20 Questions

Artist and graphic designer Dionne Benjamin-Smith answers this week's 20 Questions from Guardian Arts & Culture.
1. What's been your most inspirational moment in the last five years?
I have had many - all surrounding God's relationship with me. Too overwhelming to really speak of in this forum.

read more »

20 Questions

1. What's been your most inspirational moment in the last five years?
I would have to say, working with artist and blacksmith Tyrone Ferguson in his shop/studio a few weeks ago. It was an absolute wonder to see a slab of metal being transformed through heating and hammering into a work of art... It felt like magic... and I participated in the process. Wow!

2. What's your least favorite piece of artwork?
One of my own works. It is a landscape I painted while I was attending The College of The Bahamas. It was an "Over-the-Hill" scene in the manner of Eddie Minnis. The piece failed on too many levels for me, and I also recognized it was not me.

3. What's your favorite period of art history?

Paleolithic.

4. What are your top 5 movies of all time?
1. Like water for chocolate
2. Reservoir Dogs
3. The Green Mile
4. Drunken master

5. Smile Orange

5. Coffee or tea?

Both, but, not at the same sitting.

6. What book are you reading now?
"Rosa Lee" by Leon Dash.

7. What project are you working on now?
I am still working with the ideas developed around the piece "Mobile Housing Scheme" that's in the NE6: "Kingdom Come". I am also investigating concrete as a medium.

8. What's the last show that surprised you?
I would have to say NE6! The majority of the work felt really considered and mature.

9. Saxons, One Family, Valley Boys or Roots?
One Family! I answer this way only because you framed the question this way, but Junkanoo, because in its infancy it was a defiant/rebellious creature that did not quietly recoil into the dark. It has been co-opted and packaged as pretty. It has been asked to shed its soul, hold still, remove the mask and smile. Flash! Oh boy, the camera has changed Junkanoo in ways deeper than the masses care to imagine. Even so, the red hot embers of rebellion are still there. You catch it almost as a marginal, peripheral experience. You have to wait long for it and be wide awake 'cause it's minor and fleeting but present.

10. If you had to be stranded on one Family Island which one would it be?
Andros. It's big enough for one to have a lifetime of discoveries on those shores and in those bushes.

11. What's the most memorable artwork you've ever seen?
Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delight".

12. Which artist do you have a secret crush on?

Belkis Ayón, Cuban printmaker.

13. If you could have lunch with anyone who would it be?
Frank Gehry. 'Cause at one time I wanted to be an architect, and if I'd had the experience of seeing his work at that time, I would have followed that path. He exploded the box and built concrete and steel structures that look malleable. I may have ended up right where I am today, but that could well have been my beginning.

14. Who do you think is the most important Bahamian in the country's history?
Pick any good educator!

15. Who is your favorite living artist?
Martin Puryear. His work is brilliant! I love the fact that he does not allow himself, the 'artist', to color the audience's experience of the work.

16. Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunrise.

17. What role does the artist have in society?
To create imagery/metaphors that offers experiences of critique, wonderment, joy and escape.

18. What's your most embarrassing moment?

Can't remember... I think I may have been so traumatized by it, I blocked it out but I am due for another moment anytime now.

19. What wouldn't you do without?
Creating.

20. What's your definition of beauty?
Sunrise!

read more »

20 Questions

This week, metal sculptor Tyrone Ferguson answers 20 Questions from Guardian Arts&Culture.
1. What's been your most inspirational moment in the last five years?
I was sitting on this balcony on the waterfront just as the sun was rising, in Spanish Wells (Eleuthera) a few weeks ago.

read more »

