THE Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) this week announced that 50 artists have been selected to showcase their work as part of the Bacardi Limited Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Bermuda Art.

A total of 83 pieces were chosen, their suitability decided by two international jurors ? Dr. Annette Blaugrund, director of the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Art in New York and Professor Moe Brooker, department head of Basic Studies at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia.

"This year's Biennial is once again proof of the diverse and challenging museum-quality work that Bermuda's vibrant visual arts community is now producing on a regular basis," said BNG director Laura Gorham.

"It is exciting for the BNG to see so many new names and we think visitors to the Biennial will share that enthusiasm."

Accepted works came from familiar and lesser-known artists. Those who will display as part of the upcoming exhibit are Theresa Airey, Charles Anderson, Meredith Andrews, Norma Carr, William Collieson and Libby Cook-Toppan, James Cooper, Dan Dempster, Frank Dublin, Rhona Emmerson, Vaughn and Amy Evans, Kendra Ezekiel, Lee Finch, Graham Foster, Frances Furbert, Vanessa C. George, Malcom Greenough, Shelly Hamill and Margie and Katherine Harriott.

Also scheduled to be on showcase are works by Joyce Joell-Hayden, Scott Hill, Antoine A.R. Hunt, Cynthia Kirkwood, Peter Lapsley, Heather McDonald, Ian McDonald-Smith, Dougal McDonell, Kevin Morris, Elizabeth Mulderig, Jill Amos-Raine, Sue Rebello, Lisa Rego, Bryan Ritchi, Stella Shakerchi, Edwin M.E. Smith, Alan Smith, Amanda Temple, Caroline Troncossi, Otto Trott, Nancy Hutchings Valentine, Martha Vaughn, Barbara (Lines) Verdie, Dean Walker, Marsha Wiggins, Glen Wilks, Judy Wong, Sharon Wilson and Charles Zuill.

Open to all Bermudian artists ? on the island or overseas ? as well as foreign nationals who have been resident in Bermuda for at least six months during the competition period, the upcoming exhibition was drawn from a body of 263 works submitted by 68 artists.

The seventh Biennial runs from April 21 through September 1 at the Bermuda National Gallery.