Developing an art collection is much like creating a work of art. Indeed, it is possible to speak of the art of collecting art and why not?

Making art is often a process of trial and error. The artist does something, considers it and then maybe alters it somewhat, then does something else and thus finally arrives at something, possibly quite different from what was originally intended. Sometimes the outcome is better than initially planned. Collecting art is just such a haphazard process. Collectors often hone their collection by not only additions to, but also by deletions from, and rearrangements of the collection. Certain works in the collection are eventually seen as not a good fit in the overall development and then certain works are seen as needed to round out the collection in an appropriate way.

When John and Nelga Young?s set out to develop their art collection, they could hardly have foreseen the route this adventure would take them, but the important thing is that they made a start; they had an intention. Eventually, as the collection began to develop, it became apparent that it was a natural outcome and extension of the Young?s themselves. The collection is colourful, sophisticated, approachable, well-crafted and very beautiful. In other words, the Youngs went for quality.

The collection includes paintings as well as sculptures. A host of different materials and techniques were used in making the art. The paintings are in watercolour, oil paint, acrylics and even mixed media. The sculptures are of bronze, marble, onyx and ceramic. An additional aspect of the collection is its diversity. Such countries as Mexico, England, France, Spain,Italy, Japan, China, as well as the United States and Canada, not to mention a selection of Bermudian artists are all represented in the collection.

Certain works in the collection are decorative in nature, but keep this in mind, initially, the art for this collection was purchased to ?decorate? Lantana, the hotel that the Young?s ran in Somerset for so many years. Considering its quality, this art collection is so much more than just decorative, however. It provided a quality atmosphere for the guests.These works are therefore, by no means your typical ?hotel art,? anymore than Lantana was your typical hotel! . Certainly these ?decorative? works are by no means ?decorator art? at all. They are wonderful works of art, which, as it so happened, ended up in a hotel. Consider this; a large percentage of the world?s great art, was initially produced to beautify, or if you like, decorate. Beauty is surely one of the important factors in any real civilization. Lantana was a place of considerable civility.

I understand that Mr. Young especially, was passionate about visiting galleries and looking at art. Indeed, he was something of an artist himself and as a young person, for a time thought to become a professional artist. Circumstances worked against this happening. Instead his interest in art was eventually directed toward the art of collecting. Always fascinated in the artistic process; whenever possible, he especially enjoyed meeting the artists themselves. With the gift of the Young Collection to the Bermuda National Gallery, the Bermuda general public will now be the beneficiary. They too will be able to share in the joy that this collection brought to the Young family and their guests at Lantana.

It has been said that the Young Collection will greatly augment the Gallery?s Modern Collection. In fact, most of the Young Collection would, stylistically, be inconceivable outside the 20th century and in that context, the collection fits within the parameters of what the gallery understands the Modern Collection to be: namely art produced since 1900. Modern, as a word, does not imply any stylistic strictures. It comes from the Latin word ?meaning ?just now.? The Bermuda National Gallery, in using the term, modern, understands it to mean that it is of our time and that is all. It can encompass all the stylistic differences of 20th Century art. The concept of the modern is always an on-going process. What was once modern will eventually be otherwise. Interestingly, back in the 12th century, French artists and architects of that day, referred to their particular artistic style as, ?opus modernum,? or modern work or modern art. Today we know it as the Gothic style.

The Young Collection itself, comes with a variety of different styles and this is to be expected, considering the diversity of the collection. The tendency of the collection is toward realism, although some works while referring to the real world, are highly abstracted. I think of ?La familia? by Jesus Mariano Leuus, as an example. This is a recently created painting. It was made in 1995.

The Bermuda National Gallery is presently showing highlights from the Young Collection in the Lower and Upper Mezzanines and the Main Gallery. This exhibition is the first thing anyone encounters upon entering the Gallery and if most are like me, they will find the exhibition arrangement to be refreshing. The pictures are hung with enough wall space between each picture to allow them to be contemplated without undue influence from other pieces.

I have long thought it ideal when looking at pictures, that nothing but empty walls should impinge upon ones peripheral vision. The arrangement of this exhibition just about meets my ideal. Additionally, the collection is arranged in their respective schools or countries.

For example, the paintings from the School of Paris are hung altogether as a group, in the Upper Mezzanine, as are also the works from Mexico. Although the exhibition provides us with only a sample of the entire collection, the strengths of this exhibition are a! lso the paintings from the School of Paris and the Mexican School.

There is simply not enough work from the other countries, to, in any way give us a representative sample. The work is good in and of itself, though.

Taken individually, a favourite in the exhibition is in fact , a work by an American artist. It is Fred Swan?s ?Early Daffodils.? The sheer amount of detail depicted and the actual size of the work is impressive. The exhibition continues through January 5, 2007.