A new art exhibition is set to open celebrating Black History Month – showcasing work by past and present black Bermudian artists.

Called '32N/64W A Revelation: Bermuda's Black Artistic Legacy', the exhibition opens on February 13 at the Masterworks Museum of Art and will honour the artistic legacy of Charles Lloyd Tucker, Shinbone Alley in the Town of St. George, Gombey dancers, the Talbot Brothers, contemporary black Bermudian artists, black artists in Bermuda and black Bermudian families.

The show – which will now display for four months – will open in the Butterfield Family Gallery, in tandem with the Artists in the Gardens Series exhibition by Manuel Palacio and Che Caines, in the Rick Faries Gallery.

Masterworks founder and creative director Tom Butterfield said: "It will encompass a living history segment on Charles Lloyd Tucker, Bermuda's renaissance man, with a DVD featuring timely reminisces by his colleagues and his students.

"Another DVD presentation will be on the history of Shinbone Alley in the Town of St. George, immortalised by Ogden Pleissner, American water colourist, in his painting 'Shinbone Alley, St. George's' in the Masterworks Bermuda Collection. "This DVD records the memories of many former residents who are still referred to as the 'Shinbone Alley Cats and Kittens', some of whom are represented in Pleissner's painting.

"The Butterfield Family Gallery will exhibit artwork by a broad cross-section of contemporary black Bermudian artists and black artists in Bermuda whose work is a testament to the vibrant and thoughtful work being produced in Bermuda now.

"There will also be an exhibition of Gombey costumes, photographs, and a video entitled 'Behind the Mask'. A small installation commemorating the Talbot Brothers will be on display, as well as a slide show of black Bermudian family 'snapshots."

Black History Month runs throughout February and Mr. Butterfield added: "As we celebrate the talents of our Bermuda artists during Black History Month, we break with tradition and extend the celebration with a four-month exhibition.

"The notion of such an undertaking is to draw attention to, and make aware to the public an all too hidden pool of creativity in Bermuda.

"At the same time, we endeavour to create more than a museum: a community centre for learning, exciting and elevating the spirits of both viewer and artist.

"This exhibition should not be seen as definitive, meaning that there are many other creative individuals in the visual fields, whom we ourselves don't know about, or who choose not to participate in this exhibition."

Mr. Butterfield added: "We are taking the time to celebrate the integral history of art that Black Bermudians and black artists in Bermuda have gifted to the community."

The Butterfield Family Gallery will be closed from tomorrow until February 13 to prepare for the show, although the Rick Faries Gallery, Arrowroot Gallery and other areas will be open.