The summer siesta normally taken by Bermuda's art community has been delightfully interrupted with a massive show of talent at the City Hall Gallery.

Organised by a new group of young artists called Mosaic, there are over 250 pieces of work exhibited by the widest range of young artists probably ever seen at one time in Bermuda. Many of them have never displayed their work before, and in an effort to encourage as many newcomers as possible, the organisers have made an all-out effort to include people from all kinds of backgrounds and abilities.

If the overall standard is mixed, the show, entitled Freestyle, is still a triumph -- on several levels. There are some artists whose work is of a high technical standard and a great many more who show compensating originality and imagination in their approach. For some of us, just a walk through an exhibition that is not dominated by scenic views of Bermuda, provides rare and heady tonic enough.

But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this show is its visible proof that art is able to cross social and ethnic barriers in a way that politicians only dream about. The group of young organisers who got together and decided to mount a major exhibition have obviously managed to arouse an infectious enthusiasm amongst their peers. For most (but not all) of the work is by young college students or those who pursue their art on what is necessarily a part-time basis.

Another interesting, and refreshing aspect to this show is the apparent indifference to commercialism: almost, if not all of the work seems to spring from the heart and if there is any unifying theme at all, it is a concern for the environment that shines through.

Besides paintings in a variety of media, there is a very strong collection of photography, sculpture, silkscreening, stained glass, jewellery and even needlepoint.

With so many works from about 50 artists, it is only possible to single out a very few.

For sheer versatility of talent, and as a newcomer in the public arena, Carlton Butler must head the list. His oil paintings, particularly `Ital', a large portrait-like work depicting a group of Rastafarians, are full of drama, but his cedar carvings are perhaps even more impressive. His central piece shows a Rastafarian praying for protection as a bald-headed man raises a threatening arm. The arm is consumed with curling licks of fire as two serpents coil round the attacker's brain, representing the twisted thinking of society towards these individuals. A provocative and wonderfully crafted piece of work from a struggling artist who says he works mainly in his back yard as he has no suitable inside area. An ex student of Berkeley, Carlton Butler spent a year at the Jamaican School of Art before returning home to Bermuda.

Art student Graham Foster, who is already well known through Bermuda Society of Art shows, also demonstrates his versatility and increasing technical confidence with some impressive clay sculptures. All the same, his marvellously strong Minotaur Devouring Woman, the stunning iron and jewel-hung mask and even his Messiah, clad in art-deco robe and exquisitely painted in acrylics on paper, indicates that this immensely gifted artist is still dabbling in a mixture of styles and has yet to find his own.

Creating a suitably dramatic effect at the entrance of the exhibition are four lithographs by Bryan Ritchie that tend towards abstract impressionism to explore such themes as Thought Processes and Escape. Also sharing this focal spot are two strongly drawn nudes in charcoal by Cathie Draycott.

The sensuality of the pastel figure studies by Jackie Kessell, which also reveal a fine sense of movement is heightened by an unusual use of deep, deep blue. Nick Minugh tilts towards light-hearted surrealism in his mixed media Cat Women and Mike Swan achieves a striking three-dimensional effect with his airburshed Bda 1 and Day at the Beach.

The photography in this show is of a particularly high standard. Richard Townsend has captured a real sense of decay in his trio-study of old bikes and tractors, discarded in long grass, while Sean Talbot shows us that the Bermudian bike rider is an essential part of our heritage with his back view of a cyclist sneaking along the winding railway trail.

Sundee Whitehead's black and white travel studies capture a fine sense of place, as does Tamell Simons' moongate study in Traditions. He also has a fine black and white study of a dancer, aptly entitled Power and Grace.

The Bermuda Society of Arts have performed an invaluable service in supporting this show. It certainly confirms that the visual arts is even stronger than was perhaps previously thought, with plenty of new and vibrant talent hovering in the wings. This exhibition will help to confound the negative images that are so often aimed at our young people and deserves maximum exposure. Let's hope, as well, that this is just the first stride in a continuing new direction.

PATRICIA CALNAN.

FAMILY SUPPORT -- Artist Carlton Butler's sons, Raymond (four) and Roderick (seven) seen in front of two of his watercolours and holding two of his carved cedar walking sticks, on show now at the Freestyle exhibition at City Hall Gallery.