Bahamas National Trust and the Grand Bahama Artists Association partnered for the “Can Grand Bahama Go Green?” event that celebrated local businesses, artists and committees who are working towards the development of environmental responsibility on Grand Bahama.

The members of the Grand Bahama Artists Association (GBAA), including Environmental Artist Del Foxton, who spoke at the presentation, invite everyone to view their special artworks that present the beauty of our island. To learn more about the initiatives for environmentally friendly art and the GBAA Art Exhibition please call 353 4333.