Art Scene With its natural beauty and rich, multicultural artistic heritage, most art lovers rarely need an excuse to visit Bermuda. But this year, there are two more compelling reasons to explore the island's art scene.
By Laura Gorham
First, the island has a brand-new arts attraction with the renovated Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art in the tranquil Botanical Gardens in the central parish of Paget (see separate story). The former Arrowroot Factory has been transformed into a modern museum space and a fitting home for the more than 1,200 historic Bermuda works by visiting artists such as Winslow Homer and Georgia O'Keeffe — which founder Tom Butterfield has collected for the past 20 years. Many of the collection's most famous works will be on display in the new museum's debut exhibition, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, which will run through the summer.
Read more about the renovated Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art here.
This year is also a biennial year in Bermuda — and that means visitors will have the opportunity to see works by some of Bermuda's leading living artists in the Bacardi Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Bermuda Art at the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG).
The Biennial, which runs from April 25-September 5, is always one of the island's most eagerly anticipated shows, as it offers a snapshot of the island's contemporary art scene in one big exhibition usually featuring more than 80 paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations.
A juried exhibition, it is open only to Bermudians and residents who have been on the island for six months or longer, and all the work must have been completed in the previous two years. The result is a fresh, sometimes controversial, show that reflects the progress and development of some of the island's best and most exciting artists.
More often than not, it lives up to the expectations of Daniel Rosenfeld, a juror at the 1998 Biennial, who said it should be "a type of exhibition which questions our assumptions about the nature and limits of artistic expression."
Jurors for this year's Biennial — the eighth event since it was established in 1994 — were Mark Krisco, artist, curator and instructor, Art Institute of Chicago; and Franklin Sirmans, curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Menil Collection, Houston.
The BNG is located on the first floor of the City Hall and Arts Centre in the heart of Hamilton. This distinctive white building on Church Street, designed by Bermudian architect Wil Onions in the 1960s, is an ideal place for visitors to begin exploring the arts in Bermuda, as it also houses the Bermuda Society of Arts Galleries (BSoA).
The BNG is the home of the national art collection, showing both Bermudian and international art. The museum has a diverse collection and exhibition programme of past and present works by local and international artists. Admission is free, and there's also a free guided tour every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
The Story of Art in Bermuda, in the BNG's Ondaatje Wing, is a year-round revolving exhibition that draws on the museum's extensive collection of Bermudian works to trace the gradual transition from the practical "living" arts that early settlers developed out of necessity — architecture, furniture making, boat building and silverwork — to more aesthetic skills.
The BSoA Galleries, which comprise the Edinburgh Gallery, the Onion Gallery and two smaller studio spaces, feature and sell works by local artists. Shows change on a regular basis. Among the highlights this year will be Tech Art (April 25-May 14) to coincide with Tech Week and featuring computer-generated or digital artwork; a show by Michael Jackson (no - not that one!), an international wildlife artist (May 16-June 4); The Interactive Show (August 15-September 3); and a Portrait Show (June 6-25) in conjunction with a production of a play, Sitting Pretty, at the Gallery.
From the moment you arrive in Bermuda, you will be surrounded by art. At the L. F. Wade International Airport, you will be greeted in the Customs Hall by Bermuda Nature, a spectacular 8-foot-high sculpture of underwater marine life in local cedar by Bermudian sculptor Chesley Trott.
Indeed, the increasing number of public works of art around the island has been an exciting development of the local arts scene in recent years.
Figurehead, a sculpture by Bermudian artist Bill (Mussey) Ming commissioned by the Government of Bermuda to commemorate those lost at sea, overlooks the dramatic coastline at Great Head Park in St. David's. Ming, a Bermudian artist based near Nottingham, England, created the 12-ton piece using a salvaged 100-year-old boat.
The work of surrealist sculptor and painter Graham Foster can be seen in an impressive mural depicting Bermuda's history that covers four walls of a stairwell at Commissioner's House in the Maritime Museum in Dockyard.
