Bahamian Art Exhibition held the Elliott Museum in Florida

Thu, Mar 8th 2018, 06:12 PM

More than 40 paintings from collections in Nassau traveled to South Florida to form the major part of the exhibition “Celebrate: Art of The Bahamas.”

The exhibition was the result of the collaboration between the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Florida and the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and featured Bahamian paintings from the National collection as well as works from The D’Aguilar Art Foundation and the Dawn Davies collection, all of which complimented paintings of The Bahamas by South Florida artists Jerry Rose, Howard Schafer and Stephen Scott Young.

The exhibit, two years in the making, was the result of friendships between members of the Nassau and Florida art communities. It opened in December 2017 to a group of art enthusiasts from the surrounding counties. On opening night audience of more than 200 attendees were treated to a special artist’s talk and demonstration of block printing by Master Bahamian Artist, Max Taylor. 

This was the first time a Bahamian themed show has been held at the Elliott and it exposed a new audience to the historical perspective of the growth of paintings of The Bahamas. Initially only itinerant artists who visited the ‘sunny isles’ painted the brilliant landscapes and Bahamian life. These earlier paintings from the late 19th – mid 20th centuries are an historical record of past years and it is educational to see them juxtaposed to the work of the Bahamian artists of a post-independence Bahamas and finally the work of current American painters.

Amanda Coulson, Director of the NAGB stated: “We were honored to help coordinate this international exhibit and to share the growth of our national art scene with our near neighbors in South Florida”. Jenny Esler, the Executive Director of the Elliott Museum stated she was overwhelmed with the range and quality of the Bahamian work. “This exhibit certainly has been a celebration of the Bahamian spirit as seen through the individual artists’ eyes” she added.

Pam Burnside, widow of the Bahamian Master Artist, Jackson Burnside III, visited the exhibition in February and presented an in depth gallery talk to the Museum’s patrons about the various artworks on display. The Exhibition also formed the backdrop for local Martin County’s educator, Thelma Washington’s presentation in honor of National Black History Month.

The Exhibition closed on 25 February 2018.

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