1996 was a bumper year for the arts: 1996 Year in Review . . . . 1996 Year in Review . . . . 1996 Year in Review By Patricia Calnan Another year of high achievement from Bermuda's artistic community indicates that the successes, interest and level of involvement over the past few years is no fluke. Several events this year (some of which are listed below) would suggest that both the visual and performing arts are winning kudos abroad as well as at home.

For the first time ever, Bermuda mounted, to critical acclaim, its first overseas exhibition (at the prestigious Pierpont Morgan Library in New York); Bermuda's `elder statesman' of art, Sam Morse-Brown, was invited to exhibit his celebrated collection of World War II portraits for the opening exhibition at the County of Hampshire's spectacular new Gosport Museum; Bermudian musician student Mark Lomas, currently a student at New York's Juilliard School of Music has been invited to perform as a soloist with the world-renowned English Chamber Orchestra at the upcoming Bermuda Festival and has also been selected as a member of Juilliard's symphony orchestra; Bermudian artist Sharon Wilson received praise from no less a personage than President Nelson Mandela as the illustrator of a children's book; several Bermudian artists (including Daniel Dempster and photographer DeForest (`Shorty') Trimingham) were awarded solo shows in New York; Bermudian architect Jonathan Weatherill won a top British award as a participatory architect in a major London redevelopment scheme; and marine artist Capt.

Stephen Card received important commissions from both Costa Cruise Lines and the Holland-America Line.

Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Yvette Swan, certainly one of the most visibly enthusiastic arts ministers yet, is extremely upbeat about the future of the arts in Bermuda. Asked if she would like to comment on this past year "from the arts point of view'' she immediately replied, "Oh that's a very easy task! So much has happened that has been quite wonderful!'' Voicing a certain degree of optimism about future financial help for the arts, Dr. Swan singles out the Bermuda National Gallery's show in New York, curated by Bermudian archivist John Adams, as a "wonderful'' example of how the arts have improved Bermuda's international image. "I thought the show was really super,'' she enthuses. "I think Bermuda has to recognise that we have some extremely gifted people here who need encouragement. I know we have been doing things on a minimum budget, but I'm working on that end of things!'' Refusing to be drawn on details, she merely says that "things are looking up''. Noting that she has a personal interest in the arts since she herself has played the piano from the age of nine and has studied both ballet and Martha Graham-type modern dance in Jamaica and the UK, Dr. Swan says it is in the interests of Bermuda generally to actively encourage all branches of the arts.

"I was also impressed by the fact that the National Gallery has managed to acquire its own African Collection and I especially liked the idea that people were persuaded to buy individual pieces. I would also like to mention that I totally agree with the Bermuda Society of Arts' decision to invite international judges to jury their shows. I think that's a very good idea.'' On the performing arts front, Dr. Swan is full of praise for the standards achieved, particularly in the Premier's Concert. "Once again, our young people were really fantastic. I was also thrilled,'' she adds, "by the artists (Marcelle Clamens, Mark Lomas and Makeba Calder) who appeared in the concert for the Lifetime Achievement Awards.'' At that awards ceremony, Garry Burgess and Jay Bluck were honoured: Gary Burgess for his services to music (among his many achievements and arguably the most important -- that of forming almost single-handed, the now highly esteemed Buffalo Opera Company -- was unaccountably omitted from the citation); and Jay Bluck for his services to the arts and culture in general, especially his role in the establishment of and then guiding, as Chairman, the Bermuda National Gallery through its `teething' years.

As has been the case now for some 21 years, Bermuda's artistic calendar opened with its six weeks celebration of the performing arts under the umbrella of the Bermuda Festival. As usual, the emphasis was on music of the classical variety, with very limited exposure for drama (a monologue and a British bedroom farce!) and a nod towards the world of dance with a return visit by the Pilobolus Dance Theatre. The undoubted artistic feather-in-the-cap went to the return appearance of jazz immortal Wynton Marsalis in a tribute to Thelonious Monk and Jelly Roll Morton; and probably the most sentimentally satisfying was another return visit to his homeland by the aforementioned Gary Burgess and Friends (soprano Julie Newell, mezzo-soprano Melissa Thorburn, bass Brian Zunner and organist James Bigham) who provided a wonderful evening of song.

