Sharon Wilson and the Bermuda National Trust (BNT) have collaborated to create a ‘pop-up gallery’ in its ‘Waterville’ headquarters, where a third of the proceeds from the sale of her works will benefit the charitable organisation.

She has brought about 25 pieces of her acclaimed encaustic, or wax, works of art depicting people living their daily lives, along with landscapes and a selection of her popular series of farmers at work, to the historic Harbour Road, Paget property for the show.

While Ms Wilson normally sells her pieces from her Southampton home, she along with fellow artists Monica Jones and Chikkako Hoshina, have teamed up and brought fine art to private and corporate events.

Now she is showing her work at Waterville — the first time the Bermuda National Trust has put on a ‘pop-up’ venture or held an art show. It will be opening this evening and then will run for just two days, tomorrow and Friday.

The artist spoke to The Royal Gazette about the initiative while hanging her textural, light-infused works, that invite the viewer to touch and feel them, in ‘Waterville’s’ drawing room assisted by BNT staunch supporter Mariette Savoie, who was instrumental in bringing the show to the historic house. The artist noted that this is a new era of collaboration. “It is the way forward — and it’s a way for everybody to win,” she said.

She explained that she depicts people going about their daily lives, whether it is watching the Bermuda Day Parade from the roadside or refuse collectors, and said: “If people who support the National Trust walk away with a work of art — something to commemorate their giving — then this is a smart way to move forward,” she said. “It is a way to go.

BNT executive director Jennifer Gray said: “We were thrilled that Sharon accepted our invitation to do a pop-up gallery show at ‘Waterville’. Her work is extraordinary and so very relevant to our culture here in Bermuda, so it fits ‘hand-in-glove’ with our mandate. We aspire to be a growing membership organisation with a broad appeal and many diverse supporters who are engaged with us in a variety of ways.

“This is one way we can share our beautiful ‘Waterville’ headquarters with the public and celebrate the wonderfully soulful and truly Bermudian works of a talented local artist.

“We are so very grateful to Sharon for bringing her show to ‘Waterville’ and for offering to share some of the proceeds to assist us with our huge task of caring for the precious built heritage in our care.”

Ms Gray explained how the idea was conceived. “A piece of her work was auctioned off at our recent fundraising dinner at (BNT museum) ‘Verdmont’ and, rightly, it was a very popular item.”

Ms Wilson added the art work depicting working farmers had sold for four times the retail value, fetching $4,800. “There was a lot of excitement!” she said.

And Ms Savoie added: “It was very well received, and very popular.” She said they very quickly began talking about a collaborative venture. “We were so pleased that we wanted to jump on it right away!

“We we thought a pop-up gallery would be a good way to give our members a chance to see Sharon’s work, and for Sharon to meet our members,” she said.

Ms Wilson said: “When I thought about the purpose and the job the National Trust do in Bermuda, and the role they play in Bermuda, it just felt right, like really good synergy — and yet it’s new.” Looking around the well-proportioned ‘Waterville’ drawing room with its antique furnishings, wood-planked floors and plastered walls, she said: “To see art in this space with the furniture — it was lived in, and now it’s lived in, though in a different way. The art just fits in the space, and you can see what it brings to a room,” she said, noting how her renderings change the feel of a room, in terms of light, ambience and noted that acoustics can also be impacted.

She added that the short-term ‘pop-up’ concept means it is possible to move into spaces that otherwise would not be possible to use. “It makes things more mobile. You can travel with your message,” she said.

Ms Wilson described her enthusiasm for encaustic, or wax, as a medium. “I have been using it for a couple of years,” she said. “As a medium it is so seductive — it’s very real, a tactile thing.” She added that it has ‘incredible reading distance,’ meaning it is clear to see from a distance. “And it responds well to light.”

Ms Savoie said: “It brings this historic room alive when you bring in new people, new activities — and (bringing art in) will make your house more dynamic, more reflective.”

With about 25 works available for sale, the prices range from about $750 to $2,500.

Ms Gray said: “This is indeed a wonderful collaboration, a win-win for all, and in that spirit we encourage everyone to come and see the show.”

The ‘Waterville’ pop up gallery is open Thursday and Friday this week from 10am to 4pm.