By THEA RUTHERFORD
FN Features Editor
thea@nasguard.com
The nation's second largest community of artists begin the celebration of 10 years as an association with the opening of their 10th Anniversary Show today.
The Grand Bahama Art Association's 10th Ann-iversary Show, held at the Freeport Art Centre, exhibits the work of 24 of the association's members. The show, which features a wide variety of genres, runs from March 2 to 11. The association welcomes the public to the celebratory event.
The Grand Bahama Art Association began with a small group of artists known as the Paradise Artists Association in 1996. Founding members and first executive body, Leslie Duncombe, Terry Lord-Rolle and Michael Rolle, held the association's first exhibition that year at the Ruby Swiss Restaurant.
Since its inception, the association, which has sought to promote talented local artists and give them a home, has held numerous art shows. The founding members are immensely proud of the group's growth.
"It feels great," said Terry Lord-Rolle, the association's current vice president, yesterday as members of the association busily prepared for the show's big opening the following day. "I just can't believe it because I remember when we (first) discussed it," she added. The association was actually conceptualised in 1995, a year before its first exhibition.
"Our object is to get up- and-coming young artists involved," she said of the association that holds an art show in either February or March of each year. The association now has an estimated 40 to 50 members.
GB Art Association President, Rupert Watkins, affirmed the success of the association in a press release announcing the art show.
"We believe that our strength as an Association can assist Grand Bahama's development as an artistic community. The good news is that artists, students, teachers and the general public are beginning to recognise that, through us the Association, they can be exposed to a variety of artistic influences right here on Grand Bahama," he said.
Founding member, Leslie Duncombe, also proud of the association's growth, noted that there were about 10 young artists involved.
Not surprised at the association's consistency over the last 10 years, Mr. Duncombe stated that the founding members pledged to keep the association going regardless of the circumstances.
"Some of the founding members are still here, we're still working very hard to keep (the association) going," he said.
The association has been a philanthropic body as well as a promotional one, donating funds to organisations such as the GB Children's Home.
After a decade of providing a place for artists to commune with, support and promote each other, members were eager to launch today's show.
The works that viewers will encounter at the show during the next eight days include water colours, acrylics, oil, relief sculpture, works in paper and pulp painting, hand-woven rugs, prints. The association's members represent an enticing variety of styles and inspirations.
The show features the work of Nicole Angelica, Allan Ball, Kay Cox, Eva Dehmel, Leslie Duncombe, Walter Gobin, Donna Hangge, Ken Heslop, Elena Isella, Lou Lihou, John Manley, Susan Manley, Jo Morasco, Dugald McNab, Alisa Streathers-Robinson, Terry Lord-Rolle, Anthony Lord, Sheldon Saint, Angelika Siska, Steve Stubbs, Barry Thorpe, Rupert Watkins and Del Foxton Willms.
ARTISTS — Some of the members who will be exhibiting at the Grand Bahama Art Association's 10th Anniversary Show at the Freeport Art Centre from March 2 to 11 include, from left to right (back) Nicole Angelica, Sheldon Saint, Jo Morasco, John Manley, Angelika Siska, Leslie Duncombe. (Front left) Terry Lord-Rolle and Del Foxton.
(Photo by THEA RUTHERFORD)