Other highlights of the Festival included the glorious mix of organist Wayne Marshall and trumpeter Ole Edvard Antonsen in a spectacular concert in St.

Paul's Church in Paget, the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, the orchestra from Britain's renowned Royal College of Music, the perhaps unexpectedly popular and highly talented Quintet of the Americas, and a moving performance by Gabriel Woolf in An Evening with Charles Dickens.

Still on the musical tack, another outstanding event of the year was the now eagerly awaited Heritage Concert directed by Marjorie Pettit. This year was a special year, dedicated to celebrating the 375th anniversary of St. John's Church, where all of her concerts have been staged. Presented this year by the Bermuda Arts Council, the programme once again reflected the very best in Bermudian music-making, in a programme that included Gary Burgess (again!) and a new young talent in soloist Mark Lomas, who played the von Weber Concertino for Clarinet in Eb major. The audience thrilled, too, to the return of violinist Xiao-Dong Wang who was joined by Suzanne Dunkerley in a fine rendition of the Bach's `Double' Concerto, and then by the brilliance of his Romance in F major by Beethoven.

The Bermuda Philharmonic Society, under the baton of Graham Garton, celebrated the 150th anniversary of Mendelssohn's great oratorio `Elijah' with two performances of the work at the Anglican Cathedral. Mezzo soprano Nancy Chisling made a welcome return from Canada (where she most recently sang Scott MacMillan's Celtic Mass for the Sea during the G-7 Conference in Halifax) for the occasion and was joined by Peter Nash, Janice Rosa Moran, and guest tenor Christopher Gregory. Graham Garton's 50th performance for the Society occurred in November, with the orchestra launching into Grieg's `Peer Gynt Suite No. 1' as well as Beethoven's `Leonara' overture and climaxing with his Symphony No.

5. In addition, their Open Air Pops Concert was held as was the annual Carol Concert.

Music at the other end of the spectrum included Jazz-Scape, financed, presumably, by the Department of Tourism in a better-late-than-never attempt to get involved in some kind of cultural tourism. Local jazz greats appeared alongside the headlining stars imported for what, hopefully, was the first annual bash. They included Herbie Mann, Gladys Knight, Cassandra Wilson and George Benson. The other main event was an appearance by recording artists, The Fugees at the National Stadium, as well as a number of top Jamaican reggae stars who also made rapturously supported visits to the Island. Less rapturous, of course, were the longing-to-go-to-sleep crowd who, once again, had to put up with Government breaking its own laws on noise restriction in paradoxically allowing huge, open air concerts to take place in residential areas.

Alongside the Bermuda Festival, former dancer Paula Maguire persevered with her wonderful `Kidfest', inspired by her determination to provide the very best of theatre for children in Bermuda. This year, she had only two programmes, but both maintained her exacting standards: these were Canadian singer and songwriter Lenny Graf and a blend of Latin and New England in the duo, `Inflatable Comedy Theatre'.

MOVE OVER! -- A scene from the Jabulani Repertory Company's hit comedy, `Move Over, Mrs. Markham' with (left to right) Thomas Saunders, Julia Snelling, Ian Burch and (front) Phillip Jones.

MARSDEN'S MASTERPIECE -- The Masterworks Foundation are anxious to buy `Still Life with Pink Ground' for their Bermudiana collection. It was painted by celebrated American artist Marsden Hartley during one of his visits to the Island.

MANGROVE BAY -- Bermudian watercolourist Christopher Marson's view of Mangrove Bay was included in the Bermuda National Gallery's second Biennial show.

YEAR IN REVIEW REW