20 Questions - with Tyrone Ferguson

Today Guardian A&C starts a new weekly feature, 20 Questions, where we ask Bahamians in the local arts and culture community to answer a fixed set of questions. This week we feature metal sculptor Tyrone Ferguson.
What's been your most inspirational moment in the last five years?
I was sitting on this balcony on the waterfront just as the sun was rising, in Spanish Wells (Eleuthera), a few weeks ago. It was a Sunday morning and a boat was moving slowly parallel to the shoreline, making a wake in water that was otherwise still as glass. Gospel music could be heard above the sound of the boat's engine and the speed of the boat seemed perfectly synchronized with the music. Three dolphins were following the boat and I am sure that they were leaping out of the water dancing to the tune of the music. To me this was a most inspiring moment.
What's your least favorite piece of artwork?
My least favorite piece of artwork would be gates I made about 25 years ago. These gates were supposed to be organic and fun but I allowed the client who commissioned the gates to become too involved in the process. Our relationship and the gates survived but there were some pretty tense stand-off moments. I still get a not too good feeling when driving by these gates. These gates were never in my portfolio and I never mention them when talking about my work.
What's your favorite period of art history?
It would have to be the renaissance period, not just for the artwork but also for the social, theological and philosophical conversations going on at that time.
What are your top 5 movies of all time?
1. Kingdom Of Heaven
2. Invictus
3. Shawshank Redemption
4. The Graduate
5. The Silence of The Lambs
Coffee or Tea?
Coffee: medium roast, freshly ground (French pressed), Blue Mountain or Haitian grown.
What book are you reading now?
Carl Jung: Wounded Healer of The Soul.
What project are you working on now?
Just finishing my contribution for "Kingdom Come" opening November 15 at NAGB.
What's the last show that surprised you?
A show that stands out in my mind would be "Global Caribbean" in 2010 at Little Haiti Cultural Center, downtown Miami. Blue Curry was one of the artists and Dr. Erica James was one of the writers for the catalogue. It was a pleasant surprise to see that we have much more in common than we do not have.
Saxons, One Family, Valley Boys or Roots?
At this point in my life, I view, enjoy Junkanoo as ONE cultural expression, with each group being a part of that whole.
If you had to be stranded on one Family Island which one would it be?
Hard to be objective with this question: My family first settled in Exuma and I go there as often as I can.
What's the most memorable artwork you've ever seen?
It would have to be the "David" by Michelangelo. I got goosebumps when I walked up to it for the first time.
Which artist do you have a secret crush on?
Frida Kahlo. I am just as fascinated by her tumultuous life as I am with her artwork.
If you could have lunch with anyone who would it be?
(Nelson) Mandela. I have been mentored and shaped by him to a great extent.
Who do you think is the most important Bahamian in the country's history?
I am afraid that I will have to take a pass on this question. The lenses I use to view people would make it hard for me to consider one person more important than another.
Who is your favorite living artist?
I am going local with this one. I have worked closely with Antonius Roberts for many years. He is not only my favorite artist, he is also a friend and mentor.
Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunset, definitely! The way the sun drops over the horizon is simply magical -- if you blink you may miss it.
What role does the artist have in society?
The major role of the artist is to remind us that art is just as important for our existence as food is.
What's your most embarrassing moment?
I have had so many close runners that picking a number one would be hard. But I am an introvert at heart, and to talk honestly about a most embarrassing moment is not something I would easily do.
What wouldn't you do without?
Relationships.
What's your definition of beauty?
Beauty is anything that stimulates our sensory perception without bringing disrespect to a person, place or thing.

read more »

20% of pregnancies in The Bahamas to women under 20

Twenty per cent of all pregnancies in the country are to women under the age of 20, according to latest statistics.

The ramifications of single motherhood at an early age were discussed as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Bahamas Country Office on Tuesday celebrated International Women's Day by hosting a lunchtime event under the theme: 'Young Single Mothers and the Challenges of Motherhood and the Workplace'.

Among other aspects of the issue, panel members addressed the psychological feelings of entrapment, isolation and frustration young women experience when faced with motherhood unprepared and all alone, and before completing their own physical, emotional and intellectu ...

read more »

2009 MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

Thursday 6th August 2009

10:15-12:15pm - National Art Gallery, West Hill Street, Nassau 12:20-2:55pm - Graycliff Restaurant, West Hill Street, Nassau 3:00-5:45pm - Government House, Baillou Hill Road, Nassau 40 - 50 Contestants Tour Art Gallery, Lunch & Tea with the Governor General & Police Force Band Attire: Smart Business (men - jackets) Government House - Men - Jackets; Crew - Business Casual

2009 Miss Universe Pageant

Tuesday 11th August 2009  1:00 PM

1:00pm - 1:45pm - Lunch at Market Place 1:45pm - Depart Market Place for Aquaventure (walk) 1:50pm - 2:45pm - Enjoy Waterslides!! 2:45pm - Depart Aquaventure for Dolphin Cay (walk) 3:00pm - Arrive Dolphin Cay 3:00pm - 4:45pm - Fun at Dolphin Cay (swim with the dolphins) 4:45pm - Depart Dolphin Cay (walk) Contestants Not In Harbor Island, Abaco or Shooting with Mariana Atlantis Fun Day Attire: Beach/Swimsuit/Atlantis Wet Suit/Flip Flops

2009 Visionary Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs Conference

Seasoned business leaders and financial experts including The Hon. Zhivargo Laing, Minister of State for Finance; Mr. Jerome Gomez, Fund Administrator of The Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund and a principal in the chartered accounting firm Baker Tilly Gomez; Mr. Dionisio D’Aguilar, Immediate Past President of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and President of Super Wash Laundromat and Chairman of AML Holdings Ltd. formerly known as Abaco Markets; and Mr. Tennyson Wells, President of Sanctuary Investments Ltd, (The Owners of Yuma Estates, Lyford Hills and South Seas Land Developments); tops the lists of speakers slated to address The 2009 Visionary Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs Awards Conference.

read more »

2010 Cabinet luncheon at Government House

Nassau, Bahamas -

Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham and his Cabinet Ministers were the guests of Governor General
Sir Arthur Foulkes Wednesday, December 22nd, for the annual Christmas
luncheon at Government House...

read more »

2010/2011 Budget Debate - MP Kwasi Thompson

This contribution is by far been one the most difficult communications I have ever presented to this Parliament. It has not been easy to absorb all that is in this budget and then to present my reasons to support it I will admit took some effort. I say this being painfully aware of the difficulties people are facing. I understand that more people are unemployed,

read more »