A unique collaboration of work opens at Masterworks tonight, part of an initiative which seeks to provide locals with international exposure and to re-establish the island as a creative haven for American artists.The Atlantic School Invitational will feature works by four Bermudian artists and four artists based out of New York City. The same exhibit will then travel to Manhattan in the autumn, where the body of work will display in a gallery on the lower east side.

Although this inaugural event represents a joint effort between friends, the idea is to broaden the opportunity in the future.

“The Atlantic School Invitational is an art exhibition inspired by the long-standing dialogue between Bermudian and American artists,” a member of the group explained. “The object is to introduce the current generation of American artists into the Bermudian community in the spirit of past American artists who found peace and inspiration on this remote island — such as Winslow Homer and Georgia O’Keefe — as well as to expose Bermudian artists to the New York City art mega-culture.

“In keeping with this tradition of exchange, the show will be installed in two parts. The first exhibition will open at the Masterworks Museum, the work will then be moved to New York City for exhibition in the Emergence Gallery on Manhattan’s lower east side. The featured artists’ works will range through sculpture, painting, photography, and collage.”

The four local artists are James Cooper, Kate Waters, Meredith Andrews and Jon Legere while Greg MacAvoy, Bernard Klevickas, Noah Post and Liz Sullivan will travel in from the east coast for the event.

“It would be hard to imagine what Bermuda would be like artistically without the United States developing alongside as its close neighbour,” said Masterworks’ Elise Outerbridge.

“We are so very happy to see this tradition continue with young contemporary artists from Bermuda and New York coming together at Masterworks. This truly fulfils our original mission.”

Mr. Cooper, a photographer, was equally enthusiastic about the upcoming show and its potential for fostering relationships between artists here and abroad.

“This inaugural show has grown out of existing friendships and connections,” he said.

“The four local artists — myself, Jon Legere, Kate Waters and Meredith Andrews — are all friends. Jon and I even collaborate on some art pieces. The New York crew is Greg MacAvoy, Bernard Klevickas, Noah Post and Liz Sullivan.”

Mr. MacAvoy was the link between the two groups, Mr. Cooper explained. Now a curator in New York, he attended university with Mr. Legere.

“The opening will be during the Friday night Live in the Gardens happy hour series at Masterworks and can be seen as an extension of what has been happening there musically, where DJs and live bands have been brought in from the States to play alongside local acts. It broadens the musical experience for Bermuda audiences and establishes friendships and creative links between artists.

“We have a lot of corporate business connections in Bermuda with the States, but as visual artists we are more interested in mixing the creative juices. I’m excited to see what they bring down from New York and to see all the work hanging together, will be fantastic. Hopefully the show will grow and expand each year, to take in different cities or regions around the Atlantic and beyond.”

The Atlantic School will be on display tonight at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art between 5.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The exhibit continues through July 12.