he Furniture Plus family is pleased to introduce Plus Arts & Culture ("PAC"), a celebration of arts, crafts and more by talented Bahamian artists.
Our vision is to provide venues and more for artists of all genres, including dance, music and drama as well as artists who produce paintings, straw work, ceramics, sculpture, quilting, photography and more.
Mrs. Krystynia Lee d'Arville, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Furniture Plus, explains: "We want to give Bahamians a chance to see, touch, feel and experience the beauty and drama portrayed by the talent we have here in the islands. We are proud of our diverse Bahamian culture."
For more information about PAC, please contact us.
Jessica Maycock
eramist Jessica Maycock holds a Baccalaureate Degree in Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island and an Associate of Arts Degree in Fine Arts from the College of The Bahamas, where she also obtained her teaching certification. After three and a half years with the Ministry of Education she took a huge step out on her own, and today is the proud owner of Jessica's Tile Works Studio.
According to one writer, "Jessica is living her lifelong goal which is to continue developing, expanding, exploring and changing the landscape of Fine Art ceramics in The Bahamas." (The Bahama Journal, 3rd - 5th May, 2002.) Her themes are maternal, and feature pieces like "Mother and Gift," "Earthly Growth" and "Server." A first prize winner in the 3-D Category (1994-1996) and a Central Bank scholarship recipient (1995 and 1996) as part of the Bankís annual Art Exhibition and Competition, Jessica has exhibited in The Bahamas on a number of occasions, at least three times at the Central Bank: Hear me Roar (1996), Sump'n Familiar (1997) and We Dream A World (2002). Her architectural tile murals appear in a number of Bahamian homes and businesses.
Bob Zwickle
rom the artist: "Changes of pace. Changes of space. The brush and the pallet knife emulate nature's styles and give way to an expression of artistic spontaneity. I reflect on the changes expressed in nature through landscapes large and small, objectively and abstractly, much the way we view our changing landscape. Vivid colors spontaneously emerge through muted ideas via brush strokes and paint. The fascination of depth created two dimensionally in a three-dimensional world. Sit back, rest your eyes and give your imagination permission to explore art."
Cal "Jeep" Byers
Cal Byers was born in North Carolina. After receiving a degree in art, he became the creative art director for his own agency for 26 years. Being responsible for hundreds of advertising campaigns from conception to print, he became proficient not only with the visual effect of printed material, but also with the written word. Over the years he has written countless magazine articles, newspaper articles and brochures throughout the southeast.
In 1990, Cal published a successful series of children's books which he wrote and illustrated. More recently, he published Esteva and Last Breath, both fiction novels. "Creating characters and working in color illustrations is very time consuming but at the same time very fulfilling. In writing novels, I paint those colorful paintings with my words," he says.
Cal is also well known in the islands for his watercolor paintings which he exhibits in galleries, resorts and art shows.
Marjolein Scott
Marjolein Scott's medium of choice is watercolor on silk, using Oriental and Western techniques based on the Indonesian art of batik. The richness and depth of her colors are a result of a scintillating pallete of special European silk dyes and paints that are layered onto each painting.
Although her subjects and commissioned works vary, they all reflect the spectacular beauty of her beloved Abaco and its graceful people. An inspiration for the playful figures in some of her work certainly comes from her years of teaching dance to island children.
Marjolein was born on the island of Borneo of Dutch parents. She grew up in Indonesia, Hong Kong, East Africa and Singapore, where she studied classical dance and fine art. The Barefoot Contessas' Card Company produces Limited Edition Giclee Prints, cards and postcards of work.
Marlee Mason
A newcomer to painting, Marlee Mason is best known for her original sea glass and silver jewelry designs. In 2006 as a student of a visiting master painter, she began to learn skills in the Plein Air style and has since created paintings of island living. Marlee's original oil paintings depict scenes of solitude and serenity. She connects with the freedom and natural beauty of Abaco and the Bahamian lifestyle by exploring views most appreciated cruising around the Sea of Abaco.
Contact the artist at 242-367-2790, become a friend on Facebook or visit www.abacoseaglass.com.
Lillian Cash
Lillian Cash is known throughout Abaco for her classy handmade bags, tailor-made to exceptional workmanship. Her straw bags bear her distinctive label "It's in the Bag" and are produced most evenings and weekends at her home in Casuarina Point, Abaco.
