The Bermuda Arts Council?s annual Awards Ceremony offered a glimpse into the lives of a few of the Island?s foremost artists and supporters.

The event took place at the Bermuda National Gallery, City Hall, on Thursday night.

The Awards, which are now more than 20 years old, honours citizens, both living and posthumously, for their contributions to the arts. The honours included Founder?s Awards, Lifetime Achievement Awards and this year for the first time a Patrons Award.

The two artists who received the Lifetime Achievement Awards were sculptor Bill (Mussey) Ming, and noted artist Dr. Charles Zuill.

Mr. Ming, who now lives in Nottingham, England, was commissioned to create the memorial, ?Lost at Sea?, which is located at Great Head Park, St. David?s, while Dr. Zuill is adjunct professor of art at the Bermuda College and also an art critic for .

Mr. Ming?s sister, Sharon Dublin, talked about when her brother left Bermuda on the final voyage of the .

She spoke about some of the challenges he faced as a blossoming artist in the UK and how, like many, was refused entry into art school.

?Today he is among the foremost artists, not only in Bermuda, but of England too, with work held in galleries and private collections,? she said ?His work is always approachable, with stories to be found and connections to be made.

?He uses traditional techniques to make work that is always contemporary. He is wise enough to be playful and clever enough to say less, but mean more.

?The feelings and memories of childhood are a favourite theme, interwoven with the life of these islands, the sea and the past and present suffering slaves.

?Above all, his work is made with deep humanity, and if it is sometimes hurt and scarred, it is so because people are.?

Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) director Laura Gorham said she had known Dr. Zuill for over 20 years.

?I have seen him grow and change dramatically as an artist. Art historically ? as an artist, he is an important one for Bermuda ? Bermuda?s first abstract artist, but equally important to Bermuda have been his contributions in so many other ways.

?As a teacher ? Professor at Bermuda College and Andrews University in Michigan, as an art critic, giving a professional, balanced voice to art criticism in Bermuda.?

Dr. Zuill, she said, had also been involved with the Bermuda Society of Arts, the Arts Centre at Dockyard, as President of the Bermuda Arts Council.

?And I will tell you, that if for not Charles? persistence and good-natured, constant, energiser-bunny-like nudging, the Bermuda National Gallery may never have come into being,? she said.

?Others may have created its governing body, or fundraised, but it was Charles who hand picked each member of the steering committee, and lovingly cajoled it into life.

?Much as with his recent experimental paintings, he chooses the elements, and then stands aside and lets these elements interact to create the work of art ? that is what Charles did with creating the National Gallery.

?Although, after the museum opened in 1992, he did not stand back to bask in the glory of our achievement ? he is the one who brought Bill Ming?s work to our attention for the first time, and championed having an exhibition of his work in 1994.

?He was the one to get on a plane and go to the Azores to find out what wonders their arts had in store, and to assemble the curatorial team that created the 1999 Exhibition ?A Window on the Azores?, celebrating the heritage of our Bermudians of Portuguese descent.

?Even today, as a Founding Trustee, my staff will tell you that we still have Charles check in with us daily to see if there is anything he can do to assist, in his inimitable way.?

As an artist, Ms Gorham said she had seen his work develop from the almost scientific process of studied, meticulous, controlled, measured, geometric ?grey scale? paintings ? something that consumed him for over 20 years ? into unleashing an unexpectedly brilliant experimental and original process, using organic materials, soils and sands, that he pours onto canvas, energetically making marks with sticks, or palm fronds or magnates, or blowing bubbles in acrylic medium, and on and on.

?He incorporates a sense of play into his work, always asking himself, what if. What if he tried this, or what about that,? she said.

Dr. Zuill was proud to receive the award and he said that if he had achieved anything in the life: ?It was a whale of a lot of fun!?

He spoke of how he and Mr. Ming came into contact.

He explained that he had seen an article in the Mid Ocean News about Mr. Ming. He said he then asked around and one of the people he had asked included Ruth Thomas. She found out who he was and Mr. Ming and Dr. Zuill met up in the UK.

Bryan Butterfield, a well-known former local dancer, received a Founder?s Award.

Mr. Butterfield led one of the first majorette groups in Bermuda and each year could be seen performing in the Easter Parade. For many more years he entertained our visitors with his delightful fiery limbo show in the hotels.

Dr. Norma Astwood, long-time friend, gave an insight into Mr. Butterfield?s early life from the church to gracing dance floors in both Bermuda and abroad.

When Mr. Butterfield received his award from Sophia Cannonier, chairwoman of the Bermuda Arts Council, he asked her why she was not about when he was dancing.

Posthumous Founder Awards were presented to the families of artist Alfred Birdsey, teacher and poet Geraldine Johnston, and music teacher and organist Maude Bascome Cummings Taylor.

Mr. Birdsey was a renowned artist whose work still graces the walls of many homes, both here and abroad, and other establishments on the Island.

His daughter Jo Birdsey Linberg, who is now artist in residence at the Birdsey Studio, told of what life was like growing up with her father.

She said when tourists came up what is now Stowe Hill, in Paget, there was always a cold drink and a Birdsey watercolour drying on the line, which was for sale.

Mrs. Johnston was especially well known for her children?s poems. Her book of poetry can still be found in some of our bookstores, as well as at the Bermuda Library.

Her grandson, John Battersbee, read a few of her poems, one of which was almost prophetic in that it complained about too many vehicles ? both in the air and on land and of the children?s behaviour ? not being what it used to be.

Also presenting on her behalf was former student Grace Rawlins who also read some of her work.

Mrs. Bascome Cummings Taylor, a former organist at St. Paul?s AME Church, distinguished herself both here and in the US as a music teacher and composer.

She started her own school, The Manna House, for underprivileged children in New York City, and her legacy lives on under the watchful eye of her daughter, Gloria Denard, who read and then sang one of her mothers songs during her presentation.

Dennis Sherwin, a long-time friend and supporter of the arts in Bermuda, was the first recipient of the new Patron?s Award.

Ms Gorham?s described all of the work that Mr. Sherwin had done for the Bermuda Festival for the Performing Arts, Bermuda National Trust, Bermuda National Gallery, Bermuda Arts Council, Beyond Barriers and many more.

?Since his arrival in Bermuda in the 1970s, Dennis Sherwin has been the solid, sensible, passionate, yet quiet voice behind many organisations in Bermuda,? she said.

?As a retired Washington DC public relations man, he could have joined a country club, played golf or bridge? and lunched well ? not that there is anything wrong with that ? but he didn?t.

?Almost every moment Dennis has spent in Bermuda for the past 30 years has been dedicated to the betterment of Bermuda.

?Betterment through supporting the arts and culture and the environment, and he has waged a crusade for making them accessible, understandable, stimulating, inspiring - fun ?and even more importantly, available to all.?

Ms Gorham added that it was Mr. Sherwin who purchased Warwick Pond for Bermuda, who built the boardwalk in Paget Marsh and who first sponsored free admission at the BNG.

?And more than any financial contribution he could ever make, Dennis gave himself to all the organisations he worked with. He was a wizard at public relations, and he taught us all ? very much including myself ? in the Dennis Sherwin School of PR.?

Entertainment throughout the evening was provided by the Milt Robinson Trio.