local politics, Peter Woolcock's weekly cartoon in The Royal Gazette , has become the satirical barometer of Island politics.

A political cartoonist for The Gazette since the early 1980s, he sees himself as an "observer, rather than a commentator.

"I never go out of my way to insult, but rather pick a subject and try to find a spot of lunacy.'' The caricatures, although making astute political observations, have long captured local audiences with their intrinsic wit and humour. The exhibit however is made up, by necessity, of reproductions, as the originals, in many cases have been bought by those depicted.

One cartoon from 1987 highlights events in the aftermath of Bermuda's onslaught by Hurricane Emily. At that time, an offer of assistance from the British government was turned down, but "having turned down Britain's offer of assistance after Emily, Premier Swan was quick to return the compliment when Britain itself was hit by an even worse storm''.

The cartoon shows a British Airways plane with a "Bermuda Aid to Britain'' banner strung from the front of the plane and Belco experts and a man toting a large bottle of shark oil, boarding the aircraft. At the forefront is Premier Swan on the telephone saying "And if there is anything else, you need, Maggie, don't hesitate...'' A cartoon from June 1988, comments on the "rapidly dwindling ecological and architectural spaces, on the Island''. The cartoon's headline is "If all of the Motor vehicles in Bermuda drove bumper to bumper the line would stretch over 75 miles...'' and pictured is an arc of cars, trucks and bikes driving over St. David's Lighthouse, billowing smoke and driving one by one into the sea.

A cartoon from later that same year, hits a particularly funny note as it explores the tendency of construction projects to go over budget. The roof for the new airport had apparently only been nailed on and not glued as well, as it was supposed to be. (Then) Works Minister Mr. Quinton Edness said it would take a crystal ball to determine the final cost of the project.

In the cartoon, passengers are scrambling for cover under chairs and suitcases as a plane flies over the open ceiling. Minister Edness is laying over the baggage check-in, saying to a construction worker, "What do you mean you can't find the roof?'' The cartoon inaugurating the PLP Victory in November 1998 depicts a Bermuda Government train carrying the defeated UBP party in to Parliament station, and Premier Jennifer Smith waiting on the track, a sign in hand saying `ALL CHANGE'. The wise-cracking lizards featured in each of Woolcock's cartoons, are saying, "Will the ticket price go up?'' And the reply, "that remains to be seen.'' The most recent cartoon in the exhibit is from this January, in response to the new Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) regulations. Under CURE regulations, companies with over 10 employees would have to prove they were striving "to reflect in their staff the overall racial make-up of the Island''.

The cartoon shows the fictitious 'Wally Redondo's Egg Farm', with Minister Terry Lister leaning over a wall. Two assistants are in the background, tabulating the number or white and black chickens, "...FIVE, SIX, SEVEN.. .EIGHT (white chickens)''. And the quip "Mr. Redondo, we'd like to have a word with you''.

A selection of Peter Woolcock's cartoons is compiled annually, as a book titled `'Woppened' (Bermudian for 'What's Happening?'). It has been customary to end the book with a cartoon devoid of any political overtones. In much the same fashion, the exhibit ends with a fun cartoon of a tourist riding over Somerset Bridge on the proverbial moped.

Peter Woolcock's weekly cartoon in The Royal Gazette has become the lens through which to view the ironies of Island politics. The overall effect of the exhibit reminds one of Mr. Woolcock's mastery in capturing zeitgest; the spirit of the times.

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