Her interest in craftwork first became evident as a young child when she learned to sew and crochet, skills which she has continued to develop along with the art of quilting. Always an admirer of straw work, Lillian wanted to learn the skill for herself, so while working on Bay Street in Nassau as a young woman, she seized the opportunity to visit the straw market and watch the vendors plait and sew baskets.
In 2007 Lillian felt the time was right to pursue her dreams and begin her new craft of straw work. Never attending any formal classes, it did not take her long to figure out the details of producing accurate and durable straw bags. She later extended her line with wallets, key chains, portfolios, pillows and burlap straw bags, bowls and placemats. Lillian was featured as the "local artist" in Destination Abaco, July 2010 - February 2011.
Lillian's sewing career developed into a successful business, gaining her the respect and trust of countless clients eager to purchase her pieces. Her business has thrived via word of mouth and local shows thoughout Abaco and the Cays.
Brigitte Bowyer Carey
Ask Brigitte Bowyer how long she's been painting, and she'll tell you that she doodled on her high chair and later was punished in school for drawing in her text books. The artist was educated in Germany as a graphic designer, "although I really always wanted to be a painter, and study at the famed Sorbonne in Paris," she says. But the protective father of this only child found Paris in the 60's too dangerous for his little daughter and told her that she should study something more practical than painting "pictures." He did later relent, and organized a very successful large solo show for her in her home town. Art school was a wonderful experience nevertheless; graphic design would always be a passion. The training in this trade has stood her in good stead over the years, as well as helped the artist paint well-prepared watercolours.
Brigitte left Germany in 1966 to come to the United States, and lived in Ohio for 13 years. The mother of two active young daughters badly needed an outlet for her creative energies then, so began exploring watercolour - and was hooked immediately. She now says that she'd be painting in this elusive medium for another 40 years if she could. Wet-on-wet means the paper is wet, one drop of paint blooms and creates wonderful images all over - this artist likes to live on the edge, and loves to make these happy accidents happen.
Painters such as the great Edgar Whitney, Rex Brandt, Ray Loos and Don Dennis were Brigitte's teachers. She says one learns as much from fellow students as from any teacher, and as a teacher herself, "one ought to really pay one's students for the insights learned."
The artist then spent 10 years on Hilton Head Island, painting South Carolina's mysterious Low Country, before moving to her husband's native country, The Bahamas. Now she lives and works on a peaceful island in the beautiful Abacos. Her timeless impressions of her adopted country are evidence of her deep appreciation for these island's transparently turquoise seas and vibrant tropical colours.
Ms. Bowyer's unusual landscapes, seascapes, and sketches are on display in many banks, hotels and corporate institutions as well as in countless private homes all over the world. Such collectors include, among others, novelist Pat Conroy and Mr. and Mrs. Sean Connery. Brigitte has been commissioned to paint as many as 50 paintings at one time for such clients as hotels and interior designers. She also has won over 70 awards for her work- among them many First and Best of Show prizes.
This artist has conducted watercolour workshops and taught private classes in Europe, The United States and The Bahamas. She believes that the painting of a luminous, rich and successful watercolour should be fun, and does not happen by chance, but is the result of dedication, preparation and practice.
Leanne Russell
Leanne Russell is a Bahamian artist living in Abaco. After studying commerce at St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she returned home in 2002 to pursue a career that incorporated her love for painting. She has worked consistently on a string of commissions which can be found in various corporate and private collections from the United States to Australia. This self-taught painter works in watercolor and acrylic on canvas or reclaimed materials such as recycled antique clap-board shutters. To sum up her artist statement: "creating an aesthetically-pleasing painting will always be important to me, but I also strive to be an artist who does not simply conform to making marketable art, but instead focuses on conveying them self accurately through their work"
Her work has been used in projects for The Green Turtle Club and Resort and in the Bahamar development (in what was formerly the Bahamas Sheraton) and has been featured in Air Currents magazine. At only 23, she was named a Cacique Award finalist in the Fine Arts Category. Called "an inspiration for other young Bahamian artists" by reputed Bahamian painter Alton Lowe, Leanne is steadily evolving into one The Bahamas' next generation of artistic ambassadors.
Louis Schneider
Louis Schneider was born and raised on Abaco. Although he discovered his artistic talents later in life, he has developed his craft in just a short amount of time and is primarily self-taught. Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of the Abacos, Louis captures breathtaking images on film.
