Thanks to Jessica Colebrooke of Jessica's Tileworks Ltd., customers of McDonald's can enjoy some beautiful Bahamian artwork while they have their meals.
First seen at the McDonald's location downtown, her tiles are now adorning the walls at their Palmdale location.
It's all part of the renovation efforts by the local franchises to create a more contemporary environment for their customers, explains Colebrooke. Besides providing WiFi and televisions tuned into the news, as well as different seating areas and better eating-in facilities, they also wanted to personalize the space with artwork - especially from local artists.
"They wanted to use a Bahamian artist instead of a foreign one, which is a great investment in our country," said Colebrooke. "When I look at the pieces, I'm proud - not only because I created them, but because it shows Bahamians can get it done. When people walk in I want them to be proud it's Bahamian."
Indeed, though the subject matter is different in each location, all invoke Bahamian pride. From Junkanoo pieces in the downtown McDonald's location to underwater scenes in its Palmdale location, Colebrooke's unique tiling design brings fresh perspective to common Bahamian art themes, giving viewers a chance to dwell on its important messages of conservation.
"I think the conservation theme is seen in the subject matter here, in the fish and coral," said Colebrooke. "We have to preserve our place. Hopefully these aren't just pretty pieces; hopefully it makes viewers really look and appreciate what we have as a people and as a culture."
Colebrooke began her partnership with McDonald's in 2010 with their downtown location renovation, and was thrilled to be asked back for their second location renovation in Palmdale. She now looks forward to making new designs for their third in Oaks Field.
"I was nervous at first because the approval had to come from corporate," she said. "I was worried they might not understand what I was trying to convey. I had to create two actual physical ceramic pieces for the approval, and when they did approve it, I felt very proud and honored I had met their standard, and proud and honored Bahamian work could be displayed on their walls."

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