Gallery recently, it included a handsome bronze sculpture purchased with funds donated by Bermudian Mr. Henry Laing.

Mr. Jose m Maria Fran ua Machado's 1988 sculpture, Untitled, will now form part of a permanent contemporary art collection being assembled by the Carlos Machado Museum in San Miguel.

"I have made about 12 trips to the Azores, and my mother has made about 20, so I made the financial contributions towards having a fund to purchase art for sale in the National Gallery exhibition. I did it as a Bermuda `thank you','' the low-profile benefactor explained.

And indeed, Carlos Machado Museum director Dr. Anto mnio Oliveira, who was in Bermuda for the opening of the show, very much hopes that Mr. Laing's generosity will be an inspiration to other Bermuda residents.

"I still want to buy more art from this exhibition for our contemporary art collection, but our museum is a public one,'' he said. "It does not have trustees or sponsors, and unfortunately we do not have the richness of your island paradise, so we hope that through Mr. Laing's example others can be part of the historical collection by helping us to purchase works from this exhibition for our museum.'' As the National Gallery exhibition demonstrates, there is a wealth of talent among the A u orean artistic community, and the museum views acquiring some of it for future generations to enjoy as an important step. Eventually, it is hoped there will be a modern art museum in Ponta Delgada.

Anyone wishing to assist in the purchase of art should contact Mrs. Marlee Robinson, senior curator of the National Gallery, for further information.

Of the sculpture purchased in Mr. Laing's name, Dr. Oliveira sees in its shape a special significance.

" Untitled is a symbol of the cultural relationship between the Azores and Bermuda,'' he explained. "Its shape represents something which was closed and is now open.'' Mr. Laing is the nephew of the late Mr. Hereward Watlington, himself an artist, who bequeathed 18 paintings from his personal art collection to the people of Bermuda. It is in the care of the Bermuda National Gallery, whose Watlington Room is named after Mr. Laing's uncle.