Island artists get crafty
Bermuda Arts Centre's Annual Craft Exhibition.I am of two minds when it comes to the current craft exhibition at the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard. First, I recall the craft exhibitions that were organised by the Arts Centre back when it first opened in the 1980s. The craft artists then exhibited their works by invitation and the exhibitions were curated. As might be expected, these exhibitions were of top quality and included, wood (furniture and wood turning), fibre arts ( weaving, spinning, knitting and basketry etc), silversmithing and ceramics.After an absence of many years, the Arts Centre is once again organising an annual craft exhibition. The difference between the current exhibitions and the earlier ones however, is that the current shows are open to all and unjuried. As can be expected, the quality of the work is by no means up to that of the earlier exhibitions. Still, all things considered, the work is not all that shabby either and one thing is certain, it surely demonstrates that all kinds of people, in all age and social groups, as well as men and women are busy making things here in Bermuda. Even so, and although 46 crafts people are exhibiting in this show, I can think of many others, including some of our best, who, for a multitude of reasons, are not exhibiting in the show.Because of the large number of entries, I cannot write about everything. Instead, I will select a number of entries that stand out. I think of Frederick Phillips' Child's Rocking Chair in Bermuda cedar or Kathryn Garcia's Onion Basket, which is made of palmetto fronds. This recalls that earlier period when Bermuda was largely agricultural based economy and Bermuda onions were common. Another unusual piece is Chesley Trott's walking stick in pine.Of note was Shaun Thomas's mixed media clocks as well as Lynn Morrell's textile wall hanging called All That Remains. Ms Morrell has created the sense of strata, that one sees in rock-cut walls.Delight Goodfellow's four needle point designs, although varied, are mostly in a Bargello pattern. There is one exception, however. This is her piece called Dancers. In the middle are a couple dancing what looks like a tango. They are surrounded by a red, zigzag pattern on yellow.For several years now, I have admired Mary Tatem's fused glass jewellery and this is true of her submissions in this exhibition as well. Tini Pinto is a ceramicist who is exhibiting a covered platter that has been hand thrown and then altered. Near by is Linda Atcheson's chair that has been re-caned in the traditional manner of caning.It was several years ago, that I first saw Ronnie Lopes’ rustic furniture in a craft exhibition at the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation and although at that time I admired what he was doing, I remember being somewhat put off by their slick, shiny finish. In this show he has reduced his finish to a satin sheen, which I find much more appealing. I was particularly struck by his Spice Chair, which is notably sturdy. Spice wood is very dense, strong and heavy.Joan Aspinall has a variety of crafts on show, but I was drawn especially to her hand-screened/hand-painted textiles. Ami Zanders is also showing her unusual, colourful baskets that are made with wire and yard.There are several jewellery makers, notably Alexandra Mosher and her silver hair pieces.The Art of Craft exhibition continues through next Friday.