Hamilton's Par-La-Ville Park now features a Public Sculpture Park, with an exquisite bronze, Preying Mantis Fountain by American sculptor Berthold Schiwetz; Jeté, Enzo Plazotta's iconic study of international ballet dancer David Wall; Birds of Flight, a steel sculpture by Hungarian artist George Gach; and Student, an evocative springstone sculpture by Shona artist Jonathan Mhondorohuma of Zimbabwe.
All but Student were gifts to Bermuda by the late John Young II, an avid modern art collector, and were formerly on display in the grounds of Lantana, a former cottage colony he owned with wife Nelga in Somerset. They formed part of his "museum without walls" — a concept now being continued by the BNG, to whom the Youngs bequeathed their entire collection of more than 70 paintings and sculptures in 2005.
Another bronze from that collection, George Lundeen's The Storybooks; an additional life-sized Bill Ming work, Family Circle; a geometric bronze by British sculptor Lynn Chadwick; and a delightful series of boys fishing by Desmond Fountain welcome visitors as they enter City Hall. The distinctive lifelike bronzes of Bermuda-born Fountain can be found throughout the island's hotels, parks and public spaces.
Bermuda's early painters were itinerant British artists such as Joseph Blackburn, who painted the Bermuda gentry between 1752 and 1753 before moving on to the American colonies, and British military officers stationed in the colony who were trained as topographical artists to document the landscape. The work of artists such as Thomas Driver, who arrived in Bermuda in 1814 as a civilian working for the Royal Navy, provide a fascinating glimpse of how the island looked back then. Rare examples of this type of work, along with old Bermuda maps, are on regular display in the Elliot Room in the Commissioner's House at the Maritime Museum in Dockyard.
By the late 19th century, Bermuda was becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. Many famous artists, including Winslow Homer — who painted 19 watercolours here between 1899 and 1901 — came to take advantage of the island's mild winter climate and startlingly clear light. Later visitors included E. Ambrose Webster, a pioneer American modernist and one of the first to paint black Bermudians; impressionist Marsden Hartley; and Georgia O'Keeffe, who completed 12 known works here in 1934. Works by all these artists can be seen in the aforementioned Masterworks Collection.
The first known works by Bermuda-born artists were done in the 1870s and 1880s by Susan Frith and Bessie Gray, and by the Tucker sisters, Ethel and Kate. The latter were the first to sell their quintessential island watercolours commercially to tourists as postcards. That tradition is continued today by artists such as Lisa Quinn, who sells her vivid watercolour originals and prints of landscapes, florals and old Bermudian architecture from her studio in Southampton.
After World War II, several artists moved to Bermuda and became involved in the local arts community. The most influential was Canadian sculptress Byllee Lang, who created the reredos in the Bermuda Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton. She also opened a training studio that was ahead of its time in teaching aspiring artists of all races.
Charles Lloyd Tucker was Bermuda's first prominent black professional artist. He studied abroad but returned home to become the first art teacher of the Berkley Institute in the 1950s. Charles Zuill followed a similar path in the 1980s, becoming art professor at Bermuda College, where he led a movement away from the landscape tradition with his abstract and conceptual works.
Another important influence was English-born Alfred Birdsey (1912-1996), Bermuda's first Modernist painter, who redefined the island with his abstract oils and watercolours. His Paget studio is still run by his daughter Jo Birdsey Linberg, an accomplished artist in her own right.
The Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard in the island's historic West End regularly shows works by contemporary Bermudian artists and is home to six resident artists, including jeweller Lynn Morrell, sculptor Chesley Trott and painter Jonah Jones, who are happy to take time out to chat about their work. Among the highlights in 2008 will be the sixth Plein Air Painters of Bermuda's annual show (May 25-June 27), the Members' Open Show (August 3-September 5) and the eighth edition of Pastels (October 12-31).
The Lighthouse Restaurant and Tea Room in Southampton and Rock Island Coffee in Hamilton frequently have selling exhibitions, whilst The Elliott Gallery, in Jubilee Road in rural Devonshire, is run by the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation and regularly features new and innovative works by local artists.
