Father Knowledge Mother Tongue OPENS NEXT THURSDAY!

Doongalik Studios announces their final Exhibition for the year, Father Knowledge, Mother Tongue, a contemporary art show by Angelika Wallace-Whitfield which will open on Thursday December 5 from 6-9pm.

Slated to be an interesting glimpse into her life’s journey, this vibrant 20-year old Bahamian artist spoke in depth about her experiences whilst preparing for Father knowledge, Mother Tongue. She reflected that the title “came about during the production of the art pieces for this show. The process was one that allowed me to explore myself as a mixed raced Bahamian-Jamaican who was raised in a broken family, and to delve into my own social and self-perception. “I have always been interested in exploring contemporary reality, as well as the subconscious and social identity of individuals and how they interact. Our perception of ourselves can be identical or the opposite of the perception we give to others. Within the contents of the show, I have attempted to reveal the concealment of certain identity issues to create a confrontation of these issues that we tend to ignore.

“The first gesture, instinctive and simple is what interests me more than painting an intricate detail. My ‘style’ has moved from picturesque to instinctive and fluid, and I have been able to find a release within my work. This development has allowed me to take the realistic and abstract it, placing it next to another object or in another position to change its meaning. “Working large will always be my first love. It allows the viewer to appreciate the image from a distance but as they move closer, the image distorts and leaves room for further interpretation. 

As an artist, limitations are death to creativity and by breaking down these barriers - creation, invention, and beauty are born. “I always remind myself to stay malleable. The creative learning process never ends. When working on my pieces, I know they’re done when they aren’t done. I love the concept of process, and showing process through my work. By leaving my work undone, I leave it vulnerable and open for my audience’s imagination to engage in my work.”

Angelika has lived between The Bahamas and the United Kingdom. She has been immersed in art from early childhood, first by her mother and then by Sue Bennett-Williams, who, along with others have been strong inspirations for the concepts behind her work. Totally immersing herself in the local art scene, Angelika is also exhibiting in a collaborative show, “New New” at Popop Studios which opened last week, as well as displaying work at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas as a part of the ASMAC 20 year Student Exhibition mounted by Sue Bennett-Williams.

BahamaScape Opens Tuesday, November 12th!

Doongalik Studios announces the Opening of “BahamaScape” a collaborative show of photographs by Rashad Penn, Shane Pinder and Guilden Gilbert on Tuesday November 12 from 6-9pm. As the name implies, this exhibition focuses on The Bahamas and the many wonderful ‘Scapes’ (landscapes and seascapes) that can be found throughout the islands.

Each of the artists is passionate about photography – they all participate in a very active facebook group called ‘Photographers of The Bahamas’ (POTB) that was created by Rashad Penn. Three members of the group - Rashad, Jeff Major, and Guilden - initially got together after a group photo-walk. The photographers discovered that they had very similar photography interests so, for safety reasons, they decided to get together to shoot on a regular basis following this first photo-walk, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history!

Shane was invited by Guilden to become a member of POTB after he presented some of his work, and he eagerly accepted. The group has spent many hours shooting together and presenting their work to each other for critiques, input and advice. Their ease and familiarity with one another has reached the point where sometimes it appears that they think alike. In fact some of their images were so similar that during the selection process for the show, they had to remove photos which seemed to be duplicates of another’s work which led them to ponder which attributes could have led to such conditions -”Great minds think alike” or “Fools seldom differ”!

“The public can look forward to an amazing selection of breathtaking ‘Scapes’ captured in film and presented in both traditional, and not so traditional ways,” stated Gallery owner, Pam Burnside. “This is the first time that the POTB Group has held an Exhibition, and I am pleased to provide the opportunity for them to show their work. In the mad rush and haste of modern life, we often take Nature for granted. This Show, I think, will allow us to take a moment to stop and appreciate the exquisite beauty that surrounds us 24/7!”

As an added benefit to the Exhibition, the photographers will be donating part proceeds of their sales to the Children’s Emergency Hostel and Great Commission Ministries International during this season of giving. Patrons who purchase art work will not only obtain beautiful photographs but will also be contributing towards these noteworthy charities.

“BahamaScape” will be on display until Tuesday, November 26. For more information contact the Gallery at 394-1886 or visit our facebook page, here!