In the year 2020, during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the representatives of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas reached out to me to be a part of a mural exhibition entitled “one:Pulse”. I gladly accepted the invitation.
Initial Feelings
All of the artists were given artistic license to create a piece about Bahamian society or culture that resonated with us. I chose to tackle an aspect that connects the two and the affects are still evident today. In the process of creating the piece, I did have a few reservations how the message would be received, which for the most part, I couldn’t be control. I had point of reference when a Bahamian visual artist made artistic social commentary beyond the interior of gallery walls. I also considered the fact that art on the island of Grand Bahama were basically pretty or dealt with subject matters far from what I dived into. Nonetheless, I had to speak my truth and I wanted others to come to grip with the an ongoing cultural transfer.
Here is a response written by Ashleigh Rolle.
https://10thyearseniors.com/2021/04/21/mismanaging-culture-the-management-of-white-fragility/
https://nagb.org.bs/blank-canvas-may-26th-2021-featuring-curators-natalie-willis-richardo-barrett-and-artist-benjamin-ferguson/
After the incident transpired and the word got around, The University of The Bahamas North facilitated a panel discussion.