A rotating exhibition of arts and crafts at Dockyard's Arts Centre should provide an incentive for both visitors and locals to visit the West End gallery throughout the summer.

As always, at these shows there is an interesting mix of participants, ranging from new names to several of Bermuda's best known artists. Overall, though, the standards reached by this juried show remain high and the exhibition is attractively hung.

The new arrangement, under which the show will be changed four times between now and September, has been partly devised in an effort to raise money for the Centre. Those simply wishing to look, will find plenty to enjoy in a show that includes paintings, pastels, sculpture, photography, embroidery, monoprints, quilting, carving, Bermuda dolls, jewellery -- and even some beautifully designed and painted papier mache decorative plates by Kevin Pantry.

Recent renovations also mean that additional space has been allotted to two resident artists, carver Charles Trott and painter Jaqui Murray-Hall within the Centre's complex.

Holding centre stage in this month's show is Charles Trott's rocking horse, carved in spruce wood (and a mane of genuine horse-hair) on a cedar stand.

Also in the crafts department, June Christie's quilted wall-hanging deserves a very long look indeed. As she herself describes her design, it represents her ingenious version of Bermuda's beauty as she looks up to the chimneys and clouds, through hedges and flowers to glimpses of doorways, windows and walls; the glimmering sea surrounds it all. Indeed it does, as the outer edges of the square are turquoise and blue cotton, while white seersucker gives texture to the roofs. Stitched floral strips make colourful hedges and painted windows, doors, butteries and chimneys are appliqued. In the centre, as if seen through an atrium, she has painted wispy white clouds in a powder-blue sky.

There are some striking silk screens by Reed Cooper. His study of cats in muted shades of yellow, lilac, green and black is quietly effective and there is a strong sense of colour in the more abstract design of Emerald Forest.

Sharon Wilson's work goes from strength to strength. There are two of her sumptuously narrative pastels on view -- The Reapers, which shows farmers at work, gathering what appear to be potatoes from Bermuda's rich, red earth and the delightfully sensitive study of Katrina's Gold, a mother who sits cross-legged on the floor as she cradles her baby.

An oil study of Freesias, in which the breeze-swept blooms dance across a grassy field reveals Maria Smith at her formidable best. Choosing a slightly smaller canvas than usual, she captures a marvellous sense of movement and delicacy in this apparent, and wise, return to a more impressionistic style.

There are two interesting paintings by Mary Powell. She has reverted to unusually bright colours for her palette in Hot Bananas, where the deep green fronds form a dramatic contrast to the burnt sienna of the background wall.

She is also in experimental mood with Night Scene, an atmospheric piece where a darkened cottage is punctured with softly lit windows and the light from a street lamp casts exaggerated shadows across the serrated roof.

Proctor Martin is another artist who continues to grow; his watercolours of rural scenes in Germany and Ireland are handled with quietly increasing confidence and radiate a palpable air of serenity.

Bessie Ramsbottom, producing wondrously vibrant work at the age of 92, has a set of four botanical watercolour flower studies. Her pink Mutabilis and yellow Mermaid roses are particularly successful.

Other artists whose work is well worth the drive to Somerset include Elmer Midgett, whose powerful oil studies of the Island's coastline linger in the mind as few others manage to do; Ann Proctor, who brings plant and flower studies to vigorous life through the luminosity of her colours -- this time it is the glowing gold and deep green of seasonal loquats; Barbara Chenault's softly washed watercolour of a St. George's Corner; a luxurious display of pink frangipani by Jaqui Murray-Hall, three serene and delicately brushed watercolours by Chris Marson and, in a welcome change of subject matter, Melanie Francis' delightful Key Lime Pie. -- PATRICIA CALNAN .