Bermuda College Art Department Annual Art ExhibitionHaving taught art at the collegiate level for about 40 years, with almost half of that time as a lecturer at Bermuda College, I am especially interested in what our Bermuda College art students are currently producing.The Bermuda College art programme is primarily, a two year foundation course. The students, during that time period, are required to take such courses as introductory and intermediate drawing, figure drawing, two and three dimensional design, colour theory, as well as the basic survey in art history and the history of modern art. The course stresses the development of fundamental skills, as well as introducing them to the importance of creativity in their artistic productions.After the foundation course, many students will continue their education at various overseas art colleges, but by then, they will have begun to specialise in one of the many art options offered, such as graphic design, illustration, fine art (painting, sculpture), art education or perhaps in one of the craft areas, such as ceramics or textiles, etc. During their two years at Bermuda College, however, the art instructors will, in getting to know their students, be able to determine each student’s strengths and will thus be able to advise and direct them as to what their future direction might be.A culminating and important aspect of each year’s training, is the annual art exhibition, which is currently talking place in the Onions Gallery of the Bermuda Society of Arts. As might be expected, the quality of these exhibitions vary from year to year, however, this year’s exhibition is one of the better ones. For the student, the exhibition provides an opportunity to learn about how best to present their varying approaches to art making. It also gives the general public a chance to see and support what our young artists are doing.One artistic skill that I consider important, is the ability to draw well and in this current exhibition, the drawings of Chantell Trott, Tai-Quan Ottley, Malchisha Outerbridge, Kievone Simmons and Deborah Collins stand out as superior. Most are in charcoal, which is not all that easy to use. In an age when so many art colleges, in consideration of costs, have chosen to eliminate drawing from the curriculum, it is encouraging to see that it is still a strong component in the Bermuda College art programme.Related to the drawing aspect of the show, are several works that are collage compositions. Having torn a drawing into smaller, similar size pieces, they are then reassembled as a collage. The exhibitors in this assignment are Natasha Lambert, and Shirrea Spencer.There are several paintings that caught my attention as well. I think of a small, but accomplished acrylic of loquats by Deborah Collins that is rendered in monochromatic tones of blue green. Note also the acrylic painting by Zauri Smith called Falling Apart. Another, particularly sophisticated creation is Riketa Pavy’s Mondrian’s Box Hands.There are three abstract scale studies in the show that demonstrate the students’ ability to control various kinds of visual scales to advantage. Vortex by Charda Simons and Bridget Riley Kiss by Gail Lightbourne are both size gradations. Deborah Collins has made an untitled, acrylic painting using a tone-value gradation.Charda Simons has then created a colourful, more random abstract in mixed media. Another rather joyous mixed media work is a leaf-print design by Vashti Harvey. Also, take the opportunity to see Danielle Daniels’ White Poppy. It reminds me of the giant floral paintings of Georgia O’Keefe.Tai Quan Ottley has also used a National Geographic map of the Arctic Ocean as a basis for a remarkable composition called Arc.I have selected to write about only a few works from the exhibition. However, these stand out as examples of quality work. It is a large show with 108 pieces. However. I encourage the general public to give all the support they can to our young artists, by attending this exhibition, but please note, the exhibition ends on April 6 (today), so get to the BSoA as soon as you can.