Well-known Bermuda artists Will Collieson and Dr. Charles Zuill are opening a new joint exhibition at the Bermuda Society of Arts (BSoA) tonight.

Entitled 'Recent and Current Works', the mixed media show is being curated by businessman and abstract art collector Paul Gurtler, who was responsible for the duo's inclusion in an international exhibition at the prestigious National Arts Club in New York last year.

Based on its success, Mr. Gurtler, whose own success as a curator is blossoming, was pleased to accept the local artists' invitation to curate their BSoA show. In fact, he has been adding their work to his private collection for about 15 years.

"I think they are the two leading proponents of abstract art in Bermuda today, and I think we are going to have a great show," he said.

Recalling the New York exhibition, Mr. Gurtler said he originally approached the National Arts Club with a view to sponsoring an international show of works by artists in his collection: ten from Canada, and Mr. Collieson and Dr. Zuill from Bermuda.

By "remarkable coincidence" he had recently curated an exhibition in Munich, Germany which was so well received that he was inspired to curate the New York one as well.

Mr. Gurtler is a member of the National Arts Club, which he describes as "probably the leading arts club in the western hemisphere, and a very prestigious place for artists to show".

"I wanted the artists from Toronto and Bermuda to be able to add the New York show to their bios," he added. "Artists live by their bios, and I think it has been very helpful to all of them to include the fact that they participated in a group show in New York. In fact, the Canadian artists are now called 'The New York Ten'!"

Meanwhile, in terms of the new exhibition, Dr. Zuill feels that his and Mr. Collieson's art work well together, and he is looking forward to tonight's opening.

Describing his work as "often experimental", he said he likes to "try things, and if I am lucky enough for them to work out, I simply claim them and put my name on them".

"I play a game with myself called, 'What if?' 'What would happen if I did this or that?'"

Giving some hint of what viewers will see, the former Bermuda College professor, who gained his doctorate in theory and criticism at New York University, says two small paintings were digitally photographed and blown up on canvas, after which he worked on them with various glazes.

"I am not stuck in any particular technique," he added. "With all of today's technical advantages, why not use them?"

While Dr. Zuill does not know which of his approximately 16 works Mr. Gurtler will select for the exhibition, he said they would be, as the show's title implies, a mixture of a few which have been seen previously, and many which are new.

Of these, there are three or four pieces about which he is "particularly excited". One is a large installation entitled 'Inside Out', while the self-explanatory 'Working Lunch' is a parody. There are also two-dimensional paintings and a sculpture.

Both artists predict their show will include pieces created at the last minute.

Noting that this is their second joint exhibition, Mr. Collieson said: "The object is to produce work and show it. It is all about communicating with people, and getting a response. Anything else is gravy."

Mr. Collieson is a professional artist who work has been included in all of the Bermuda National Gallery's Biennial exhibitions. Dr. Zuill is also a professional artist and BNG Biennial exhibitor. Now retired, his extensive teaching career involved living and working here and abroad.

l 'Recent and Current Works by Will Collieson and Charles Zuill' will continue through August 12. For further information see the Bermuda Calendar or telephone 292-3824.