The BSoA Annual Summer Members show: A Review by Charles Zuill

The Bermuda Society of Arts annual summer members show is, generally, no more than expected, given that it is summer.

At this time of year, Bermudians take vacations and artists are no exception.

Many pieces on exhibition have been seen numerous times in past exhibitions.

I get the impression that not many have not made new work, thus causing the Society to fill up its walls with "old stuff".

There are just a few exceptions however and these I will highlight. As you enter the gallery, straight ahead is a piece by Carolyn Boatman that is especially noteworthy.

She also exhibited works in a similar style in the last exhibition, but I was unable to review that show, having myself, been on vacation.

But what is especially noteworthy is that this artist has had a real artistic breakthrough.

These pieces are strong, freely painted and highly expressive. The one on show in this exhibition, like the ones recently exhibited, are a mixture of charcoal and watercolour.

She seems to have first worked in charcoal, then overlaid that with watercolour washes, finally adding a few charcoal flourishes to finish off the composition.

Lynn Morrell usually exhibits at the Bermuda Art Centre at Dockyard but she occasionally exhibits in the BSoA.

This time she has a fabric collage with additions of sea glass, buttons, sea weed and even a piece or two of old clay pipe stems.

It is muted and fairly high key, with the addition of fabric texture giving an extra dimension to the design.

The composition is based upon a combination of verticals and horizontals, which makes for a stable design and one I found attractive.

It is called "Shelly Bay, March 2008".

I imagine this piece resulted from a expedition to Shelly Bay during a time when few go there. It is an appealing memento of a day at the beach.

By contrast, across the gallery, Ms Morrell has one of her more typical quilted wall-hangings. This one is called "Mangrove Bay".

It is an abstract rendering of water reflections and what appears to be a thin, fiddle wood branch with a few leaves, crossing diagonally the more horizontal design of the water.

This piece is likewise impressive but for me, "Shelly Bay", because it is unusual, has the greater appeal.

Jolene Bean's photographs go from strength to strength. Her abstract appearing depictions of old paint is enhanced by her colourful titles. I was especially drawn to "Mango".

Another photographer of note is Tricia Walters and two of her pictures have catchy titles, that are bound to attract attention "Introduction to Sex", and "Introduction to Sex part II".

Both depict the interior of flowers, reminding us that flowers are, indeed, generative organs.

These soft depictions make use of higher colour tones, resulting in an incredible femininity.

There were several other notable photographs in the show as well.

I think of Alex masters "King of the Dance Hall", or W. Derek Gibbons' several pictures of wildlife, but especially his photographs of birds, two of which stand out "European Goldfinch" and "Bluebird With Whistling Frog".

Earl Jones photograph's very cleverly makes use of cutlery to bring to mind Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam".

I end this review with Vaughan Evans' woodcut called "Still Waiting Who Might Be Next?"

This print shows the entrance doors of the various art organisations around the island, but upper most is the still unresolved eviction notice hanging over the Bermuda Society of Arts.

A The Exhibition continues through September 3.