National Art Gallery of The Bahamas- Solo Show
Proposal
Submitted initially for NE11, the NAGB’s Annual group exhibition, it was originally accepted; however later the curatorial team decided to have the concept expanded for it’s own solo feature in the Museum.
Concept
Three sculptures representing the epitome of Bahamian Creativity, the effect of the culture not making the straw industry sustainable and the original state, reflecting the past’s functionality.
Three Sculptures
The names of the sculptures are Silver Plata, Great Fathom, The Market spanning 16ft x 4 ft made of Bahamian sourced Straw, Dye, Spray Paint, Chicken Wire, and Epoxy.
Ornamental Painting- Peas N Rice
This Painting is part of a larger series of Ornamental Paintings celebrating the creativity of the Straw Plaiters and their stories and knowledge that is passed down through the oral tradition.
I fell in love with the craftsmanship of straw toward the end of my 14-year professional athletic career. Traveling from country to country, I began to realize that I was often seen as a representative of the Bahamas — and, at first, I felt unprepared, unsure of what I could share that was truly Bahamian. This reflection led me to the humble straw bag: a simple, handcrafted object that revealed the ingenuity and creativity of Bahamian artisans.
In 2023, I decided to move beyond being a consumer and immerse myself in the craft. I completed the intermediate straw plaiter certification course at the Doonkalik Gallery with the Creative Nassau group, gaining a deeper, more intimate understanding of both the beauty and the challenges of the industry. I learned that many artisans sell their work by the yard or fathom (6ft) , earning only pennies for hours of labor. I also discovered the “silverfish bug,” a natural insect that consumes stagnant plaited straw — a vivid metaphor for the fragility of the craft and the forces that threaten its survival.
This sculpture and accompanying work emerged from these reflections. The textures and forms echo the plaiting process, while the conceptual underpinning draws attention to the delicate balance between cultural pride, labor, and the vulnerabilities inherent in preserving traditional crafts. Through this project, I aim to celebrate Bahamian creativity while highlighting the overlooked and endangered aspects of its artisanal heritage.
The NAGB History
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) is a world-class museum with a passion for knowledge and a drive to push cultural boundaries. The NAGB collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets historic and contemporary Bahamian art. We exist to educate, uplift, and inspire.
An Intimate Experience
Each Straw Plaiter has a Plait style they specialize in. For The Silver Fish I worked closely with the Pinders, a mother and daughter duo from Long Island- one of the outer islands of The Bahamas.