Carole Holding, one of Bermuda's premier artists, creates soft watercolours that complement Bermuda's light and colour. She always paints on location, since she feels that this is the only way to capture the spontaneous quality of watercolour.
Native Bermudian Dana Cooper infuses her work with the inimitable colours of her homeland. Her creations include items for the home, beach accessories and children's books.
You will also find many local artists offering prints and original works for sale at summer cultural events such as Harbour Nights (Wednesdays in Front Street, Hamilton), Destination Dockyard (Monday nights at Royal Naval Dockyard), Market Nights (Tuesday evenings in St. George's) and Culture Fest (Thursdays in Court Street, Hamilton).
Bookish Bermuda
Perhaps Mark Twain said it best: "You can go to heaven if you want to. I'd rather go to Bermuda."
In the late 19th century Twain was a frequent visitor to the island chain and did much to boost Bermuda's early tourism efforts by writing about the destination in magazines and books.
But Twain was by no means the only literary icon to fall in love with Bermuda. Other writers captivated by Bermuda's classic beauty include Rudyard Kipling, C.S. Forester, Edna Ferber and E.B. White.
In the 1920s, playwright Eugene O'Neill lived in Warwick Parish, where he worked on The Great God Brown, Lazarus Laughed and Strange Interlude at Spithead, the one-time home of Hezekiah Frith.
The infamous privateer is said to haunt the house, but that did not stop Noel Coward from taking up residence there some three decades later. The world-famous playwright stayed in Bermuda for two years, working on a ballet and the musical Sail Away.
But perhaps it was Katherine Anne Porter who loved Bermuda best. During her long, turbulent life, she lived all over the world, but it was in Bermuda that she said she felt most at home.
"I was never so happy, never so straight in my mind, never so hopeful," she wrote to a friend shortly after arriving on the island. "I had never dreamed of so much."
DID YOU KNOW? Bermuda's earliest artists were itinerant British painters and military topographers.
DID YOU KNOW? Winslow Homer painted 19 watercolours in Bermuda between 1899 and 1901.
DID YOU KNOW? John Lennon was so inspired by the "Double Fantasy" freesias he saw at Bermuda's Botanical Gardens that he named his classic album after them.
DID YOU KNOW? Georgia O'Keefe produced 12 known works in Bermuda in 1934, including a pencil-and-ink sketch titled "The Banyan Tree," valued today at more than $75,000.
Plan to visit to Bermuda now by checking availability and booking online. It's fast and easy — click here.
Get more information about Bermuda's art galleries and artists using the link at the top of the page.
The Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard
Royal Naval Dockyard, Sandy's
Tel: 441-234-2809
Website: www.artbermuda.bm
Voted Best of Bermuda "Best Art Gallery 2006," the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard is one of the island's premier galleries, featuring both traditional and contemporary art, all created by local artists. On location are four working studios where you can meet the artists and see them at work, including an oil painter, a cedar wood sculptor, a jeweller, and textile and ceramic artists. The gallery also has a large selection of prints and locally crafted gifts, ensuring no one need leave empty-handed. Open daily: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bermuda National Gallery
2nd Floor, City Hall & Arts Centre
Church Street, Hamilton
Tel: 441-295-9428
Fax: 441-295-2055
E-mail: director@bng.bm
Website: www.bng.bm
In the heart of Hamilton, the Bermuda National Gallery is your first stop when discovering the visual arts in Bermuda. It is the home of Bermuda's national art collection, showing both historic and contemporary art from Bermuda and the world. You will find artwork relating Bermuda's history through its fine and decorative arts, as well as international art reflecting Bermuda's multicultural heritage. The museum also features excellent temporary exhibitions including the Biennial Exhibition, which showcases contemporary Bermuda art (April-September 2008).
