Janika Fields Awarded $5,000 BSOA Bursary

The Bermuda Society of Arts [BSOA] announced that Janika Sherree Fields has been awarded the 2011 BSOA Bursary Award in the amount of $5,000.

Ms. Fields, 21, will soon begin her senior year at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising, with a minor in Photography.

The graduate of Bermuda Institute is a resident of Devonshire when she is not away at school, and is a former volunteer at the BSOA.

She has participated in a number of workshops presented by the organisation, and recently exhibited a series of photographs as part of the BSOA’s Emerging Artists exhibition.

Ms. Fields, who didn’t own her own camera until she obtained a Nikon D300S while in her first year of college, says photography – particularly black and white – is her passion.

“I would like to explore the world in black and white, whether it is on my 35mm camera or a large format camera,” she says. “I like black and white because of the quality of the work produced, and being able to develop my own film and prints is more intimate and more fun. I feel more connected with my work because I am involved in the entire process from loading the film to framing the prints for a show.

“I am a storyline photographer, and all my work is staged … telling a story,” she says. “I use my imagination to create storylines that people my age can relate to.”

Ms. Fields says she is keen on a career in advertising, but is also considering pursuing a Master’s degree in teaching so that she can “teach up and coming photographers the beauty behind the lens”.

Some 17 aspiring artists applied for the bursary by submitting portfolios of their work. Five candidates were short-listed for interview by members of the BSOA’s bursary selection committee – BSOA governing body member Russell DeMoura, former BSOA co-president Ed Smith, and artist and BSOA workshop instructor Emma Ingham.

Ms. Field’s portfolio included her advertising/graphic design work, as well as photography. “We were all very impressed by the quality of the submissions,” Ms. Ingham said. “Bermuda has a strong artistic community, and our young, aspiring artists look very promising indeed. The future of Bermuda’s arts community is in very good hands.”

The $5,000 bursary, awarded annually by the BSOA, is designed to provide financial aid to a Bermudian student interested in furthering their post-secondary education in fine arts and/or design. The recipient should be registered at an accredited college or university for either undergraduate or post-graduate studies.

The BSOA, the Island’s oldest arts organisation, is open six days a week. The gallery is located on the top floor of the Hamilton City Hall and Arts Centre, Church Street, Hamilton.

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