Welcome to Mixed Media, the official blog of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB).

Friday, September 28, 2012

Amos Ferguson Colouring Book On Sale


NAGB Education Department is pleased to announce the sale of an Amos Ferguson Coloring Book in the NAGB's Mixed Media store.

The book is on sale for $10 and features over 20 pages of illustrations, fun Amos Ferguson facts and tidbits on Bahamian Art! Not only is it fun, but it's educational!

For further information or if you are interested in reserving a copy, please call 328-5800/1.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Don't Get Lost: New NAGB Symbols Explained

Very recently The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas installed a series of new navigational symbols on the Gallery walls, as well as in front of the Mixed Media Store. Our Chief Curator, John Cox, designed them to give guests a sense of direction in the Gallery, as our exhibition program has been changing rapidly in the past few months.

In today's post we will explain the purpose of each symbol, what it means in relation to our exhibitions, as well as it's physical location.

 Permanent Exhibition

This is one of the first symbols visitors will come across when entering the NAG B. This symbol represents the new Permanent Exhibition section of the Gallery and it is located on the first floor, right across from the Mixed Media Store.

The Permanent Exhibition program seeks to prominently display the NAGB's National Collection, as well as pieces from prominent Bahamian Art collectors. Exhibitions in this section will rotate constantly and may or may not entail an exhibition opening or notification. Currently, the historical exhibition, The Bahamian Landscape is located in the Permanent Exhibition.

Project Space

The Project Space (PS) Room is the second most prominent symbol on the first floor. The PS Room is located in the center of the Permanent Exhibition space.The most flexible space at the NAGB, the PS Room will contain interactive sections, small exhibitions or informal shows. It is the Gallery's hope that the PS Room will feature a variety of amateur or young artists and give exposure to a different side of Bahamian Art.

In the past, the PS Room has featured the Paint Like Amos interactive activity, as well as results from the Education Department's Photography Workshop with Scharad L. Lightbourne. Currently, the E. Clement Bethel National Arts exhibition entitled, The Essence of The Arts, is on display till October 28th, 2012.

Temporary Gallery One

Currently, the NAGB has two temporary gallery spaces where exhibitions will be rotated on often. The first, Temporary Gallery One (T1) is located on the second floor of the Gallery, in the former Ballroom. T1 currently houses the Amos Ferguson: Bahamian Outsider exhibition till October 28th, 2012. T1 is a special space as it can house a single exhibition or be part of a larger exhibition with T2.

Temporary Gallery Two

The Temporary Gallery Two (T2) is located on the second floor of the main building. This exhibition space is similar to T1 as it can also house a single show, but also contain part of a larger exhibition that encompasses T1 and T2. Currently, Amos Ferguson: Bahamian Outsider is in T2 till October 28th, 2012.

We hope that the new symbols will make your experience at the NAGB so much better.

-AK

Visit the NAGB today and feel free to send us a comment or email or write in our guest book! We look forward to hearing from you.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Artist Biography: Amos Ferguson

Amos Ferguson was born on February 28th, 1920 in Exuma. His parents, Robert and Lavina Ferguson raised their children in the settlement of The Forest where his father, Robert Ferguson, was a preacher for the local Baptist church. Amos was close with his father and spent many days with him in the church studying his Bible and learning to be a carpenter. Amos also spent time on the family farm, helping his mother with the crops.

In 1937, Amos took his carpenter skills to Nassau. Eventually, Amos found work in a furniture factory polishing unfinished wood. Amos worked at the factory till 1943, after which he left The Bahamas to go to the United States. During this time many Bahamians, both men and women, were hired by the United States as 'contract workers' to work the land due to a labor shortage as a result of World War II.

After spending several years working in the United States, Amos returned to Nassau where he quickly settled as a private contractor painting houses for wealthy families. Later, Amos' nephew, George Bastian, approached him about a dream he had, where God spoke that a member of their family was wasting their artistic talent. Quickly realizing that his nephew's dream spoke of his own talent, Amos started keeping pencils and paper in his pockets for inspirational moments.

