concourse of the Bacardi Building for his one-man show, Just My Style II, which opens next week.

"I think the interior of this beautiful gallery will complement my paintings extremely well,'' he says, adding that he has wanted to hold an exhibition there for some years.

The problem until now has been the fact that the building's design does not permit hanging of paintings directly to the wall. Feeling that the free-standing boards provided by Bacardi would not be suitable for his large paintings, Mr. Bassett has solved the problem by using specially constructed wooden easels.

He confides, with just a hint of mystery, that the focus of this year's show will highlight a "particular area of our Bermudian culture and heritage and the show is built upon a special theme that will be readily evident when one views it''.

After his successful one-man show at City Hall last summer, Mr. Bassett, who was educated at Wilberforce and Central State University in Ohio and now teaches at Sandys Secondary School, feels that his work has matured over the last year and he has been experimenting with "any and everything'' to create new surface effects on the canvas.

"I am quite pleased with what I have prepared, even though, of course, I'm never fully satisfied with a painting after it's completed!'' Experimentation with burlap, fine linen and coarse canvas has produced what he describes as "some interesting works'', some of which are painted in diluted oils and applied as if they were watercolours.

Even though Mr. Bassett, who usually spends about six hours a day painting, is intensely serious about his work, he believes that his enjoyment and a sense of fun that keeps bubbling to the surface, is communicated to the viewer.

He promises a surprise for all jazz lovers with a special painting. "This will be dedicated to one of Bermuda's great jazz musicians who passed away not too long ago. My portrait of this Bermudian treasure will be unveiled on the last day of the show.'' Just My Style II opens at the Bacardi International Building on Monday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, including Saturdays.

The Tribute to a Giant will take place on the final day, Saturday July 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

JUST HIS STYLE -- Artist Mr. Robert Bassett will stage a one-man show opening Monday at the Bacardi Building on Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton.