Art Lovers Blocked From Sacred Space

With recent debate swelling over the lack of public access to Bahamian beaches, artlovers are now crying out because they are being blocked from visiting the Sacred Space installment at Clifton Pier. Not only are members of the art community viewing this as an act of robbery and the theft of art and culture from the Bahamian people, there is also a sense of disappointment that no attempt was made to have a public discourse that included relevant stakeholders, and that no explanation has been given. 

The site, which has gained immense popularity since Bahamian artists Antonius Roberts and Tyrone Ferguson gave their artistic influence through sculpting African figures from the existing trees and placing metal bells within the surrounding trees, has been a place of relaxation for many. 

Poets go there to write amidst these figures, writers have used the space as a muse, photographers have captured the ghostly figures for exhibitions, dancers cleave to the thick energy in the atmosphere, and many people have used Sacred Space as a place for solace and meditation. 

But that has all come to an end, at least for now. Clint Kemp, senior pastor at New Providence Community Church who was instrumental in helping to clear the space for the artists, spoke with Tribune Arts recently about his disappointmnt over this very unfortunate situation. A sign on the property, that reads "No Public Access", is as close as the public is allowed to get to the site. 

Members of the public have been calling both Mr Roberts and himself, Pastor Kemp said, inquiring about why the site is now a restricted area. But he has little information for them because he has not heard any explanation from the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, the government body responsible for the site, as to why the area has been closed to the public. 

According to Pastor Kemp, two weeks ago, when he attempted to go up to the Sacred Space site for a moment of quiet meditation - which he has done before on many occasions - he was told by a security guard that he could not even park on the site. He told the security guard that he was only going for a short time, but the security guard insisted that it was a restricted area and no one was allowed to visit the site for any reason. 

And this is unfortunate on many levels, Pastor Kemp noted. 

"In this country, there is a lack of safe, beautiful places where people can go. 

But Sacred Space was one of them. Two years of cleaning that area, and then the artists putting their installation, it was a place for people to go and now it is being taken away? 

"People would go there everyday. When I tell some people about this, it's as if they're not concerned but the impact has been felt for the people who spent time in the area," Pastor Kemp told The Arts. 

Up to press time, Dr Keith Tinker. director of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, had not returned any of the calls left by Tribune Arts. However, Ruth Forbes of the Clifton Heritage Authority, told The Arts that the surrounding area is in a "construction mode", and due to the presence of heavy machinery on the site, no vehicular traffic is being allowed. Ms Forbes would not comment on the significance of the art installation, as she said that the only concern of the Heritage Authority is to clear the area for the development of a heritage park. She did say however, that there are no plans to destroy the area's art installation. And while persons cannot drive up to the area, she said that they are being allowed to walk up to the site. 

But, according to Mr Kemp, members of the public are reporting that they are not even being allowed to do this. When he visited the area he tried to park, but was told that he couldn't do so. Another visitor to the site also told The Arts that when she attempted to visit the site in July with friends, the security guard told them that it was a construction site and 
they had to leave. He did not give her the option of parking her car and walking up to the site. 

In his artist statement, Antonius Roberts said that he created this Sacred Space to be a specific, historical memorial in this location as well as to reflect and embody his personal philosophies about art, how it can be used interactively and his profound interest in the conservation, preservation and transformation of the Bahamian environment. 

"The Sacred Space was born out of my deep-seated respect for the sanctity and significance of our trees and forests. 

"This site is also of historical significance to us as these cliffs, bordering a former sugar plantation, were the landing site for some of the first African slaves to be brought here. These elegant carvings bend towards the ocean and to Africa. Their eyes delineate the space and the metal bells in the trees, fabricated by a fellow artist, Tyrone Ferguson, carry their voices back to Africa." it reads. 

While Sacred Space is a wonderful artistic expression in itself and is the artist's tribute to his heritage, some in the art community believe that the public should not believe that Sacred Space is Clifton Pier, or place more significance on the art than the history that surrounds the area itself. 

Paulette Mortimer, who photographed the area before it was restricted, told The Arts that while Sacred Space does add an aesthetic quality to the area, it is not more valuable than Clifton's history: The fight, she added, should not be only for the artistic space, but Bahamians should consider the remains of 18th and 19th century slave villages and two 10th century settlements of the Lucayan people. 

Obediah Michael Smith, who also gained inspiration from the area, told The Arts that the history of the area was there long before Sacred Space was constructed. One of his published poems, "Blood Relations", was written there after fellow poets Anku and Jason Rahming introduced him to the historical area, again, before Sacred Space. 

In the end however, our ability to maintain the Sacred Space, all sacred spaces, will reflect our concept of self, of who we are as Bahamians, and will speak to our willingness and commitment to maintain our historical and cultural heritage for generations to come. 

"Sacred implies not only spiritual inspiration and creative freedom but encompasses all those things that should be left intact to bear witness to the significance of our cultural heritage." Antonius Roberts. 

By PETURA BURROWS
Tribune Feature Writer