When Amos was in his 50's he quit the house painting business and devoted all of his time to making art. Initially, Ferguson painted on cheap pieces of paper, conch shells and plastic cups; however, he quickly graduated to painting on large pieces cardboard and boxes. Amos set up a space on Bay Street where he sold his art to tourists. During his time there he met his wife, Bloneva "Bea" Ferguson. Bea was an instrumental force in Amos' life; she was a devoted wife and pushed him to sell his artwork, eventually hanging his paintings in her straw market stall which gave him more exposure. He also painted pictures on her straw bags and hats.

The late 1970s saw a sharp rise in Amos' popularity, when a tourist named Dr. Miller bought one of his pieces from Bea's stall to take home with her. Dr. Miller quickly became obsessed with Amos' work and returned to The Bahamas to meet him. Eventually she was taken to Amos' home, a space that he had converted into a gallery. His front wall bore a painting of Adam and Eve and the words Mr. Amos Ferguson Gallery- Match Me If You Can. Later, Dr. Miller showed Amos' work to Mr. Steibech, a curator of Caribbean Art in the United States. Mr. Steibech was interested in Amos' paintings and contacted the Wadsworth Atheneum, a large art museum in Hartford, Connecticut.

On March 31st, 1985, Amos had his first international exhibition entitled Paint Like Amos Ferguson at the Wadsworth Atheneum, thus cementing his status as a celebrated Bahamian artist. His show went on to travel to over 10 cities and museums in the United States. With his new celebrity status, Amos was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 and was one of the many Bahamian representatives at the 1994 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Amos continued to paint, completing one painting every day till his death at the age of 89 in 2009. He is considered one of the pioneers of Bahamian art and was one of the first artists to put The Bahamas on the map.

-AK

Amos Ferguson: Bahamian Outsider is on display at The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas till October 28th, 2012. The exhibition catalogue for Amos Ferguson: Bahamian Outsider will be released in October, 2012. To see an excerpt from the catalogue, click Here.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Karaoke Night Is BACK

Back by popular demand The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is hosting Karaoke Night AGAIN on FRIDAY, September 14th, 2012 AND Friday, September 21st from 8PM to 10PM.

The event is free and open to the public.

Refreshments will be served + drinks will be on sale.

Come and enjoy the 'time of your life'!

For further information please call 328-5800/1

Thursday, September 6, 2012

NAGB Intern: Neil Cleare

NAGB Intern, Neil Cleare with his favourite piece in The Bahamian Landscape


I’m Neil Cleare, a young and upcoming artist. I have lived in an artful environment all my life. Being guided by my father, and inspired by many other artists, I decided to place my focus in the area of art. When I was a young boy, I began drawing comics and cartoons, and I still do to this day. I’ve had many accomplishments with art, such as subject prizes, obtaining an A on the art BJC, and also doing my part in the mural paintings at the humane society. When I finish school, I would hope a career in either art, or athletics. To get an exposure to the career that art offers, I applied for the Summer Work Study Program at The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.

Unfortunately, I only had one week at NAGB that went by all too fast. In that time thou, I paid attention to the different areas of work where art can take you. During my as an intern for the gallery, I got a taste of what its like to run the social network of an organization. I even spent which seemed a lifetime making descriptions for vintage post cards. Overall my time here was well spent, worthwhile and effective. My now favorite piece of work in the Gallery was by Bahamian artist Kishan Monroe. I liked his painting of his self portrait, mainly because his painting style is similar to mine, and his detail with oil paints is something I admire. Hopefully my road leads me onward through the world of art, and I look forward to being present here next year.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Bahamian Outsider Exhibition Catalogue Available Soon



The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is pleased to announce the publication of the Amos Ferguson: Bahamian Outsider Exhibition Catalogue.

On Thursday, September 20th, a print of 100 copies will be available the Mixed Media Store. The general public is encouraged to reserve copies of the catalogue. Additional copies will be published and tentatively sold as of October 2012.

To reserve your copy of Amos Ferguson: Bahamian Outsider Exhibition Catalogue please call 328-5800/1 or email aknowles@nagb.org.bs.

To download a PDF Preview of the exhibition catalogue click, Here.