Christmas Inspiration!

Happy Holidays From the NAGB!

Christmas Greetings,
& Some Yummy Holiday Eatings.
Pine Tree with Candied Sweets,
Ornaments and Some Real Good Treats.

These are a few of NAGB's Favorite Christmas Inspirations!
Recipes, Recycling, & Rumcake!

Fall Inspiration from NAGB

Love the fall/winter season? Love the colors, scents, and weather? NAGB has picked some of it's top favorite Do-It-Yourself Home decor Crafts. Great for artists, parents, kids, and simply all who love crafts. Here are our favorite home decor craft ideas:


By carving out the center of apples or other appropriate vegetables/fruits and placing tea candles in them creates a fall inspired, natural and native look to room decor, as well as great scents and unique lighting!

By simply placing autumn leaves in lamp shade, we love the silhouette effect created!

 

Keep your wines on display? Or send them as gifts for season greetings? Simply using hemp to wrap leaves and twigs to bottle creates an elegant and appropriate design for the time of year!

By pasting leaves around outer walls of empty jar and placing candles inside creates a seasonal dim lighting for a room, and brings nature inside!

Love recycling? By using empty clean bottles, you can paint the outside of them with autumn colors and place flowers, twigs, leaves, etc, to create a low cost and eye catching table centerpiece

 Tired of an excess of empty chocolate and cookie containers or simply using them for storage after the holidays? Use them for wall decals! By purchasing ones with already appropriate fall outer designs or wrapping with fall inspired paper and by either hanging from a string or on a hook you can make these tins into attractive wall candle, picture, or decor shelves/holders.

We hope our favorites help brighten up your home and get your home fall ready!
Craft well, and design happily!
& To all a seasons greetings from the NAGB !

Former 2013 Summer Camper Wins Central Bank "Under 14" Division!

James Cleare...
wins the 'under-14-age-group' In Central Bank Art Competition

James Cleare, of St. Johns College, a former participant in NAGB's 2013 Art Camp has made the gallery very proud, due to obtaining such distinction in this annual competition.

While a junior school student, he exemplified talent whilst in the camp and we are more than ecstatic to protest this has been recognized. The Central Bank Art Competition is a public and widely acknowledged event.  To have won such an award shows the great skill he withholds. As he continues throughout his life, we hope to see him continually accomplish great things and ameliorate his art abilities. Great Job James!

-L. Gem Roberts
(Gallery Trainee)

Ten Art Quotes For Every Artist and Art Lover

Ten Quotes For Every Artist and Art Lover

1. "Every artist was first an amateur."
   -Ralph Waldo Emerson
   
2. "This world is but a canvas to our imagination."
   -Henry David Thoreau
   
3. "A picture is worth a thousand words."
   -Napoleon Bonaparte
   
4. "An artist is not paid for his labor but his vision."
   -James Whistler
   
5. "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
   -Scott Adams
   
6. "Art Enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
   -Thomas Merton
   
7. "The aim of art is to represent the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."
   -Aristotle
   
8. "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls."
   -Pablo Picasso
   
9. "Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle."
   -Michelangelo
   
10. "The artist is nothing without the gift, the gift is nothing without the work."
    -Emile Zola

Aspiring Artist of The Week

Aspiring Artist of The Week: Kareem Williams

Name: Kareem Williams
Age: 19
Year of College: 2
Major: Engineering
Specialty: Art

Interested you in art:
"Watching brother draw dragon ball Z characters in grade 3, then began drawing and imitating."

Did art in high school: "Yes."
BGCSE Art grade: A

Influential Artist: "Allan P. Wallace"

Favorite Area of Art: Realism
Favorite Medium: Charcoal and Acrylic

Has art become every aspect of your life? 
"Yes, most, because i look for the art affiliation in everyday life involuntarily."

Favorite art piece & Artist: 
"Not yet."

Why isn't art your major? 
"I Don't want to live off of it full time, too much pressure my art endurance isn't that high. "

Something that one has to constantly remind self about in creating art pieces?: 
"To not constantly touch up pieces and stress on details, because I get to the point I take too long to complete a project, because it takes the fun out of art."

Art pet peeve: 
"Procrastination. I personally take too long and have difficulty expressing thoughts onto paper/canvas due to lack of training. Also, due to architectural background, I am too precise about details, but manage to have fun."

Favorite color: "Lime Green and Grey"

Advice for other artist: "just do it"
"Think about future plans, pick a style, learn about it, take advantage of resources and put in work."

Extra info/Quotes:
"Serve God. And surround yourself with positive influence."
"Get dirty.... With art."
"I'm in the process of painting my art legs."

-La'Dea Gem Roberts
(Gallery Trainee)

Aspiring Artist Of the Week

Aspiring Artist of The Week: Darvin Minus

Name: Darvin Minus
Age: 21
Major: Art
Specialty: Portraits and tattoo design
Siblings: 1 Brother

Interested You in Art: "As a child it was God given talent and from there on was interested."

