2000 Bacardi Limited Biennial - curator statement

This Bacardi Limited Biennial is a BIG show — in more ways than one. One painting is nine feet long, another is eight feet long and a drawing is six feet high. By contrast there is a tiny jewel of a painting measuring 4 x 5 inches. The 1996 Biennial had 37 artworks, The Bacardi Limited Biennial 1998 had 54 artworks. This year the jury has selected 77 works for the show — a little over 25% of the total submissions of 304 artworks. Thirty-nine artists are represented - with Graham Foster and Jonah Jones each showing the maximum of five paintings. Almost half the artists are exhibiting in a Bermuda National gallery Biennial for the first time.

Jurors David de la Torre, Susan Masuoka, and Laura Gorham viewed each submitted slide several times before shortlisting paintings, sculptures, graphics and photographs. A team of volunteers (thank you Katie Cutler, Lisa Malloy and Louisa Flannery) joined Senior Curator Marlee Robinson in a telephone session to let artists know which works to bring in for final assessment.

At the "Meet the Jurors" session (after the jurying was complete) many artists had a chance to talk specifically with individual jurors about reactions to their work and advice for the future. having seen what contemporary artists are creating in another Atlantic island through A window on the Azores, we now celebrate some of Bermuda's contemporary artists. Congratulations to you all.