The Bermuda National Gallery is hosting a splendid major exhibition from the Azores entitled, "A Window on the Azores''.

It is an excellent connection to Bermuda's Portuguese descendants who are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. It is an opportunity through art to pay tribute to our Portuguese citizens.

When Marlee Robinson, Senior Curator of the Bermuda National Gallery, was asked how the exhibition evolved she explained: "About four years ago we developed an advisory committee and we put this concept on our agenda and devised a plan to accomplish a Portuguese exhibition.

"Charles Zuill journeyed to the Azores and developed a rapport with Dr.

Antonio Manuel Oliveira, Director of the Carlos Machado Museum and its curator, Dr. Margaride Teves Oliveria and artists Tomas Vieria and Jose Nuno da Camara Pereira.

"Dr. Oliveira formed an Azorean curatorial committee and they visited the Bermuda National Gallery, got to know our space and met some of the local Portuguese.

"Laura Gorham, Director of the National Gallery, and I traveled to the Azores to help in the selections of the proposed art and that's how it all happened.'' Mrs. Robinson reports the response has been fantastic. "We think we are breaking all of our records. About two thousand people have been through since October 1. Many school groups in the primary five and six have visited. Some days there are at least two or three tours of about 130 youngsters.'' The people visiting the gallery are new comers. At the members opening they had a full range of people attending. Mrs. Robinson remarked, "Usually if the show is on a particular cultural group, that group only might attend. For example if the work is primarily African, mostly blacks attend.'' One of the guest viewers, Delaey Robinson, wrote in the guest book: "At last, great that the gallery leads the way in exposing all Bermuda culture.'' It is fair to say that this exhibition has struck a chord with a lot more people than the Portuguese.

One of Mrs. Robinson's favourite works is a sculpture entitled, "Missed Meeting.'' It depicts a male and a female trying to see each other through a piece of glass. "When I look at it I see a certain poignancy about missed connections,'' reflected Mrs. Robinson.

Another favourite of the curator is one of the films entitled, "Sea Breeze'' by Jose Meckiro. A young woman is singing a wistful sea song on a freighter thrown on the rocks during a fierce storm. News reels about the event are playing while she is singing. The event takes place in Ponta Delgada, capital of San Miguel.

Mrs. Robinson concluded: "Azoreans are very much a part of our community and the wider international community through this view of contemporary art.'' The gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. For further information phone 292-3824 or fax 296-0699.