Multi-media artist, Dwight Ferguson, unveiled the first public installation in Elizabeth Estates Park on Saturday, January28 to huge public acclaim during a three hour event that was attended by members of the community ranging in age from as young as 5 years to as old as grandparents.

Inspired by his Art Exhibition held at Doongalik Studios in 2018, ‘Tar Pillows’ is a continuation of Ferguson’s ‘Circle ofHope’ installation from that show which highlighted the unfortunate demise of several young men who had lost their liveson the road. The recent increase in gun violence in the country re-ignited Ferguson’s creativity as an artist to garnergreater public awareness about social violence, specifically in the community of Elizabeth Estates where he also functionsas the Senior Pastor at the Church of God of Prophecy.

A tangled ball of yellow hangs from the six foot tall installation which sits on the grass at the centre of a large circlecomprised of pairs of shoes sitting on chunks of tar atop yellow boxes that are marked with the name of the deceasedabove a simple dash representing the totality of their lifespan. This ‘Circle of Hope 2’ recognizes the lives of those 30persons of varying ages from the Elizabeth Estates community - mostly males, along with 2 females - 95% of whom diedon the road from gun shots, and several of whom Ferguson acted as the officiant at their funeral.

Ferguson researched and struggled long and hard to understand the back stories of the victims’ lives by pouring overfuneral programmes and newspaper articles, and speaking with family, as well as community members in order to createand design the various pieces of the installation for the greatest impact.

As an artist, Ferguson recognizes that his goal is to be that critical ‘seeing eye’ to mirror society and to produce art thatcan awaken the emotions of the public and inspire them to think, to question, and to act. His evocative artist’s statementthat “every day, young Bahamian men lie their head down on a tar pillow, exhaling their final breath on hot tar, whilsttheir cold blood runs red along the street,” sums up the heartache that he wishes to share with the public through his art;whilst at the same time in his role as a pastor, he also desires to advocate for what is right, and provide a moral compasswith an essential glimmer of hope as a necessary balance in the midst of such a seemingly hopeless situation.

“Our modern social media-inundated society has glamorized violence to such an extent that we have become numbtowards the actual harmful impact it has on our physical, mental, and social state, allowing its commonality, and the griefand fear it generates, to paralyze our reaction,” states Ferguson. “Instead of righteous indignation, outrage, and theaccompanying action to mitigate its scourge, we are accepting of its presence without question, and to our detriment. Theunacceptable degree of anger in our country is like a bomb that cannot be defused. It is constantly exploding, taking livesunceremoniously with it.

“Unfortunately our country nowadays lacks solid family values, kindness, and compassion, and as a result so many of ouryoung and older citizens lack self esteem and self value. There is no value for life, and certainly there are not enough rolemodels to look up to, to provide direction, and to simply care. Where is the love?”

Ferguson’s “Tar Pillows” installation, though dealing such with an emotional topic, is not meant to be morbid, but ratherto act as a catalyst to the public to denounce the violence. It is also a call to action for the public to question the negativesocial implications of violence in whatever form, and to work together as a community and a country to find the necessaryimprovements to this destructive way of life.

“I was extremely pleased with the community’s response to the event,” stated Ferguson. “It brought the communitytogether to a place of connection where they were engaged with the art and with each other. The mood shifted from beingsomber and solemn - with tears even being shed openly by some – to a transitional awakening towards exhaling andhealing. Various members of the community expressed their appreciation to me for placing the art installation in theirmidst, and for highlighting the victims. They even acknowledged their sense of community ownership of it, and pledgedtheir commitment to work together to keep the circle of violence from expanding. These are all positive indications of thepower of art to comfort and connect.”

The installation is family friendly, and the artist will hold a “Walk & Talk” on Sunday, February 5 from 3-5pm. Thepublic is invited to attend.