Tomorrow marks the final day of the 'Living with Art' exhibition at the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) which, by all accounts, has been extremely successful and well received.

In total more than 5,500 people, of whom more than 1000 were students, have visited the exhibition to date, and also attended various lectures and other educational programming related to the show.

"The exhibition has resonated culturally with many people who might not normally have visited the BNG, education director Lisa Howie said. "More importantly, it has been incredibly stimulating for students. From lower Primary to the Bermuda College, students were engaged by the diversity in the art, and versatility in forms.

They were inspired by the pastels, drawings, multi-media works, and sculpture. The art allowed for discussion of Black American history from the 1930s onward, while providing fodder for the meaningful discussion of 'What is Art?' "

In fact, Ms Howie said that many students became so engrossed that they asked to stay longer than their allotted time. The BNG's Learning Studio proved popular with students designing their own leaf for a 'Tree of Life' based on the exhibition's iconic painting by Emilio Cruz, as well as listening to Jazz Age music available on specially programmed iPods.

'Living With Art', one of the more impressive private collections of modern and contemporary African-American art in the US, has been shown internationally for the first time, and is drawn entirely from the collection of Alitash Kebede, an Ethiopian-born, Los Angeles collector.

It features the most important African-American artists of the 20th century, including Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, Lois Mailou Jones, Richard Mayhew, and Betye Saar and her daughters, Alison Saar and Lezley Saar.

"When students took time to explore the works they discovered, and unpacked, layers of meaning, albeit through the function of symbolism, colour, or the juxtaposition of works by the same artist," Ms Howie said. "It was exciting to see their reaction to the immensity of 'Tree of Life' by Emilio Cruz, as well as the portraits on fabric by Lezley Saar that arrested viewers in their tracks.

Alison Saar's portrait on black skillets had young students commenting on how women can be shackled to stereotypical roles, like domesticity, and Samella Lewis's portrait spoke to the no-nonsense outlook by contemporary women — even though the piece was completed in 1947.

"Students were very interested in the action painting by Ed Clarke, and perhaps inspired to use non-traditional brushes for their painting; and the abstract landscape of Richard Mayhew captivated students for the colours and the method of applying sprayed water to the paint on paper. The surrealism in Umbrella (Cruz) and Awaiting Together (Gentry) were also hits in the exhibition."

Warwick Academy art teacher Vernon Clarke said the exhibition had been a valuable experience for his Y7 and Y8 students, who had visited the BNG on a research tour. In a letter to the BNG he wrote: "Much information was gleaned from the content of the exhibits. The narrative was rich in historic references; especially in places where it drew references to the Afro-American experiences during the challenging days of the early twentieth century. Some of the pictorial content also drew debate and direct references to Bermuda's history.

"Of course they were thrilled to see first-hand some of the techniques that I had been trying so hard to impart to them. To see it in the flesh (so to speak) was proof positive that there were so many different ways to express their ideas, and the ability it gave them to share their experiences with other people.'

Bermuda High School student Haley Nikodem's impression of the exhibition was typical of many: "This was a very colourful collection because it included different types of media, different messages, and not many works resembled each other … the variety of the work was presented nicely in a way that conveyed to the spectator that art comes in different forms."

'Living with Art' was co-sponsored by HSBC Bank of Bermuda, whose CEO, Philip Butterfield, said his company was proud to have been associated with the exhibition.

"It has not only enabled Bermudians to experience first-hand the work of world famous African American artists, but also provided an opportunity to foster appreciation of the arts in young people. As part of our staff Community Action Day, Bank employees took children from the five public middle schools, who are also involved in the Bank's Partners in Leadership Programme, to view the exhibition, and take part in a series of interactive exercises.

"This was a tremendously successful and rewarding experience for both staff and children that demonstrated the role art can play in stimulating communication across generations and diverse backgrounds."

Wayne Perinchief, who as former Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs helped to co-sponsor the exhibition, said: "The Bermuda National Gallery is to be congratulated on its vision and effort in bringing this collection to our Island and exposing Bermudians and visitors to a truly world class exhibition."

'Living With Art' was organised by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, California and is sponsored by the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, HSBC Bank of Bermuda, Bank of Bermuda Foundation, and Friends of 'Living with Art'.

Admission to the BNG is free. For gallery hours telephone 295-9428.

To find out more about Alitash Kebede, her collection and the artists featured in Living with Art, visit http://www.a-r-t.com/lwa