Small Group Exhibition

The Elliot Gallery

The Elliot Gallery has been open just a couple months now, but if the line-up of exhibitions is an indicator, this gallery is fast becoming one of the most significant for creative exhibitions here in Bermuda. The present exhibition is no exception.

For those who have not yet visited the gallery, it is a large, brightly lit space with unusual walls. Since the Elliot is a former school with notable former students, including artist Bill Ming, the present directors of this new art institution, have allowed the patina of the old walls to remain. This gives the space an aura of history.

Currently the gallery is hosting a three-artist exhibition, the artists being Will Collieson, Meredith MacNab and Ernst Arnold Bauer. Each is notable for unusual approaches to making art.

Will Collieson is the best known of the group and is well respected for his highly creative and unusual art. In this show he is showing both two and three dimensional works. One piece, “She Goat” is a spoof on a goat sculpture by Picasso.

As is his usual practice, Mr. Collieson has recycled old, found objects and has given old, discarded waste a new life. This being the case, he has also recycled old paper and with the help of varnish and oil, has produced some very organic looking wall pieces for this exhibition. “Cliff Face” is an example of this type of art.

Meredith MacNab also produces both two- and three-dimensional work and like Will Collieson, she uses found materials. In one case, she has taken an old, brass boat propeller and covered it with colourful, glittery sequins, thus giving an object, usually more associated with masculine pursuits, a new femininity.

Indeed, much of her work in this show, at least, seems to be about masculine-feminine issues. Often she takes an object and then covers it with small, colourful units that is repeated infinitum.

This could be seen as typical of women’s work, although it does seem that men’s work typically is about a repeated task as well. Ms MacNab also is exhibiting a group of small paintings, in both oil paint and watercolour.

Ernst Bauer’s work is abstract and colourful. His small pieces are in pastel on handmade paper, while his larger paintings are in acrylic on canvas. His presentation is low-key, despite the colourful compositions. This presents us, the viewers with a delightful dichotomy, the bold, colourful work and the low-key framing. This is a commendable combination.

This exhibition continues through February 13. The shows at the Elliot Gallery are usually not on all that long and this show is no exception.

A little longer time span could be useful for the general public who are often trying to fit in a multitude of activities, but who want to support the work being done by this new art institution.