Hall, Hamilton.

*** According to head juror Dr. Daniel Rosenfeld the criteria for the three judges when selecting works for this show was to look for elements of "surprise, originality, uniqueness and a quality of execution that was not based upon a reliance on formula or cliche''.

At the same time the judging panel hoped to "keep in mind a representative presentation of Bermuda's artists''.

That might seem a bit of a contradiction. While there are certainly some gorgeous works of art on display here, can it all be cutting edge stuff and at the same time representational of current artistic trends on the Island? What about all the Sunday painters who flood the market with their picture postcard dabblings? As a loud voice within the art community should they have been represented? Also artists were submitting stuff that they had produced in the last two years, with the result that a lot of what is on show has been seen before -- hardly surprising therefore that a lot of it fails to surprise.

A number of artists had two, three, four or even five paintings on display.

When you consider that 48 artists submitted work and yet only 28 were selected one can't help wondering if the judging panel could have done a better job in getting a wider cross section of artists into the public eye. Nevertheless, standards have to be maintained and while a lot of artists aren't visible here the show is still rich in variety.

Walking into the gallery the first thing that hits you right between the eyes is a sumptuous watercolour by Tracy Williams which is, in my view one of the finest paintings on display. "Room with a View'' is a rich, warm and luxurious depiction of -- well -- a chunk of wall actually, but Ms Williams has managed to transform what is mundane into the beautiful.

The organisers have included a soundbite statement by each artist in the show's catalogue -- useful in helping us to understand where each artist is coming from, even if some of the quotes are toe-curlingly embarrassing.

Ms Williams simply explains that she is finding how watercolours can have a richness yet freshness lacking in other mediums. "Room with a View'', along with four more of her watercolours at the exhibition, brilliantly illustrate her point.

"Bolivian Strip Bar'' by Graham Foster is another work that stands out, portraying a sleazy world where punters with Frankensteinesque complexions in mid-grope stare out at the viewer, almost in startled embarrassment. One can spend ages scanning the work over and over again, finding new details that delight and amuse.

Amy Evans' mixed media "Look Up Caceres'' is another simple yet unusual composition that is rich in colour and texture and highly original.

But the more one looks at the work on display the more one realises that so much of it is derivative. While works might be technically well executed there is little that has an individual stamp on it. Also, and rather sadly in my view, many painters seem to be inspired not by their native surroundings but by overseas locations and atmospheres, making it difficult to talk of any sort of Bermudian school.

Norma Christensen's "Field Poppies and Purple Vetch'', while undeniably beautiful, mirrors the French Impressionists in style and subject matter.

Graham Foster's work, while enjoyable, harks back to the Expressionists in style and even has some of the narrative qualities of 19th century British painters such as Frith. And Henry Ward's large scale portraits, while striking, show a strong dependence on the work of Hockney and Lucien Freud.

And while Amy Evans and Tracy Williams have produced wonderful paintings that are original and beautifully painted, it seems as though they've travelled to the Mediterranean to paint them.

Exhibition lacks Bermudian touch Perhaps the two painters that best meet the judges criteria -- quality of execution and originality -- along with a decision to depict something that is uniquely Bermudian in subject matter, are Diana Amos and Graeme Outerbridge.

Both artists have chosen local scenes and seen them in a fresh, different and original way.

Dr. Rosenfeld said: "There was much talent and beauty presented for our consideration but the work to which I was most drawn stood out because of its ties to a unique and diverse culture.'' Apart from a few exceptions there's not a great deal that depicts Bermudian culture, atmosphere or environment.

Nevertheless there is much talent and beauty, with plenty to admire at this exhibition, which runs until September 12. Well worth a visit.

GARETH FINIGHAN "LOOK UP CACERES'' -- A simple yet unusual composition by Amy Evans.

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