The Tribune

FORTY years of Bahamian art history are captured in “Love & Responsibility: The Dawn Davies Collection”, a new publication by the renowned collector of Bahamian art.

The book captures more that 1700 pieces by some 200 Bahamian artists in the private collection of Dawn Davies. It lifts the veil on 40 years of Bahamian art history, tracing the broad development and growth of individual artists and the evolution of Bahamian art in general.

“Over time there has been a huge change in the direction of Bahamian art from representational art to much more abstract and conceptual work. I think that is also reflected in the collection,” said Ms Davies, who hosted a book launch last week at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (NAGB).

Dr Erica James, the first NAGB curator, now an assistant professor at Yale University edited the book, which also includes biographies of the artists. Cacique Award winner Roland Rose photographed the collection. It was designed by top graphic designer Dionne Benjamin-Smith.

Reflecting on her journey, Ms Davies said she never considered herself to be a collector when she first started buying art.

“But over time when you find it has become more than a hobby and more of a passion at some point you have to consider yourself a collector, then your interest really broadens, because you want to have a representative collection,” said Ms Davies.

“It has been hugely rewarding for me because I have to some extent grown with the artists in respect to the media and styles they use. It has been quite an educational process for me as well,” she said.

To order “Love & Responsibility”, contact dawndavies@coralwave.com. Benefits from the sale of the book will be donated to the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas.