Art Exhibit To Showcase Bessie Gray’s Works
In celebration of Bermuda Heritage Month, the Chubb Gallery and the Bermuda National Trust have partnered to showcase a collection of Bessie Gray’s watercolours and poetry.
“Born in 1854, Bessie Gray was one of Bermuda’s first female artists. It is believed that Miss Gray was untrained but it is possible that she was tutored by Edward James, a British artist who was on the island during the American Civil War,” a spokesperson explained.
“James depicted a painting party on the lawn of either Clermont Gray’s parents’ house, or Wentworth, Miss Gray’s own house next door. Miss Gray was a gifted and prolific painter in watercolour and confined her work to landscapes and florals.
“A published poet, she combined these talents to produce a series of booklets and calendars that remain some of the most beautiful publications ever produced by a Bermudian artist.
“The works on display are from a variety of collectors who have generously agreed to loan their artefacts as well as from the Bermuda National Trust’s own collection.
“The Bessie Gray Paintings in the collection of the Bermuda National Trust are held in the Bermuda Archives who carefully preserve the artwork to keep it in the good condition seen in this exhibition.
“There are several other pieces on display that are in an unbelievably well-preserved condition. They are in fact on show for the first time, having survived in the darkness of a trunk for over 100 years.
“In a remarkable story, descendants of Bessie Gray unveiled the paintings when clearing an old trunk given to Jennifer Gray, Director of the Bermuda National Trust, by her father. The fresh vibrant appearance of these paintings shows what the entire collection would have looked like when first painted.
“The exhibition reveals an artist willing to experiment not only with her medium, but in her subject matter and presentation. You do, however, get a sense of her passion for florals, especially roses which she was very gifted in capturing with great accuracy.
“Chubb is delighted to partner with the Bermuda National Trust for our annual Heritage Month exhibition. We sincerely thank the members of the Gray family who have loaned their artwork to make this exhibition possible.” said, Samantha Froud, Chief Administration Officer for Chubb’s Bermuda Operations.
“It is an honour to feature the work of one of Bermuda’s first female artists and we invite the community to visit the Gallery to enjoy these beautiful pieces of history.”
The opening reception is on Thursday 5 May in the Chubb Building on Woodbourne Avenue [formerly the ACE Building], and the exhibition runs until Wednesday 27 July.
The Chubb Gallery, located at the Chubb Building, 17 Woodbourne Avenue, Hamilton is open to the public weekdays from 10am – 4pm. Please call 295 5200 for group arrangements.
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