Did art in high school:yes
BGCSE Art grade: A
Previous high school : CR Walker

Influential Artist: Jamal Rolle, Darrel tank, JD Hillberry, Chuck Close, Calvin Oxford

Favorite Area of Art: portraits
Favorite Medium: colored pencils
Weakest area in art: painting

Has art become apart every aspect of your life?
Yes.

Favorite art piece & Artist:
JD Hillberry logo.
Darrel tank portrait
Calvin Oxford works
Darrel Tank pieces

Something that one has to constantly remind self about in creating art pieces:
To focus and to have patience.

What has been your most inspirational moment in the last five years?
"With Renbent Mortimer, I got to talk with him and he constructively criticized my art and allowed me to see what I need to work on. I also started to read a book by Joel Olsteen - Becoming a Better You."

Top movies of all time?
ATL
Titanic
The Wood
Boomerang
Freedom Writers
The Notebook

Art Pet Peeve:
"I don't like creating art while persons are watching me or being surrounded by noise."

Most difficult area in portraits: Hair

Art quote for myself and others:
"Discipline yourself and make a commitment."

Favorite Color: White

Extra info:
"I love culinary arts, visual arts, and poetry."
"I'm very ambitious and my ultimate goal is to become successful in doing what I love."
"I also want to become well known for my portraits and then my poetry."

NAD Call for Works

NAGB - Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Project

CALL FOR ARTWORKS

As a platform of entry to the Bahamas the Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport is a vital component and first impression of our country. The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) is responsible for curating 12 display cases within the international departure and arrival corridors.

The NAGB is interested in exploring and exhibiting Bahamian Fine Art and aim to ensure that our exhibit leaves a lasting mark on locals and visitors alike. The NAD Project consists of six-month turnover exhibition spaces and is geared towards three-dimensional artworks. However, this year we are willing to include two-dimensional

works where displaying them can be addressed. Under the theme ‘Impressions and Perceptions of People’ we hope that artists will delve into what defines the Bahamian people, our culture, how we interact with each other and our environment, and relevant economic and social situations. This theme can be taken as literally and/or figuratively as

you would like.

We hope to fill each individual case with an artist’s work and we have a total of 12 available as of yet. The NAGB will assume responsibility for the design and layout of the display cases. The dimensions of the spaces are on the image below.

Dates to Remember

• Deadline for proposal/works in progress - November 15 2013

• Confirmation of selected works – December 15 2013

• Deliveries to the NAGB (to be determined by artist) for December 15 - January 10, 2013

• Installation date for new works in the Airport – January 15 2013

Fourth Annual AAA - 2013

The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) is hosting its upcoming annual  All-Star Amateur Artists (AAA) presented by the NAGB Education Department. The AAA was designed to bring together emerging and amateur artists to display their work in a professional museum setting. The Gallery hopes this opportunity will encourage these artists to develop their skill and study within the arts. 

AAA has been in existence for four years and displayed the captivating pieces of talented artists.
The theme for the fourth AAA is in keeping with the Gallery’s current exhibition entitled “Master Artists of The Bahamas” and “The Bahamian Collection”. Amateur artists are asked to create works that relate to the distinct styles of any Master Artist or portraiture that portray themes within either exhibition. Artists can submit up to two (2) works of art in any media and must be original work created after January 1st, 2013. Artists must email photographs of each work of art to nagbaaa.bs@gmail.com by Sunday, October 13^th, 2013 at 5pm to be considered. Chosen artwork will be shown on the AAA Exhibition opening reception.
The AAA is open to amateur and nonprofessional artists only-from 12th grade senior and beyond. This event is not meant for established or professional artists or artists that have had previous exhibitions with the NAGB.

This event only comes once a year, so do not pass up the opportunity, whether it may be entering the AAA or attending the opening, for as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Never lose an opportunity to see something beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting."

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/opportunity.html#keSR8DQRrC4xIy81.9

For more information about the event or to volunteer at AAA, please call the Gallery at (242) 328.5800/1, Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm.

Artist of The Week:
Interview with Allan P. Wallace

Name: Allan Wallace
Age: 34
Profession: Artist
Major: Art

Specialty: Mural Art

What Interested You in Art?:
"I was always doing it from I was small and watching uncle draw from age of 2 inspired me"

Did you do art in high school?: "Yes"

BGCSE Art grade: A (with distinction)

Previous: SAC
Influential Artist: Antonius Roberts
Favorite Area of Art: Murals
Favorite Medium: Pencil/Graphite

Weakest area in art: "Patience to do things I have the ability to do. Patience in application."

Has art become every aspect of your life?
"Yes, every."

Favorite art piece & Artist: Persistence of Memory

Something that one has to constantly remind self about in creating art pieces:

That it is not me. You have discovered something, you have allowed it to happen through God. The Columbus of Art. "Let it be"

Art pet peeve:
"When people try to eliminate the intelligence part out of art."

