Twenty-five years ago, here in Bermuda, there was only one visual arts organisation, plus a one year certificate in art offered by Bermuda College.

Today, including the two year associate in arts degree, offered by the College, there are six visual arts organisations. It is interesting to observe that all seem to provide a somewhat different art service to the community and all seem to be augmenting and affirming each other. This is how it should be.

As an example, the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation stresses education, and yet it does not invade in any way the programme at Bermuda College. Instead, if anything, it augments it and conceivably, both institutions by working together will benefit the arts in Bermuda. If that can happen, the primary beneficiary will be our students, but the whole community will benefit as well.

For the past two weeks, the kaleidoscope Arts Foundation has been abuzz with creative activities. Beginning on November 27th, Kaleidoscope hosted a fibre festival that went on through December 8th.

This was underwritten by the Bank of Bermuda Foundation. Throughout the almost two week period, there was a multiplicity of workshops in all kinds of fibre related arts. This included, felt making, basket making, knitting, fiber dying, rug hooking, weaving etc.

The workshop instructors were six individuals from Northern New England, mostly from Hiram, Maine but at least one from New Hampshire. They were Julie Yarborough, Roberta McClellan, Linda Whiting, Janet Conner, Susan Mills and Karen Smith. I understand this is the first of what is planned to be an annual fiber festival.

I took advantage of these opportunities, by taking two workshops in basket making. I have been interested in this field for some time and have occasionally bought baskets, but had never attempted to make one.

The instructer was Roberta McClellan, who being both an experienced basket maker and instructor, approached the task systematically, so that in the end, we each, not only had a well-made basket, but also a background, that makes us think we can repeat the task on our own. I am now wanting to make a basket, but with local, Bermudian materials.

Another fibre event for me, was watching the making of felt. I had never before considered how felt was made, but now I not only know but realise that with felt, there are many applications. For example, the Mongolians make Yurts, or tent-like houses out of felt, including the floor covering.

Additionally, I learned that vermin of all kinds are loath to tred on felt. It seems to be a natural barrier that these creatures find difficult to cross. I wonder if this includes cockroaches.

On Wednesday evening, December 5, there was a discussion period, which focused on several debates that had been on-going throughout the previous days of the festival, specifically regarding the status of crafts in the of art world.

We all sat around in a circle and although the basic discussion was on craft versus art, it was also fairly wide-ranging and included such topics as the acceptance of the arts in Bermuda.

It was said that among young males, specifically, art is considered as less than manly and therefore, for male artists, this was an obstacle to overcome. Nevertheless, some talented young men have found this too difficult and thus, have turned away from meeting their potential.

It was also felt by some participants, that for local artists, especially the younger ones, have difficulty being accepted in Bermuda, for, it being a small community, we tend to know all about where we come from and who are relatives are and somehow, this is an impediment to success. We tend to diminish achievements of those we know well from childhood.

The main debate of that Wednesday evening, however, was on the place of crafts in the arts. It is a not uncommon attitude that the crafts are thought of lesser rank than the so-called fine arts and if one considers the general trends in art prices, the crafts do generally fetch less than say a painting or a sculpture.

That should tell us something about our attitudes, that the crafts are considered of lesser worth than the fine arts, but are they? Is that not so-mutch hum-bug and snobbishness,

There is no telling the lengths that people will go to build up their egos at the expense of others. And artists are not immune from snobbishness either.

In the end, the consensus was that all artists should be craftsman and that all craftsmen should be artists and that a well-made chair or a fine piece of weaving is every bit as much fine art as is a painting or a sculpture. Indeed, not all paintings or sculptures are worthy of the "fine" designation.

This is something that should be earned through skillful work. It is not a right that painters or sculptors should expect without question.

The kaleidiscope Arts Foundation has been operating in its present location for just over a year, but in that short length of time, it has taken a leading position in the Bermuda Art community.

As you enter the refurbished building in Devonshore, located in the old Elliot school, you can feel the creative energy. The instructors at the Fibre Festival and workshops remarked about it. So did Professor Howard, who conducted the recent printmaking workshop at kaleidoscope.

There is something good going on there and if you had even a momentary conversation with Fiona Rodriguez-Roberts, the director, you would likewise sense her energetic enthusiasm.

When I spoke with her recently about future plans, she told me of all kinds of wonderful things that are in the works, so, stay tuned!