You can find Eddie Minnis' prints in just about any Bahamian crafts store on the island - they're often easily identified by the fire-colored branches of a Poinciana tree in bloom. The iconic Bahamian landscape artist is known for his textured oil paintings of familiar locales, which he's been producing for more than four decades.
Growing up with a father who pursued his dream of becoming an artist full-time with the belief that the "weekend is too short to live for", it's no wonder sisters Nicole and Roshanne picked up paintbrushes early on in their childhood. With the two siblings maturing to become successful and distinctive artists in their own rites, it also came as no surprise when Roshanne expanded the family's repertoire in marrying artist Ritchie Eyma.
Now the four are putting their own twist on family portraits, with the largest Minnis family retrospective exhibition held at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB). Opened this past Wednesday, July 30, Creation's Grace tells the story of an exemplary Bahamian family of artists. Curated by Amanda Coulson, director of the NAGB, the exhibition juxtaposes many of the artists' earliest works with their newer pieces, giving viewers the opportunity to see the painters' respective evolutions and talents.
"I just think it was very important to finally have a retrospective of the family, because Eddie, in particular, really laid the foundations for a lot of Bahamian artists, even if the work is very different than what a lot of contemporary artists are doing today," she said. "It was people like himself showing the younger generation you can make a living out of being an artist that inspired people."
The brainchild of Stan Burnside, chairman of the NAGB Board, the idea for the retrospective exhibition was presented to Coulson in 2013. With most of the works owned by private collections, Coulson's team was responsible for sourcing the paintings, which will be hanging at the NAGB until November 30. The team's hard work has touched the Minnis-Eyma family.
"It was really a wonderful idea to bring all the works together," said Eddie Minnis. "This is actually the first time I'm seeing such a collection of our family's work. It really is a wonderful privilege that has been afforded to the family."
Taking up two large rooms at the NAGB, the exhibition flows from Eddie Minnis and Ritchie Eyma's landscapes to the human subjects captured by Nicole Minnis and sister Roshanne. The show offers the chance to observe the painters' distinctions, including choice of mediums, color and scene.
Known for her use of pastels - a medium rarely employed by painters - Roshanne shows a fondness for painting Bahamian waters as well as Bahamians engaged in everyday manual tasks, like cutting cane and gutting fish. Like her father, Nicole's paint of choice is oils; her paintings often feature children, and she uses her work to express emotion or commentary on difficult circumstances - such as single parent homes and the devastating effects of hurricanes. The sisters also differ in their selection of subjects, with Nicole often conceptualizing a scene before choosing her models and Roshanne searching for subjects who 'speak' to her.
"The subject has to say something to me. Has to speak to me," she explained.
Ritchie Eyma, like his wife, enjoys capturing Bahamian waters and nautical scenes, like Abaco's blue holes and Hope Town Beach, on canvas. An oil painter, Eyma has shown a deep appreciation for his father-in-law's talents, naming "Roots" - Eddie Minnis' painting of a Fox Hill silk cotton tree - his favorite of the NAGB exhibition. "The tree was not static," said Eyma. "In fact, after many years, you go and look at the painting - it's alive, it's breathing, it's saying something. It's a living thing."
In addition to their profound admiration for each artist's work, the family share common spiritual ground. Devout Jehovah's Witnesses, the Minnis-Eyma family credit God with giving them the inspiration to create.
"A couple years ago I stopped and asked myself, 'Why do I feel like I need to create something?' and then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that we were made in God's image. So by creating, by doing, by making things, it's evidence that we were made in his image," said Eyma.
The family have pointed to the show as giving them the opportunity to see their personal developments. Constantly honing his craft, Eddie Minnis has expressed his hope that those who come to see the show are "critical as to what we've done, what we've accomplished".
"It's great to see all of the work together," said daughter Roshanne. "Sometimes when you start painting, you don't realize how many pieces you actually produce, but then if you get an opportunity to look back and see what you've done it's really very fulfilling, very rewarding. And it helps to see your progression as an artist, your progression as a person and see, too, how all of our work complements each other."
The opening night was well-attended with supporters and fans of the Minnis-Eyma family. It is Coulson's hope that the show not only gives visitors an opportunity to see the painters' stunning works, but also encourages them to notice a sociological commentary between flowering branches and picturesque street corners.
"I think it's worth reexamining the work, because as contemporary art becomes more hip and more known and we write about it, very often things that are just simply beautiful are often kind of assumed to be somehow less important or not addressing something important," said Coulson. "I think it's interesting to reexamine the work in a way that you really understand all of the artists are actually sort of making a comment about what we're doing to our country, what we're doing to our landscape, there are environmental issues, there are issues about heritage, and those are all being addressed. And just because the works are beautiful doesn't mean they're not importing a message that's actually important."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian