The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

TALENTED Bahamian artists invited enthusiasts to join them at Hillside House Gallery last Wednesday and Saturday, as they shared in a “40 Years Later” art conversation and exhibition.

The event was headed by artists Antonius Roberts, John Beadle, John Cox and Heino Schmid and was part of the ongoing celebrations to mark the 40th Anniversary of Independence of The Bahamas.

In an interview with Tribune Entertainment, Mr Roberts said the turn out of the event was absolutely amazing despite the rain on Wednesday.

“We had quite a number of Bahamians and Bahamian artists that came out. After having coffee and viewing the exhibition, we gathered in a circle inside of the gallery in the midst of the artwork and we had discussions about the artist’s intentions,” said Mr Roberts.

He said they also had discussions about issues relating to the role that art has played and can play in the further development of the Bahamas.

On a weekly basis, every Wednesday, local artists gather at the Hillside House Gallery for coffee sessions and conversations involving art.

The “40 Years Later” exhibition was inspired by these sessions, he said.
“Fortunately, for over a year now, with the partnership of Dunkin’ Donuts we have been able to provide free coffee from 10am to noon, rain or shine, for those sessions at my studio. During that period artists have really made the effort to come out and just have coffee.

What is so wonderful is that organically, a lot of connections have been made. We had a lot of discussions about technical advice and how artists can help each other or how they can create and find new opportunities,” said Mr Roberts.

He said the sessions became a place where artists came to network. Out of those gatherings, Mr Roberts said they began to think of what they can do for the Bahamas’ 40th Anniversary of Independence.

“We thought that organically, the four of us, why won’t we just produce a few new pieces just responding to some of the issues that are near and dear to our hearts as it relates to the development of this country,” said Mr Roberts.

Describing a few of the pieces, Mr Roberts said: “We have two very large pieces from John Cox. He has one particular piece which is kind of a sculpture that is a part of his chair series. It is a very tall chair and it is meant to be more of a sculpture than a functional piece.”

Mr Roberts said there are also three pieces on display by John Beadle.

He said: “He actually recently had a wonderful one man exhibition at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. One of those sculptures that were in that exhibition was brought over here for display. Also, he created two paintings that were a part of that same series.”

Heino Schmid presented four pieces.

Mr Roberts said: “He is kind of a mixed media artist and the pieces that he has on display is an expansion of the whole series that he has done about tabernacle. Tabernacle not necessarily in the religious context, but in terms of it being a place where people gather for having an opportunity to connect with a single purpose and a single mind.”

Speaking about his art pieces, Mr Roberts said: “One of my pieces displays the root from earth from the Lignum Vitae tree that once occupied the grounds of the hospital. That piece actually speaks to our relationship to our national symbols; how we treat them, whether we respect them and how we engage them.”

His additional pieces included paintings that spoke to Bahamian women in today’s society.

“It speaks about how we perceive these women in our society and after 40 years, we are still talking about the rights of women. With the pieces, I also celebrated the natural beautiful of Bahamian woman,” said Mr Roberts.