fascinating exhibitions so far staged in the Bermuda National Gallery's six-year history.

As part of its mission to involve as much of the community as possible in Bermuda's artistic life, a major show, slated for the autumn of next year, will focus on another Atlantic island community.

1999 marks the 150th anniversary of Portuguese settlement in Bermuda. Since their arrival here in 1849, the Portuguese and Acorean community have made significant contributions in every area of the socio-economic scene. What is perhaps not so widely known, is the Azores' rich artistic heritage, flourishing today, as never before, with a vibrant contemporary art community.

As part of the 150th anniversary, the National Gallery will present a major exhibition of 20th century Acorean art, entitled `A Window on the Azores'.

"I think this show will surprise everyone,'' says gallery director Laura Gorham, "because although the Azores is very isolated it has assembled a large collection of art and I think it will be a revelation and an inspiration to Bermuda. The stage for the show will be set with several religious artworks and a look at the `regionalism movement', a style linked with 19th century England in which artists drew feelings of nationality from popular traditions, music and theatre. Both we and the Azores are very excited by the whole project.'' Included in the exhibition will be `The Immigrants' by Domingos Rebelo (1891-1975), acknowledged as being the most famous painting in the Azores. The show, explains Mrs. Gorham, will reflect the international influence on contemporary artists who either return to the Azores to work and by artists presently based there, with final emphasis on emerging young artists.

Altogether, over 100 works by 33 artists will be featured.

With a population of over 200,00 on San Miguel alone, the overall population that constitutes the Autonomous Region of the Azores, says Mrs. Gorham, is large enough to support a major university. Over the years, they have brought in major professors and sustained important exchange programmes with mainland Portugal.

Having just returned from a visit to the Azores (with curator Marlee Robinson) to finalise details of the projected show, Mrs. Gorham says she was very impressed, both with the Azores' high artistic standards and the professionalism of the Carlos Machado Museum in arranging the Bermuda exhibition.

Pointing out that the two countries have been planning this show for around four years now, she says that what began as merely a show geared to Bermuda, has now evolved into an important international exhibition that will almost certainly travel on to the US and Canada.

One of the advisors for the project is architect Louis Bernardo who came to Bermuda as a boy of 13 and went on to become one of Bermuda's outstanding citizens before returning home to retirement in the Azores. Along with Eddie DeMello, he was instrumental in heightening awareness of Acorean culture on the Island. He was awarded the Portuguese equivalent of a knighthood for his work for the Portuguese people in Bermuda.

A visiting committee from the Azores visited the Island last February and have since created a computerised scale plan of the National Gallery and curatorial design of the 100-piece show. At the entrance, a series of videos featuring dance, singing and poetry, will be installed.

There are plans, too, for a special evening of dance, featuring both Bermudian talent and guest dancers from the Azores. The catalogue will be bilingual which, says the director, will be "more like a book than a catalogue, with a history of the Azores community.'' The estimated cost of the exhibition is $200,000, with crating -- supervised by the Gulbenkian Foundation in Portugal -- costing $40,000. In addition, shipping costs will have to be met "so we are hoping for major sponsorship and fundraising events within the community,'' says Mrs. Gorham. "This is why we need everyone to be aware that this major event is taking place and to ensure its success.'' THE AZORES VIEW -- The Bermuda National Gallery's Laura Gorham and Marlee Robinson, with former Bermuda architect Louis Barnardo, officials of the Carlos Machado Museum, and the Mayor of Vila Franca do Campo, pictured on the steps of the Santuario Nossa Senhora da Paz during their visit to the Azores.