With the opening of the Bacardi Limited Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Bermuda Art just weeks away, the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) has ended the suspense by revealing the names of the successful artists and photographers whose work was chosen by the international jury for inclusion. In addition to familiar names like Graham Foster, Antoine Hunt, Sharon Wilson, Will Collieson, Kevin Morris, Vaughn and Amy Evans, Glen Wilks and Charles Zuill, the 2006 Biennial features first-time entries from such well-known artists as Rhona Emmerson, James Cooper and Theresa Airey, while new names to the Biennial include Norma Carr, Dougal McDonnell, Venessa George, Stella Shakerchi, Sue Rebello, Barbara (Lines) Verdie, and Dean Walker.

?This year?s Biennial is once again proof of the diverse and challenging museum-quality work that Bermuda?s vibrant visual arts community is now producing on a regular basis,? BNG director Laura Gorham said. ?It is exciting for the Gallery see so many new names, and we think visitors to the Biennial will share that enthusiasm.?

In all, 68 artists entered a total of 263 works, from which 50 artists and 83 works made the final cut.

The international jurors were Dr. Annette Blaugrund, Director, National Academy Museum and School of Fine Art, New York; and Professor Moe Brooker, former professor at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and presently department head of Basic Studies at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, where he also teaches painting.

The Biennial, which is presented by Bacardi Limited in association with Island Construction Services, is open to all Bermudians, whether or not they are living on the Island, and foreign nationals who have lived here for at least six months during the competition period. All work must have been completed between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005.

The exhibition will be held at the BNG from April 21 to September 1 with free admission.

The full list of selected artists is as follows: Theresa Airey, Charles Anderson, Meredith Andrews, Norma Carr, William Collieson, Libby Cook-Toppan, James Cooper, Dan Dempster, Frank Dublin, Rhona Emmerson, Amy Evans, Vaughn Evans, Kendra Ezekiel, Lee Finch, Graham Foster, Frances Furbert, Vanessa C. George, Malcom Greenough, Shelly Hamill, Margie Harriott, Katherine Harriott, Joyce Joell- Hayden, Scott Hill, Antoine A.R Hunt, Cynthia Kirkwood, Peter Lapsley, Heather McDonald, Ian McDonald-Smith, Dougal McDonell, Kevin Morris, Elizabeth Mulderig, Jill Amos-Raine, Sue Rebello, Lisa Rego, Bryan Ritchi, Stella Shakerchi, Edwin M.E. Smith, Alan Smith, Amanda Temple, Caroline Troncossi, Otto Trott, Nancy Hutchings Valentine, Martha Vaughn, Barbara (Lines) Verdie, Dean Walker, Marsha Wiggins, Glen Wilks, Judy Wong, Sharon Wilson, Charles Zuill.