This year's exhibition of work by full-time and part-time students of the arts department at the Bermuda College demonstrates the versatility, and usefulness of the various courses offered.

Although fine arts are accorded a prominent position, there are also courses offered in the more practical fields of graphic design and illustration. These aspects are all represented in the show, which again achieves the high standards we have come to expect from these students.

All the picture frames of uniform pine have been made by the carpentry students at the College, with the art students doing their own matting and assembling.

Garan Madeiros, who is interested in a career in graphic design, displays some fine work, notably in his still life of fruit which explores the effect of light, and a powerful self portrait drawn in charcoal.

Likewise, Christopher Smith, who also hopes to work in graphic design, displays a strongly drawn Self Portrait, his sense of draughtsmanship confirmed in his more realistically realised Coffee Maker.

Shiquita Fubler already demonstrates fluidity of technique in her pencil-drawn Drapes and sensitivity in her female Nude study.

Figure drawing, which traditionally has been rather a weak link in the chain of Bermudian art, is now receiving the attention it deserves, with students displaying some impressive nude studies.

Andrew Scaife's, worked in gouache, portraying a supine female, and unusually viewed from above, captures a pleasing sense of repose, as does Christopher Smith's `thinking man', drawn in graphite.

J.P. Lemery has two interesting colour studies featuring a repetitive shape, one being Dolphins in varying shades of sea blue, and an arrangement of Sailboats in the black to white spectrum. He has also used the medium of thin wire, "using minimum materials to reproduce an object'', to produce a finely formed Viola, reposing on a sumptuous cloth of black velvet.

Unusually, the only exhibitor using oils this time around, is Maureen Pickett, whose Flowers are traced in soft, delicately realised colours and form.

Bettricia Jefferies achieves a nice sense of movement in her ink and brush depiction of a Rustic Bridge.

Also of interest in this show is the section devoted to work by Bermuda's secondary school students. All were invited, and most accepted, the resulting display an encouraging confirmation that the arts are flourishing in our senior schools.

With Mrs. Diana Amos and Dr. Charles Zuill (both leading artists in their own right) offering tuition in a two-year course in drawing, painting, two and three-dimension design, figure drawing, art history, illustration and graphic design, leading to an associate degree, the students are clearly well ahead of the field when they transfer their credits to art colleges overseas.

Margaret Downing Dill, for instance, who has just held a highly successful solo exhibition at Heritage House, is just one former student of the arts programme who has paid tribute to its `head-start' value when she went on to pursue her full arts degree.

Last year, the college inaugurated a scheme under which certain works of art were to be purchased for a permanent collection, eight being selected from this year's show.

An alumni exhibition is due to open at the Bermuda College on October 26. Any student who has participated in any of the art courses there is eligible to submit work for this major show. Anyone wishing further information should telephone Mrs. Amos or Dr. Zuill at 236-9000.

PATRICIA CALNAN COLLEGE DISPLAY -- Pictured are some of the exhibits from the annual Bermuda College which ran for two weeks.

LITERARY SALUTE -- The Berkeley Institute recently held a Shangri-La Durham Thompson day to honour the teacher's work as a poet and dramatist. Mrs.

Thompson will launch her book, Battle For Freedom, on May 19.