"sculpture'' at City Hall.

The Royal Gazette received a number of complaints from members of the public who were astonished at Daniel C. Dempster's show entitled "Context''. The sculptures include material picked up on local beaches including tree branches, rusty metal and building material.

But it is the prices quoted for the sculptures that has amazed many people. A tree branch with steel and copper nailed to it is quoted at $8,000 while three pieces of metal, apparently building material, and titled "Fountainbleu'' would cost $3,000.

The "critics'' feel that anyone could have picked the items off the beach and set up an exhibition. One said: "I can't imagine anyone spending $8,000 on a piece of drift wood. It would not look good in your dining room.'' But Mr. Dempster defended his sculptures which he said took a full year to prepare. He said he has become accepted in Bermuda for his "waterworks'', which he describes as coloured pencil studies of the movement of water and light in the shallows of Bermuda.

He said: "Most of our lives we have taken the natural beauty surrounding us for granted and tend to appreciate its most obvious features. The artist interprets the beauty of Bermuda in a very personal, individual way to share that appreciation with others.

"It is not enough that an artist should have his work `accepted'. He is not being honest with society if he simply repeats the expected.

"The artist has a responsibility to society to think forward so that others may have room to think.'' Mr. Dempster claims his work was a process of understanding the movement of water and light and because of restrictions he was only able to present the latter part of the process in City Hall.

He said: "The works shown are from a larger body of edited work that makes understanding the relationship between the "waterworks'' and the sculpture studies more apparent''.

Adding that sculpture is an inclusive form of art, he says he has shown a particular consideration for the viewer.

Mr. Dempster said: "The interpretation of the raw materials to use as the basis of works of art is through the eye of the artist.

"It is the artist's particular eye that selects a standard of elegance, proportion, line and texture of one piece over many others.

"Each piece of this exhibition has been specifically chosen and interpreted by the artist, then was treated and worked on for between five to ten months.

"Certain pieces are so unique and described the artist's intention so well that there is no need to do more other than to present them arranged in a particular attitude.

"Those pieces comprising of folded weathered metal and driftwood are extraordinary finds amongst all the thousands of pieces picked over.

"It takes time and patience to find these pieces and to recognise the virtue in them. Such pieces exhibit the movement as well as the effects of water and light through their various textures and shapes.'' The addition of cocoons and sea fans to some pieces lends another dimension to the interpretation of water and light according to Mr. Dempster.

He said: "The sculptures exist in two realms -- the one in the viewer's space, the other imaginary as if the piece was caught in an instant underwater.'' Mr. Dempster said it is particularly important to see the video associated with the exhibition.

He said: "It is a cheerful, positive approach to a different way of looking at Bermuda's magic, one which is usually taken for granted.'' DRIFTWOOD ART -- Mr. Daniel C. Dempster with one of his sculptures, which would cost thousands of dollars to buy.