Overall, this year's 'Growing' exhibitIon is stellar - and a number of the artists do live up to the title of 'Growing'.

An annual show 'Growing' - now in its 11th year - has however shifted venues. This year the show, which runs through October 26, has moved out of Hamilton to the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard.

The 2001 show includes work from artists Sheilagh Head - one of the 'Growing' founders, Kendra Ezekiel (in collaboration with Jonathan Northcott), Graham Foster, Jonah Jones and Marion Watlington-Vorley.

Take Jonah Jones' oil on canvas paintings, in this exhibit. Although the subject matter - water and boats - is not a new subject matter for him, these works go to the next level, especially a number of large-scale pieces.

There is "Black, Blue, Orange" with its in-your-face paint, bordering on abstraction. Or "Black Water," for its equally painterly qualities.

Graham Foster is an artist who seems to consistently "push the envelope," and this show is no exception. These latest paintings are recognisably his, with Mr. Foster's now signature "surreal-feel," with a touch of the macabre.

Notable are a series of self-portraits where Mr. Foster has, instead of the traditional head-on portrait, painted his head at a right angle, prompting viewers to shift their head to the side when viewing the pieces.

Perhaps the strongest of Mr. Foster's work - in this exhibit - are his latest "Fetish" sculptures. There is "21st Century Fetish," of welded steel and cowrie shells.

The piece has one looking at it from many sides and angles; there are horns, rough, studded steel, and glass 'pockets' on each side of the sculpture, filled with beads, hair, something looking like a tiny skull, a bird claw. "Gemsbok Fetish" also comes with horns and beads.

Kendra Ezekiel has crafted a number of lamps from handmade paper - incorporating found objects and dried plant materials - and wire.

The ceramic bases, for Ms Ezekiel's pieces, are from Bermuda master Jonathan Northcott - who is currently travelling in Africa.

The pieces show off Ms Ezekiel's deft hand and eye - take one of the pieces in the Fire & Water series; with its peeling away layers of paper, polished twigs and tumble-fired ceramic base.

As one of the 'Growing' founders, Sheilagh Head has outdone herself with a line-up of 13 new oil paintings. For the most part, these pieces are typical of the work Mrs. Head has become so well-known for; expressive paintings of the Bermuda landscape. But, there is one notable exception; a small, distinctly abstract study called "In the Garden." This piece is a riot of strong brushstroke and colour, and though small, and unframed, the thickness of the stretcher gives the piece presence.

Perhaps the most "traditional" element in the show, are the watercolour paintings from Dr. Marion Watlington-Vorley.

The pieces - studies of Bermuda botanicals, and Zebras - although traditional, are expertly rendered, showing a real mastery of watercolour.

Lilla Zuill