HTML Copyright © 2001-2003, awsltd.net7th ANNUAL ART SHOW
Jack Hardy
The annual Art Show put on by Abaco Beach Resort & Marina was held at the Pavilion from 31st January to 2nd February. It was a pleasure to see so many old friends on display and meet some new blood on the Abaco art scene.
Among those who have been displaying at the show since its inception were Marjolein Scott, Malcolm Rae, Brigitte Carey, Ann Ray and Pete Johnson. Marjolein’s creations on silk can be picked out instantly. She has her own distinctive style, lush with tropical flowers and a sense of gaiety. The same cannot be said of Malcolm Rae, one of Nassau’s premier artists. His works are extremely disparate and it is hard to imagine the same man painted all the pictures in his display, an indicator of Malcolm’s superb talent.
Brigitte Carey is gradually expanding into water colours from her trademark tropical fish on driftwood. She finds, she told us, that her seascape water colours allow her far more freedom of expression. I noted Hope Town lighthouse on one of her pictures and told her I was developing an allergy towards the edifice. “I know what you mean,” Brigitte agreed, “but that’s what sells.”
As usual, Ann Ray had the most colourful and extensive display, a rainbow of Abaco people and scenes. Pete Johnston’s work is acknowledged worldwide and from his foundry come stunning comments on the human condition as well as detailed sea life.
Artists who have presented over the past few years include perhaps The Bahamas’ most famous artist, Chan Pratt, as well as Beth Sweeting, Colette, and Donnie Wood. Most of Chan’s works were of houses surrounded by tropical growth in oils and Chan worked while he sold, applying his paint with what looked like a fine scalpel. I understand Chan had many sales during the show.
The newcomers caught my particular interest. Kim Rody out of Stuart, Florida, calls herself Fishartista. As a Scuba instructor, Kim has closely observed underwater marine life and brings it to life on her canvases. One scene of an angler fighting a marlin was so masculine that it was hard to accept it had been painted by such an attractive woman.
One newcomer I hope we will see much more of in the future is young Lori Higgs-Thompson. Her largest work on display had been sold before I was able to see it but I really loved her depiction of coconuts hanging from the tree in all their stages of growth. Lori works with the finest of brushes available so her work is extremely detailed and, she told me, takes a long time to complete.
Livingstone Pratt, no relation to Chan, concentrated on junkanoo scenes and schooling fish. Very colourful. Jeep Byers took time out to explain the symbolism in his block paintings. Every picture, it seemed, had a thread of symbolism running through it. Once the loquacious Jeep had traced the symbolism for me I looked upon all of his works with new appreciation
Another new boy on the block was Marsh Harbour’s Colyn Rees. Instead of paintings, Colyn displayed enlargements of his wonderful black and white photographs, many of which were taken over 50 years ago. Readers of the Abaco Journal will be familiar with Colyn’s work but it must be pointed out that the photographs, particularly the aerial shots, are far more dramatic in large format. The largest work Colyn had on display was a panorama of New Plymouth taken circa 1952 which took in the whole town yet was so detailed you could see cracks in the road. (See: Photography by Colyn Rees.) It was difficult to hold a conversation with Colyn as he was doing a brisk trade.
There were many other artists on display and I noted that jewellery and stained glass creations were much more in evidence than in previous years.
The management of Abaco Beach Hotel & Resort should be congratulated on an enterprise which is firmly entrenched in the island’s social calendar. It provides a wonderful opportunity for local artists to present their works to the public and, hopefully, move them into new homes. One artist told me that in a recession it was artists who suffered most as art was looked upon as a luxury. Of course, art is not a luxury - it is food for the soul.