The museum is an elegant setting for lectures, concerts, film screenings and special events. There is a weekly Wednesday lunchtime series. See the newspaper calendar for a listing of current events or visit their website. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and closed on public holidays. Admission is free. Guided tours each Thursday at 10:30 a.m. The museum is happy to prearrange special tours for groups.
The Birdsey Studio
5 Stowe Hill, Paget
Tel: 441-236-6658
E-mail: linberg@northrock.bm
The Birdsey Studio began almost 50 years ago as a convenient venue for visitors from Hamilton to refresh themselves after walking or cycling up steep Stowe Hill (previously Strawberry Hill) in Paget. Here, painter Alfred Birdsey once displayed his works by hanging them from a clothesline on the veranda. Now Birdsey's colourful, unusual works are known around the world. In 1968, Birdsey relocated his studio to the Bermudian garden of his family home, Rosecote. Birdsey's daughter, Jo, has carried on his artistic legacy since her father's death in 1996. Her style celebrates her father's memory but establishes her own artistic niche. Her paintings reflect her love of life and Bermuda. She has exhibited locally and in New York. Selected pieces have been reproduced in private editions and her work also is collected in Britain, Europe and Scandinavia. Studio hours are 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays. Appointments are recommended.
Carole Holding Studio
81 Front Street, Hamilton
Tel: 441-296-3431
King's Square, St. George's
Tel: 441-297-1833
Website: www.caroleholding.com
Looking for a perfect little memento of your trip to Bermuda or a gift to take back home? Then look no further than the Carole Holding Front Street Shop. From the moment you walk in the door, you will come face to face with a new delight at every corner. Carole originally made her name as one of Bermuda's premier artists, selling affordable lithographs to locals and tourists alike. Whilst you can still purchase one of Carole's beautiful lithographs in a host of sizes and options (rolled in a tube, matted or framed and ready to hang on the wall), she now sells many interesting gifts which incorporate her unique painting style such as morning glory mugs, tea towels, linen placemats, aprons and much more! Carole has also used her training as a professional chef to develop her own recipes and food products. Shoppers can now purchase jams, marmalades or one of the best rum cakes on the island, all originally developed in Carole's kitchen. And not to be missed are Carole's new perfumed soaps inspired by the fragrance of Bermuda's flowers. Carole is a creative genius and you'll enjoy browsing and shopping from the moment you arrive in her store. This is one shop not to be missed! Other store locations at the Fairmont Southampton and King's Square, St. George's.
Calypso inspired books, home and beach accessories designed by native Bermudian Dana Cooper. In a vibrant bouquet of the ocean azures, pastel pinks and leafy greens of Bermuda, these gift items will delight, whether worn or displayed. Items include elegant pareos and tees, wooden trays and paintings, and children's books, such as My Bermuda ABC, My Bermuda 123 and others. Dana Cooper Collection is available exclusively at Calypso stores and bookshops island wide.
The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art
Botanical Gardens
183 South Shore Road, Paget
Tel: 441-236-2950
Website: www.bermudamasterworks.com
For 30 years, Roland Skinner has been practising his art, photographing Bermuda. His talents have resulted in a huge portfolio of landscapes, flowers, trees and architecture that is entirely Bermudian. He has a sixth sense for capturing the island's many enchantments, its changing light and natural treasures. Throughout the years, he has evolved a unique style which he attributes to having been "born amongst beauty and having the eyes to see it." His work is completely distinctive, and this has resulted in it being featured in magazines, at exhibitions and on Bermuda coins.
For 30 years Roland Skinner has been practising his art photographing Bermuda. His talent has resulted in a huge portfolio of landscapes, flowers, trees and architecture that is entirely Bermudian. He has a sixth sense for capturing the island's many enchantments, its changing light and natural treasures. Over the years, he has developed a unique style, which he attributes to having been "born amongst beauty and having the eyes to see it." His distinctive work has been featured in magazines, at exhibitions and on Bermuda coins.
Make your Bermuda trip even more memorable with dolphins! Dolphin Quest offers fun, interactive dolphin encounter programs for all. Book your adventure today!
