The Tribune

REPRESENTATIVES of The Bahamian Project: The Art of Portraiture paid a courtesy call on Dr Daniel Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.

The Bahamian Project was created to document the character and preserve the legacy of the people who make up the soul and spirit of the Bahamas.

The fine art black-and-white images, including this one of legendary drummer John Berkely ‘Peanuts’ Taylor, are captured in a style of portraiture that presents the subjects in a uniquely personal manner, stripping away the extraneous environment and focusing on the character and personalities of the individual subjects.

The first 60 images, printed on canvas, will be unveiled on July 11, 2013 at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (NAGB) as part of the 40th anniversary of Independence.

The gallery hopes that even as more portraits are being photographed, the initial collection will travel to other parts of the world, showing the real faces of those whose lives best portray what it means to be “Bahamian”.

The Bahamian Collection is the brainchild of photographer Duke Wells who is working in collaboration with the NAGB and Popopstudios to create a permanent collection of photographs that will provide recognition, foster cultural awareness and create a record of the people who make the Bahamas so unique.

Assisting is writer and public relations executive Diane Phillips, who is providing pro bono services to promote the project.