By Shamar Blunt
The Queen’s Park Gallery continues to be a significant and important platform for Barbadian creatives looking to exhibit their artistic works.
According to Curator for the gallery and the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) Onika Small, 2022 was a good year for visual artists, who benefitted greatly from a number of showcases over the past several months.
She was speaking during the launch of the NCF’s newest showing: Wear Your Art Exhibition, at the gallery.
A striking piece seen here from local fashion designer Pauline Bellamy.
Small, who was also the curator for the recently held Our Land exhibit, the third in the series of exhibits held during the Central Bank Crop Over Visual Arts Exhibition series at The City location told Barbados TODAY, “The exhibitions at Queen’s Park, provide that platform for not only the artists to come in but for a large cross-section of the Barbadian public to interact with the artists, whether at the openings or if they come into the gallery. We just saw lots of people coming in just looking at art and taking in the elevation that art does for the human soul.”
One of several pieces from the Okoye by Kim brand.
The Wear Your Art Exhibition showcases the work of 24 local creatives in contemporary to historically-inspired pieces. Small said that the exhibition was a refreshing one to host this time around and an important push for the creatives into 2023.
“It’s really refreshing to see the diversity of creation; products we can wear, and wear our art proudly. We have done a lot for the last couple months and we are hoping to start back again with a big push in January with more exhibitions.”
This striking Egyptian-inspired piece was also on display.
She added: “We are really excited about the visitor numbers. Over all of the exhibitions we were able to garner some sales and for this last exhibition we are doing our push, so hopefully Barbadians will come in and support the work of the 24 creatives who are here.”
The Wear Your Art Exhibition runs until January 7, 2023. There is no charge for entry to the exhibit.
