ABACO ART FESTIVAL
The first Abaco Art Festival was opened by Deputy Island Administrator Jack Thompson at the Pavilion, Abaco Beach Hotel, on 17th January. There was a cocktail party the previous evening, hosted by A & K Liquors.
The exhibition ran for two days and featured both Bahamian and overseas artists. Among the exhibitors were Nassau's Malcolm Rae, Ricardo Knowles, Eric F Ellis and Chan Pratt. There were also contributions from Nancy Sinclair, Anne W Ray and Cuban artist S Kieel.
Three Abaco-based artists drew particular attention. Dr Ray Heimbecker displayed delicate watercolours of his home ground, Hope Town. In addition to watercolours, Brigitte Bowyer Carey of Tilloo Cay featured her trademark Bahamian fish painted on driftwood, remarkably life-like and in great demand. Marsh Harbour's Don Barnes weighed in with some large seascapes, two showing the beach at Crossing Rocks with the offshore rocks clearly featured and one the first arrival of the MV Duke of Topsail at its home port of Marsh Harbour.
Abaco Beach Manager Terry Curry declared herself pleased with the attendance
and said the Festival will become an annual event. Many of the paintings
were reserved for sale during the two day showing.