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Some Bahamian artists will be laughing all the way to the bank come June 6.
That is when the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Cultural Centre in Washington DC presents, On the Edge of Time - a 50 piece exhibition of contemporary Bahamian art. The show ends on August 11.
The exhibition will illustrate the development of Bahamian art since the country's independence in 1973.
"This is a major Bahamian exhibition," said Mr. Frank Maresca, an IDB representative and local branch director.
"It will showcase the richness, vitality and diversity of Bahamian artists on an international level."
This exhibit is part of the IDB Cultural Centre's Visual Arts Programme which is set up to feature the cultural aspects of the bank's member countries. It is the Bahamas' turn.
The show will include works from both prominent and up and coming artists such as Nick Austin, John Beadle, Lillian Blades, Jackson and Stan Burnside, John Cox, Amos Ferguson, Kendall Hanna, Rolfe Harris, Alton Lowe, Brent Malone, Antonius Roberts, Nadine Seymour Munroe, Tavares Strachan, Maxwell Taylor and others.
A number of them, as well as collectors, are expected to attend the inauguration abroad.
The works, which include paintings, drawings, sculptures and Junkanoo pieces, were all selected by the bank's Cultural Centre curator Félix Angel. An artist himself, Mr. Angel personally picked the 50 finalists after two trips to the Bahamas where he spoke to various artists, their critics, and collectors.
"This would be a first for the Bahamas, even for us as artists, to see through the eyes of a curator his concept of what Bahamian art is all about. I think that is very exciting," said Antonius Roberts, who will have five pieces in the exhibit. "The fact that an outsider has come into our country, done a survey and is presenting his survey to the world - at the end of the day, opportunities like this are so wonderful for the Bahamas and it can only help to take Bahamian art to where it needs to go."
Some works were chosen from the artists' personal collections. The curator also snatched up 18 pieces from businessman and art collector Vincent D'Aguilar's vast collection of over 230 Bahamian pieces. Mr. D'Aguilar is sure to be at the opening in Washington DC.
"He has to protect his investment," joke Mr. Maresca at a reception announcing the exhibit Monday evening.
Some of the artists expressed what they want exhibition visitors to take from the show.
"I think the viewing public will see that we are beyond sun sand and sea and that we have depth," said Jackson Burnside, who has five pieces in the exhibit, three personal pieces and two collaborative displays.
John Cox had similar hopes. "I hope they get a fair perception of what the work is like here," he said.
"Hopefully they'll get a deconstructed stereotype of what Caribbean art, specifically , Bahamian art, embodies and not expect grass huts and art that's synonymous with that sort of false picture. I hope people take it seriously."
Four of his pieces will grace the show.
IDB has been collecting art since 1960 according to Mr. Maresca.
"We understand that economic and social development shouldn't be viewed in isolation, that there are people out there who have a history, a culture, and art forms which express that," he said about the bank, which services mainly Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The Bank's president, Mr. Enrique Iglesias, will kick off the exhibit on Tuesday, June 6 at 6:15pm.
Then beginning June 7, the exhibit will be open to the general public. Admission is free and a full-colour, bilingual (English/Spanish) catalogue containing the works will be available to viewers.
"We expect visitors from all over the world to pass through the cultural centre," said Mr. Maresca. "There's a large Caribbean community in Washington DC and we will tap that community. Invitations will also go out to a wide range of people in the diplomatic community. So we expect a lot of turn out.
"It's a way of getting a fair amount of international recognition for Bahamian art."
John Cox had further thoughts and projections on art and the Caribbean.
"I think there is going to be a major shift in the art world," he said. "It's going to be the Caribbean that will be the hub for art in the world. I really believe that. And I feel really privileged to be a part of this show."
Antonius Roberts added: "From what I have seen I think it will be a strong body of work - one that we as Bahamians will be proud of."
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