More than 70 pieces of artwork have been donated to as part of a volunteer?s initiative to brighten up the walls of the ward. Local hospital supporter, Alexa Rosdol, conceived the art project three months ago while visiting a friend in the CCU. Noticing a number of bare walls, she thought it would be wonderful it the long-term residents of the CCU had something more interesting and colourful to look at each day.

The artwork, donated by 14 artists, consisted mainly of unframed prints. Framing became a big undertaking, but thanks to donors and discounts the project was completed. AXIS Specialty Ltd. donated $1500 toward framing, an amount which Bill Fischer, an AXIS employee, is matching. Frameworks provided a discount, and a plaque commemorating the donations was provided by BLESS.

The full list of contributors to the CCU artwork project is as follows: AXIS Specialty Limited, Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard, Melissa Berger, BLESS, Amy and Vaughan Evans, Bill and Carolyn Fischer, Joan Forbes, Justine and Graham Foster, Frameworks Gallery, Dianna Higginbotham, David Hill, Carole Holding, Lisa Quinn, Jill Amos Raine, Scott Stallard, Michael Swan Gallery, Robin Trimingham, Sharon Wilson and True Reflections.

Granville Russell, CCU Programme Manager at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital expressed delight with the new visuals, which he said gave the patients something new to appreciate and discuss, and he also paid tribute to the ?ideal collaboration between the community and the hospital? which made the project possible.

Ms Rosdol is descended from a long line of hospital volunteers. Her grandmother, Dorothy Coquillon, has been a pink lady for over 30 years. Her mother, Stephanie Shaw, spent time teaching craft lessons to the residents, and also organised visits by school students to the CCU. Her sisters Natasha and Anna spent time helping the residents at the CCU.

This Friday?s planned Bermuda National Gallery champagne and jazz party featuring vocalist Gita Blakeney and the Tony Bari Trio has been put on hold. Ticket holders should contact the BNG for a refund. Tel: 295 9428

Today marks the first of four lunchtime Biennial panel discussions at the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG).

Each week will deal with an issue on art that is relevant to local artists, art critics and people interested in viewing art. The panels will consist of successful entrants in the Biennial Exhibition, and questions from the audience will be welcomed. Today?s topic is ?The Joy of Colour?, and the starting time is 12.30 p.m. Admission is free.

On May 29 Bermudian travel writer Andrew Stevenson will present a slide show of a walk made by himself and his wife across Norway. The show will take place at Daylesford (the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society?s headquarters on the corner of Washington and Dundonald Streets) beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets ($20) are available at The Bermuda Bookstore, and the price will include a copy of his travelogue, ?Summer Light: A Walk Across Norway?.

A new, mixed media exhibition entitled ?Spring Show 2004? has opened at the Windjammer Gallery. Participating artists are: Diana Amos, Eric Amos, Sheilagh Head, Christopher Marson, Maria Smith and Bruce Stuart. For further information see the Bermuda Calendar.

, a former substitute teacher at the In Motion School of Dance, is now cruising the Mediterranean on the Celebrity Cruises? as a dancer in its production company. Prior to joining the ship, which sails out of Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy, she received choreographic training in Florida.

Miss Manders graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance (cum laude). Her training and experience included summer scholarships with Philadanco Dance Company, Milwaukee Dance Connection, and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Last summer she performed in honour of singer Eartha Kitt at Spellman College in Atlanta, Georgia in connection with Disney Productions and the Philadelphia Arts Festival. Miss Manders is a former student of the Jackson School of Performing Arts, and a former member of the Bermuda gymnastics team and the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda.

The Ruth Seaton Centre for the Performing Arts is planning a pilot series of Sunday evening events highlighting local artists.

Collectively entitled ?Twilight in Paradise?, the three-part series will feature a singer; poets and thespians; and jazz artists.

takes place on May 30 at 6 p.m. at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts, and features Bermudian contralto Tracey Richardson in a programme of soul-stirring sacred music. She will be accompanied by an orchestra and various background artists.

follows on June 27 at 6 p.m. at the same venue. Coordinated by local thespians Andra Simons and Alan Smith, it will feature original works commenting on Bermuda life and the world at large, presented by members of the cast of ?Crabs in a Bucket?, including Llewellyn Dowling and others.

will take place in the north courtyard of CedarBridge Academy on July 18 at 6 p.m. Co-ordinated by professional pianist James Richardson of Allied Entertainment Services, the programme will feature many of Bermuda?s outstanding jazz musicians and singers including Wendell (Shine) Hayward, Life Sentence, and Sheila Smith.

Individuals may subscribe to the entire series for $75, or individually at $30 per performance. Tickets may be purchased on line at www.Ticketstation.bm or at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts box office.

For further information contact Emilygail Dill at 296-5278.