Now well into the second quarter of 2015, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) continues to build its team as it moves full steam ahead with new events, shows, talks, film screenings and plans for its Mixed Media Summer Camp.
Director Amanda Coulson, who returned home in late 2011, has been leading the NAGB's team for over three-and-a-half years since taking over from Dr. Erica James. By her side have been Office Manager Luann Morris, a cherished member of the National Art Gallery team since before its physical existence, almost 17 years ago, and New Media Technician and Videographer Jackson Petit, who has spent 10 dedicated years with the gallery doing everything from directing promotional videos to co-ordinating gallery events. Assistant Curator, Averia Wright has spent almost four years promoting the gallery's mission, moving up from her original curatorial trainee post during that time. Under Wright's supervision, Jodi Minnis has worked as the gallery assistant for the past year.
This year, both Wright and Minnis will be taking the next steps in their professional development. Wright will be going on to pursue her master's of fine art in the U.S. in August, and Minnis looks forward to completing her Associate of Fine Art at the College of The Bahamas this May and moving toward an art history degree.
Believing in life-long development and learning, the National Art Gallery is proud to continue fostering an environment that encourages personal growth and celebrates team transformations resulting from educational and professional maturation. Former Collections Manager and Assistant Curator Ashley Knowles went on to pursue higher education, completing her master's degree in anthropology at Oxford University after working at the NAGB for 2 years. Similarly, John Cox, the gallery's former chief curator, now heads The Current - the art team responsible for filling mega resort Baha Mar with Bahamian art works.
Over the past few months, the NAGB has welcomed a group of fresh and talented staff members, each committed to leading the Bahamian art movement through promotion and education. The year began buzzing with the excitement of the Seventh National Exhibition, which opened in December 2014. Education Officer Corinne Lampkin joined just in time for the show's installation; since then, she's been keeping busy with the gallery's educational outreach efforts, events and communications.
Growing up on New Providence, Lampkin attended university in Canada and the U.K. and has developed a background in communications and public relations. These days she can be found spreading the word on the gallery's new and upcoming happenings and working in tandem with Education and Curatorial Support Associate Abby Smith giving tours, putting together in-class presentations and planning memorable events.
Smith joined the NAGB team a month later, in January, bringing her background in fine art, international relations and diplomacy and global studies in international affairs and cultural and social policy to the team.
An avid Junkanooer, Smith has been designing Junkanoo costumes for years. In more recent times, she's been popping in on classrooms around New Providence passing on information about Bahamian art and art history to students of all ages, she can be found coordinating events, assisting the curatorial team and utilizing her creative prowess through digital design. Smith is also the creative mind behind the spirited videos that have been popping up on the NAGB's Facebook page of late.
One of the smiling faces recognizable from the NAGB's videos belongs to Natalie Willis, who has recently moved back to The Bahamas from the U.K, where she studied for four years. Originally from Grand Bahama, Willis has been putting her passion for visual art and knowledge of digital media to good use as a curatorial trainee, working with Assistant Curator Averia Wright and Smith. When she's not ensuring operations at the gallery run smoothly on a daily basis, Willis is often busy editing the gallery's promotional videos, helping manage the collection of works at the gallery and putting together exhibitions like "If" by cousins Margot and Nicolette Bethel.
The newest addition to the NAGB team will be Holly Bynoe, who has accepted a post as chief curator. The appointment comes after well over one year of searching for a suitable candidate with both the training, practical experience, and knowledge necessary for the important position. The founder of ARC Magazine, Bynoe has extensive knowledge of the region's histories, social movements and relationships with visual art. For years she has been dedicating to working throughout the Caribbean and North America, building connections with art communities in the respective countries. She has demonstrated her curatorial skills in this nation with the Seventh National Exhibition, Antillean: an Ecology.
The exhibition, now on display at the NAGB until May 10, prompts discussions about identity in relation to race, class, economy and gender. Bynoe co-curated the show with COB Art Lecturer Michael Edwards.
With its capable crew, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas looks forward to a rewarding future of promoting and preserving art, linking creativity with history and social movements and educating the public on the country's blossoming visual art community.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
