Perfect Paradise: Culture: Visual Arts
The visual arts have always thrived in the Bahamas, with certain types &nash; particularly those that heavily utilize the islands' natural resources – being the most popular. Below are descriptions and examples of some of the most loved.
Plaiting
Plaiting, or straw-weaving, is an ancient art that involves plaiting natural fibers to create
baskets, trays, display pieces, hats, and more. In the Bahamas, where plaiting has been a major
industry since the 1720s, master plaiters are among the most revered artists, and thousands upon
thousands of their works are sold each year to fellow Bahamians as well as visitors. "Plait
ladies," as they are known locally, use "pond top" and "silver top" palmetto fronds (not real
straw) that they harvest during the new moon. The "tops," or young, opened fronds from the trees,
are dried, cured, and then cut into strips to then be plaited through a laborious process that
can require a full eight-hour work day just to plait one 10-foot roll. The more complex plaiting,
which involves at least 25 different weaves, can take weeks to finish.
Visit: Handicraft
Shopping in the Bahamas
Painting
Painting is a relatively new visual art form in the Bahamas, first achieving major popularity in
the 1950s and 1960s. Most Bahamian paintings include the common images of daily life in the
islands, with the sea and the people being the most common themes. Bahamian painters also
commonly include moral messages in their art, such as those celebrating family and spiritual life.
Bahamian paintings also tend to be highly realistic, though some modern painters are beginning to
include some more abstract elements in their works. Galleries have begun to appear in the Bahamas
over the past two decades, so it is expected that painting will continue to gain popularity.
Visit: Prominent Bahamian painter Antonius Roberts
Quilting
Quilting in the Bahamas has largely remained popular among the descendants of white resettlers,
but the art is gaining popularity among all demographics nationwide. Centered in Spanish Wells,
a district of the island of Eleuthera, the Bahamian quilting tradition involves using smaller
patches than in other countries, and puts less emphasis on pastels and softened colors and more
on bright shades, as well as black and other colors common to African art. Bahamian quilters
have begun to receive much recognition outside of the country and now frequently have their
works showcased in folk art shows around North America and beyond.
Visit: Quilting in the Bahamas
Shell Jewelry
Perhaps the oldest art form in the Bahamas is the creation of jewelry made from shells.
Originally as simple as one shell strung on a piece of fiber, shell jewelry now involves
intricate designs replete with pearls, sea glass, coral, and other natural items culled from
the islands and the sea. The most common materials include conch (pronounced KONK) shells
and sea glass, though other forms of shells (including the shark eye pictured at right) and
even small starfish are now commonly used. Shell jewelry can be found throughout the islands
and remains one of the most popular souvenirs for visitors from other lands.
Visit: Ting-n-Ting Bahamian Jewelry