Have a fun-filled vacation with a cycle from Oleander. If you can ride a bicycle, you can easily ride an Oleander scooter. See all of Bermuda...reserve one today!
Transportation Passess are the best value for visitors, good for unlimited rides on the bus and ferry system. Passes are available for one, two, three, four and seven days.
ExperienceBermuda.com The official web site of the
Bermuda Hotel Association. Copyright 2003/08, HCP/Aboard Publishing, a division of Aboard Publishing, Inc., and subsidiary of The McClatchy Company.
First, the island has a brand-new arts attraction with the renovated Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art in the tranquil Botanical Gardens in the central parish of Paget (see separate story). The former Arrowroot Factory has been transformed into a modern museum space and a fitting home for the more than 1,200 historic Bermuda works by visiting artists such as Winslow Homer and Georgia O'Keeffe — which founder Tom Butterfield has collected for the past 20 years. Many of the collection's most famous works will be on display in the new museum's debut exhibition, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, which will run through the summer.
A juried exhibition, it is open only to Bermudians and residents who have been on the island for six months or longer, and all the work must have been completed in the previous two years. The result is a fresh, sometimes controversial, show that reflects the progress and development of some of the island's best and most exciting artists. 
The BNG is located on the first floor of the City Hall and Arts Centre in the heart of Hamilton. This distinctive white building on Church Street, designed by Bermudian architect Wil Onions in the 1960s, is an ideal place for visitors to begin exploring the arts in Bermuda, as it also houses the Bermuda Society of Arts Galleries (BSoA).
Indeed, the increasing number of public works of art around the island has been an exciting development of the local arts scene in recent years.
All but Student were gifts to Bermuda by the late John Young II, an avid modern art collector, and were formerly on display in the grounds of Lantana, a former cottage colony he owned with wife Nelga in Somerset. They formed part of his "museum without walls" — a concept now being continued by the BNG, to whom the Youngs bequeathed their entire collection of more than 70 paintings and sculptures in 2005. 
By the late 19th century, Bermuda was becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. Many famous artists, including Winslow Homer — who painted 19 watercolours here between 1899 and 1901 — came to take advantage of the island's mild winter climate and startlingly clear light. Later visitors included E. Ambrose Webster, a pioneer American modernist and one of the first to paint black Bermudians; impressionist Marsden Hartley; and Georgia O'Keeffe, who completed 12 known works here in 1934. Works by all these artists can be seen in the aforementioned Masterworks Collection.
After World War II, several artists moved to Bermuda and became involved in the local arts community. The most influential was Canadian sculptress Byllee Lang, who created the reredos in the Bermuda Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton. She also opened a training studio that was ahead of its time in teaching aspiring artists of all races. 
The Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard in the island's historic West End regularly shows works by contemporary Bermudian artists and is home to six resident artists, including jeweller Lynn Morrell, sculptor Chesley Trott and painter Jonah Jones, who are happy to take time out to chat about their work. Among the highlights in 2008 will be the sixth Plein Air Painters of Bermuda's annual show (May 25-June 27), the Members' Open Show (August 3-September 5) and the eighth edition of Pastels (October 12-31). 
Native Bermudian Dana Cooper infuses her work with the inimitable colours of her homeland. Her creations include items for the home, beach accessories and children's books.
But Twain was by no means the only literary icon to fall in love with Bermuda. Other writers captivated by Bermuda's classic beauty include Rudyard Kipling, C.S. Forester, Edna Ferber and E.B. White. 
Make your Bermuda trip even more memorable with dolphins! Dolphin Quest offers fun, interactive dolphin encounter programs for all. Book your adventure today!
Have a fun-filled vacation with a cycle from Oleander. If you can ride a bicycle, you can easily ride an Oleander scooter. See all of Bermuda...reserve one today! 
Transportation Passess are the best value for visitors, good for unlimited rides on the bus and ferry system. Passes are available for one, two, three, four and seven days. 
