One of the biggest art shows ever seen in Bermuda, featuring 137 works from 32 countries, opens in May when the Carib Art exhibition goes on display in three locations -- at the Bermuda National Gallery, the Bermuda Society of Arts and at the Arts Centre at Dockyard.

Although Bermuda lies about one thousand miles north of the Caribbean, its cultural, family and business ties with that region were considered strong enough to warrant its inclusion in the show which is being sponsored by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

It would seem that just about every country in the Caribbean will be represented in this travelling show, from the popular tourist hot-spots such as Jamaica and Trinidad, to the virtually unknown islands of Saba and Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles, and the politically isolated island of Cuba.

For Cultural Affairs Officer Miss Ruth Thomas, Bermuda's inclusion in this major art event came as a very pleasant surprise.

"This show is important for Bermuda, because it will be travelling to a lot of countries (including a stop in one of Europe's premier art centres, Paris).

So Bermuda will get international exposure. Three years ago we were chosen to send representative works to the first exhibition, held in Curacao. I was a member of the Planning Committee in Curacao, but never dreamed, at the time, that Bermuda would get to see it!'' By the time she returned there for the official opening, however, the National Gallery had just opened and she realised that a Bermuda showing of this unique exhibition could now be viable.

For many people, the sheer range and variety of the show promises to be something of an eye-opener.

The Caribbean is a conglomeration of different states that reflect the influences of the four main former colonial powers in the region -- Britain, France, the Netherlands and Spain -- and the exhibit will show how European, African and Indian culture have contributed to the vibrancy of the region's artwork.

UNESCO has also stated that the idea of the travelling exhibition was to provide information on the development of art in the region, and to serve as a means of exchanging ideas on the art and culture of the Caribbean with other countries.

"We've always had links with the West Indies through music, literature and drama,'' says Miss Thomas, "but not with the visual arts. I agree with the fundamental reasoning behind Curacao's original inspiration for this project.

They discovered that the European scene was only aware of the musical and literary aspects of the arts in the Caribbean. So, through UNESCO, they came up with this wonderful idea of a travelling exhibition that would show the world that the visual arts are also very strong.'' Miss Thomas believes, too, that the inclusion of Bermuda will allow local artists to see how their works measure up against others.

"Because the show includes so many areas -- some of which we know very little about -- I am hoping that residents and schools, in particular, will be motivated to find out more about them. Docents are being specially trained to take people through the exhibition,'' she says.

Noting that Bermuda has many West Indians and their descendants living here, Ruth Thomas feels that it will provide a "great'' opportunity for Bermudians to look at these islands through the eyes of the artist.

"When I saw the show in Curacao, for instance, I was absolutely fascinated to see the works from Cuba, which has virtually been closed off from the rest of the world for a long time.'' Bermuda artists in Carib Art include Vaughan Evans, Sharon Wilson, Otto Trott, Jill Amos Raine and Michael Swan. Participating artists from the Caribbean have been invited, at their own expense, to attend the opening of the exhibition and to attend specially arranged events. There have already been some acceptances and now the search is on for people who would be willing to host these artists. Anyone interested in helping out is asked to contact Mrs.

Ora Bainbridge at the Bermuda National Gallery (295-9428) as soon as possible.

Miss Thomas is project chairman of Carib Art. Ora Bainbridge is acting as project co-ordinator. And David Mitchell will be the technical co-ordinator.

Heading up the West Indian Association Liaison for the show are Messrs. Ken McDowell and Foster Burke.

The official opening of Carib Art takes place on May 8 and will open to the general public from May 9.

A VILLAGE SCENE -- Montserrat artist Susan MacLeod Edgecombe employs the art of batik for her village scene.

ART FROM BELIZE -- Israel Uck's oil study of "La Madre e Hijo''.

JEAN'S HOUSE is the title of this pastel from St. Eustatius by Wendy J.

Collins.