Art quote for myself and others: "Put God first and all things will be added."

Favorite Color: Tan, shades of brown

Extra info: "I have no problem with critiquing but don't like people who criticize for no reason. Can be discouraging to an aspiring artist."


-L. Gem Roberts
(Gallery Trainee)

NAGB 2013 Summer Art Camp

"Every child is an artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."-Pablo Picasso

As the summer winds down, school bags begin to be packed and the camper's paint at NAGB grounds begin to dry. This past summer with-held the very first art camp, with camp coordinator, Jordia Benjamin, directors, Allan P. Wallace and John Cox, and interns, Dyah Neilson, Ashante Pratt, and Gem Roberts.

Camp was nothing short of fun filled events and education disguised as entertainment. The campers began their first week by firstly being educated on the artists and pieces in the NAGB's exhibitions (Master Artists and Artists of the Bahamas), then by designing and painting the mural on the NAGB Annex walls whilst being overseen and guided by artist Allan P. Wallace. The campers learnt the art of large scale painting and began to awe at the compilation of their various designs into one unified piece. The campers also were able to attend Coffee Hour at Antonius Roberts' Hillside House and view various artists' pieces. As the first week wound down, campers were accompanied by attendees of FINCO's Art Workshop and created their own personal abstract paintings. To this day, the mural done by campers and Allan P. Wallace is displayed on NAGB grounds as a recollection of their time spent and visitors are able to view the evidence of their artistic work.

The second week of camp directed by artist John Cox was around the art of Printmaking. Campers were able to visit Bahama Handprints to view and become enlightened in the printmaking process from start to finish before starting this process themselves. They also attended The Festival of The Trees, ran by BahaMar interns, members of the staff and artists such as Antonius Roberts and John Cox themselves, where they observed the hanging of conch shells on the wood carved tree on the cable beach strip. In the duration of the week, campers took part in the printmaking process by creating their own designs by paper cut outs, whilst keeping in mind the terms and guidelines learnt. They also did wood carvings, to create various prints, like that of artist Maxwell Taylor, who also paid the campers a visit. Popopstudios was the venue of printmaking for the remainder of the week. Here, campers were able to print their carved blocks, leaves, and t-shirts which they were able to leave camp by becoming familiar with actual printmaking methods and tools. Overall, instructors and campers grew bonds and grew artistically, making this summer experience, needless to say, a memorable one.

-L. Gem Roberts
(intern)

NAGB INTERN: La'Dea Gem Roberts

W E E K   O N E

Dear Bloggers,

First & Foremost, I am Gem Roberts, an aspiring artist and aspiring computer information systems specialist. This past week, being my first week as an intern at NAGB has been informative and event filled, including this past Wednesday being the fortieth year of independence for my Bahamas.

Not only did I begin by becoming familiar with the grounds, met the other interns Dyah and Ashante, and helped in preparation for the 40 years of Bahamian Art exhibition, but I was able to attend and work as a part of the NAGB team during the event. This was the pinnacle of my week, being able to work an exhibition opening. Words cannot describe the pleasure I felt in being apart of something I have a passion for, during fortieth independence milestone of my country, alongside such welcoming team members, and being able to see so many members of society and dignitaries awes and reactions towards this great exhibition; quadruple the pleasure.

Needless to say, I was very tired after working such an event. Being an aspiring artist myself, this event only motivated me to strive even harder to one day have my very own art featured in such an exhibition. This Friday following the exhibition premier, I was able to become familiar with the texts of Bahamian Artists sold in the NAGB store and critique them. Overall, this week has been a very inspirational and nothing short of exciting. I'll close by reiterating a very popular quote by Confucius I felt put into action this week, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”.

-L. Gem Roberts

NAGB INTERN: Dyah Neilson

 W E E K   O N E

Starting our internship, another intern, Ashante, and I were given a brief tour of the grounds in order to familiarize ourselves with the building and its history. We also read catalogues concerning exhibitions that were on display at the time to get an idea of what has been happening inside the gallery, as well as gain some knowledge about famous Bahamian artists. This knowledge was further enhanced later in the week by visiting Antonius Roberts’ Hillside House, where we learned more about the artist and even about galleries themselves. During the course of the week, I was able to experience most, if not all, of the departments that help in the running of the NAGB.

I assisted with the education department in calling numerous places such as the many public schools on the island, as well as a craft store to ask for a quote on tools that would be needed for the John Beadle workshop that was taking place that weekend. Ashante and I were then given a hands-on job in which we cut cardboard for the workshop. In the in-between time, I was able to work with the curatorial department as well, and was quickly taught the right way in which to move and transport paintings. I realized that though I had handled artwork many times before, there was still much, much more I needed to learn. When I was told that I would be working in the basement with the national collection, I thought it a privilege that I would be trusted with this task. I found this to be a much more work-filled week than I was expecting, and although it was busy, it was still relaxing. It was definitely an eye-opener, but nonetheless a great experience so far.

-Dyah Neilson