At the southwestern end of the island, just between the power station and where the dense bush begins to cover some of the island's most historic and controversial property, something very special is happening.

Old cars, construction rubble and trash have been cleared away at the bluff at Clifton Pier and what has been uncovered is something that is being described as "sacred".

Twelve trees have been transformed into elegant and haunting figures that overlook the majestic cliffs which rise some 40 feet out of deep blue ocean, and bells hang above inviting the viewer to ring them, in this art event representing the wonderful possibilities that exist in the most unexpected places.

Sculptors

"Sacred Space: A Celebration of Spring", a project spearheaded by the New Providence Community Centre (NPCC), brings together two of the country's most noted sculptors – Antonius Roberts and Tyrone Ferguson – and is part of NPCC pastor Clint Kemp's philosophy that art has the power to change things – for the better.

"We all need these kinds of spaces," Kemp told The Arts in an interview at the site. "This speaks to all of the values that we are about – reconciliation, justice."

The uncovering of this sacred space began about two years ago, when NPCC adopted the area and members committed to keep the bluff clean and safe as part of the church's environmental justice programme.

At first it was just about removing the years of trash that had accumulated at the neglected site, but after the cliffs were cleared and vistas revealed it became much more.

"After (last year's) hurricanes the transition began," says Kemp. "Lots of trees were down everywhere and we thought it's not just about cleaning the ground but reclaiming the space."

That's when Ferguson and Roberts, who are also working with NPCC on the ONE public art project at the church's Blake Road property, became involved.

Both artists, who are volunteering their time, found it difficult to put their feelings about the project into words during the interview, and most who make the drive to experience the space will probably be able to relate.

"Sacred Space" is much more than simply viewing a show of metal and wood; the viewer is invited to feel the roughness of the organic sculpture, play the bells hanging above and perhaps more importantly, answer the call being made to uncover other sacred spaces.

Communities

"What we've started is the call for people to find sacred spaces wherever they are," says Ferguson. "In their communities, neighbourhoods, other islands."

Ultimately, if others are able to recognise and uncover sacred spaces it will hopefully inspire an "uncovering of the sacredness of who we are", says Kemp.

Already people have started to respond to the area, which will be celebrated this Saturday from 9am to sunset. Many have already stopped to take a closer look at the figures that rise out of the earth and invite you to join in their conversation and contemplation, while others have been moved to write verses of poetry or a few words to capture their experience.

And by all accounts, for most viewers – and the artists – that experience is a powerful one.

Roberts, who worked for seven straight days on the 12 figures starting at 6am each day, describes his experience as "overwhelming".

He says that from the moment site meetings began he felt a connection that heavily influenced what he ended up creating, something that Roberts feels he had little control over.

"There were some trees in the centre that needed to be moved and I just thought wouldn't it be wonderful, as opposed to just bringing my sculpture and putting it here, to use the natural resources and transform them into what it is that they were begging to be," Roberts explains.

He listened to the trees, which lean towards the water, and tried to "connect with the spirit." he says.

"It was just so clear after taking the tops off the trees, I just felt it would be a wonderful tribute to our ancestors and to our people to transform those trees into spirits, symbols of hope, symbols of connecting to the past, and whatever else. In looking at these trees and realising that there were 12 of them, and then realising that this piece of land is so import to us as a people, historically."

Faces

Roberts blackened the faces of the figures in a symbolic gesture that not only represents a specific group of people, but the purification of fire.

"The pieces called for that, they wanted to be blackened and wanted to have more of a presence," he says.

Roberts' "Jacob's Ladder" made from a Haitian sloop's mast, has also found a home at this site. (It was previously on display at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.) It is the only installed wooden sculpture at the bluff but is by no means out of place.

"I was just the vessel, I don't know what I brought to this work other than being out here for seven days from 6am, just working, trying to connect with the spirit in each tree and making an effort to realise the spirit and allow them to be what they will," says Roberts.

"I just felt like I was being guided. I didn't want to superimpose anything, I didn't want to get too technical, too detailed, I just wanted to touch the wood and allow the wood to be a part of this process."

The Sacred Space project, says Roberts, has left him completely drained and wondering what he will do next. "What's next? I have no idea. I was obviously drawn to this and invited to this, and perhaps all that I've done before led me to this project. So here I am."

For Ferguson, who is also a pastor, the experience was also a calling, of sorts.

"We started seeing the trees and they were saying something to us," he says. "These trees aren't just looking out they are looking up."

This observation led Ferguson to the realisation that he wanted to make a contribution that would help people look up. "Sometimes we are so busy looking out that we forget to look up."

At first, Ferguson says that he thought about hanging wind chimes from the surrounding trees, but that idea evolved into something more interactive.

"The idea is that strings will be coming down (from the trees) and this will also cause (the viewer) to look up. When they look up they are supposed to participate," explains Ferguson, who hopes that people visiting the space don't just see but feel, experience and become a part of it.

"I believe there are many sacred spaces in the universe, and that sacred spaces find us and draw us to them."

Ferguson believes that finding these important spaces is part of the healing process that this community sorely needs, a process that will bring people together.

And this sacred space, without walls and religious labels, is hoped to attract as many visitors as possible.

Ferguson is the first to admit that their expressions and strong feelings about the project "might sound sort of crazy", but swears that he has personally experienced the power of this sacred space.

During a recent inspection of the site Ferguson says that he found a piece of paper on the ground. His first reaction was to throw it away but something told him to look at it.

"From that (piece of paper) I got my Sunday sermon and a letter to my daughter, and people were moved by what came out of that. I believe that was left there for me and I got what I needed from that. And we are going to have these kinds of testimonies," he says.

Kemp and Roberts also feel strongly about the perceived power behind the project, which they think will speak for itself.

Connecting

"We are not using words or preaching a sermon, we're just connecting with what God's doing," says Kemp. "If we as people can realise what's happening it will inspire others."

He believes that words are inadequate to describe Sacred Space, which he feels is "stronger than anything we can ever say".

And it is hoped that all who visit the area will take something with them when they leave.

Says Ferguson: "We are not selling anything but we are hoping that everyone carries something away with them from this experience."

By Erica Wells
(This article appeared in The Tribune's "Arts" Section C on March 30, 2005)