By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WORKS by young artists celebrated the islands of the Bahamas in a host of different ways for the ‘Island Art Explosion’ competition held by Atlantis Resort.

Art pieces in the competition paid tribute to the islands as part of the celebrations to mark The Bahamas’ 40th Anniversary of Independence.

Participants were tasked with highlighting a particular island or culture in The Bahamas. The competition was open to all students aged between 15 and 18.

The top three winners of the competition were Kerri Bascom (first place), Lakeisha Curry, (second place) and Dylan Miles (third place).

Three local artists judged the submissions for creativity, use of materials, theme illustration, overall appeal and skill.
The winners were awarded with an iPad mini; three-day, two-night stay at Atlantis; gift certificates for John Bull; a customised T-shirt with winning artwork from Sun Tee and gift certificates for dinner at Atlantis.
The top three paintings are on display at Atlantis until September 6.
Over 40 young artists entered the competition with the hopes of their work being selected.

The top 24 were displayed during the event held at the Great Hall of Waters.
Morgan Fraser, the show’s organiser, said the calibre of artwork surpassed expectations.

Morgan said: “The artwork was absolutely amazing. I was blown out of the water with the calibre of artwork that was submitted. We had drift wood art, pen ink, pencil, and oil paintings. It was just incredible and the pieces were all just amazing. But the three winning pieces were just outstanding.
“It was very difficult for the judges to decide on the winner. I was in the room with the judges who were judging the criteria and scoring. They did not know which one to choose. But the theme really was the deciding factor, that was the islands of the Bahamas, and celebrating 40 years so that really was what it came down to,” she told Tribune Arts.

Seventeen-year-old Kerri Bascom, a graduate of Queen’s College, chose to celebrate the islands by depicting the various ways in which Bahamian people have experienced freedom over the past 40 years.

She said: “My piece ‘Freedom of New Providence’ basically depicts the different types of freedoms we have in New Providence today. We have political and legislative freedom, but also we have cultural freedom. We have our own music, and our own sound. We have our Junkanoo, and we also have our environmental freedom. We live with our environment and we are free in it. So I wanted to depict that.

“I find the Bahamas and all that makes us who we are, makes us very special. I always wanted to do a piece that blends all aspects of who we are together.”

Kerri did not enter the competition expecting to take home the top prize. She said being able to take part mattered more than winning, because she was able to see firsthand the kind of work other young artists are producing.

Dylan Miles’ ‘Lusca Attacks Drunken Sailor’ came third in the competition. He was inspired to put his own spin on the story of the mythical creature of Bahamian folklore.

The lusca is believed to be a half-shark, half-octopus, that lurks in the underwater caves, tunnels and blue holes found all over the Caribbean. However, it is believed that the creature lives mostly in the underwater caves and blue holes around the Bahamas islands, especially around Andros.

Dylan’s piece, which was done in pen ink, depicts the lusca attacking a sailor in his boat, while exploring the waters.
He said: “I am not good at paintings, which is the reason why I did it in pen. Most of my artwork is done in pen because it works out better for me.”

Dylan said he did not know what to expect when he entered the competition and after seeing other pieces it made him little bit nervous.

“I guess since I came third, it reached people in some way,” he said.

Though her piece did not make the top three, Symone Hall said she was satisfied with the outcome for her creation.

“The island that I depicted was Nassau and in order to depict the island, I chose the three Prime Ministers - Sir Lynden Pindling, Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham. Then I incorporated the other islands, and I did this with a matte gel to give the islands texture, so people can actually feel the islands on top of the flag. I used the Bahamian flag as a background with the blue and the yellow. I also featured children hidden subliminally in the background of the flag to show the future generations for 40 years to come,” she said.