By bringing international artists to work in Bermuda as Artists in Residence, the Masterworks Foundation is helping the Island's tourism as well as its cultural image, says Sonia von Walter.

"I think it's a terrific idea,'' enthuses the Canadian artist, the third recipient of the scheme. "I know that I shall become an ambassador for Bermuda when I go back. This is a wonderful idea because it enables an artist to become, for a little while, part of the Island life, interacting with people in their day to day lives and, of course, meeting other artists.'' Ms von Walter, who is of Russian-Polish extraction and was educated at the State University of Novosibirsk, lived in Greece before arriving in Canada in 1985.

The cosmopolitan aspect of her work, which she describes as "urban readings'' of the world about her, is immediately apparent. Concentrating on the human form, faces are only half-glimpsed or not seen at all as she paints, in brilliantly bold colours, the fleeting moments and exhilarating minutia of city life. As The Globe and Mail critic Gerald Hannon observed in his introduction to her catalogue: "She imbues her work with the reserve and refinement of a culture absolutely certain of itself, while retaining what she calls `the ambiguity of situation'...through a masterly control of volume, colour and an almost cinematic sense of movement.'' Her `open house' and workshop at the Masterworks Gallery at Dockyard revealed an almost startlingly different view of Bermuda. "It's Bermuda seen from a different perspective,'' agrees Masterworks' Elise Outerbridge. "For some reason, it's quite unusual to have figurative depictions of Bermuda. I think she captures the spirit of the Bermudian people in everyday situations -- on the ferry, in the coffee shop, on the beach.'' "That's only possible if you live as a local,'' the artist interjects. "I love to hang around, drinking coffee, taking the bus, going to the gym.

Bermuda is more than a pretty picture post card. Art happens on a suburban level as well, which for me, elicits an emotional response. I think the workshop gave something to the artists who came and it certainly helped me in my exploration of different perspectives.'' She reveals that Degas has been a big influence on her work. "He was a painter of contemporary life and I learned a lot from him. I also love to observe dogs, and often paint them as they are very sensitive to what is going on around them and sense things faster than we do.'' Besides her distinctive figurative work, Ms von Walter is an accomplished painter of flowers. "Although my favourite subject is people, I have loved painting your pampas grass, the bamboo canes and wild fennel. Bermuda is very beautiful for an artist. I love the moody clouds and the changing skies. Most of all, I love your tree frogs. I believe, though, that the biggest challenge for any artist is the human form -- and that's been true since the beginning of time! It's been really fascinating to observe people in such a different setting.'' Mrs. Outerbridge says she has been encouraged by the support of local artists in their Artist in Residence programmes. "In a sense, this follows on from the artists who used to come here to paint at the turn of the century and whose work now forms the core of our collection.

"After ten years of collecting, it seemed the next logical step -- to keep introducing new talent, and new perspectives into Bermuda. I think it's interesting that although Sonia introduces a new style, her Bermuda paintings are different from her other work. She seems to have a lighter, fresher palette. I think that was also true of our last artist, Michael Frith, who was accustomed to English colours.'' Ms von Walter, who works out of her own studio in Toronto, says she is "very grateful'' to Masterworks and to Julie Hastings-Smith of the Arts Centre in Dockyard who organised the workshops.

"And volunteer Debbie Harper is an amazing, warm Bermudian who has made me feel wonderfully at home here in Dockyard.'' MEN WITHOUT WOMEN -- Canadian artist Sonia von Walter, whose bar room scene forms part of her `Urban Readings' series, has been selected as Masterworks' latest Artist in Residence.