Although Edwin E. Smith is currently studying for his Master's degree at Texas Tech University he has not forgotten his homeland or the local art scene, as viewers will discover when his solo exhibition, 'I See Me' opens in a section of the Onions gallery at the Bermuda Society of Arts this evening. Mr. Smith describes his body of work as "first of all, an introversive moment in my ongoing exploration of identity and place".

"It is an exhibition consisting of charcoal and acrylic illustrations inspired by common situations and personal experiences," he says. "In my compositions I use iconic symbols and imagery. Normally I create and use my own, and I enjoy doing so, especially in references to Bermuda."

While the artist does not want to "overly rely on the familiar", he says viewers will see in his illustrations elements of a well-known Bermudian icon – the gombey. "I embrace the gombey positively as an iconic image of myself as a Bermudian, and perhaps more specifically, as one of African descent."

After completing a number of his illustrations, Mr. Smith says he saw for the first time the term 'gombey culture', and recalled it was used recently in articles in the local print media.

"While, in my opinion, this term could be a fantastic coinage, I was disturbed to note that it was used with a negative connotation, unfortunately souring a unique cultural element, which is a marvellous expression of inner freedom and celebration.–"A second objective of 'I See Me' exhibition would be to counter that position. I am one of many gombeys, and there are stories everywhere."

The exhibition consists of 12 charcoal and acrylic on canvas drawings, three of which were featured in the recently completed Bacardi Biennial Exhibition at the Bermuda National Gallery.