The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

FOR two young men, who both aspire to become professional artists, the Nurturing Brotherhood art exhibit moved them one step closer to that dream.

Joshua Thompson and Kirkwood Deal have their work displayed in the Public Treasury's Art Program Nurturing Brotherhood exhibit, which saw veteran artists mentoring high school boys. It was initiated to help uplift and unify young Bahamian men using the arts.

"It was a wonderful experience. I was excited to work with Scharad Lightbourne (mentor). We bounced ideas around about what we wanted to do beforehand. It was pleasure to be part of this exhibit," said Joshua Thompson, who graduated from Lyford Cay School last Wednesday.

From the age of 8, Joshua considered himself to be talented when it came to art. He channeled his imagination through drawings, paintings, and clay work. However, after being embarrassed in front of a primary school class at a former private school he abandoned his passion.

"The teacher told me my worked looked like crap. He embarrassed me in front of the entire class. He compared my work to the work of a four year old. From then I was discouraged and I never wanted to do art after that. I try to block that memory out of my head," Joshua told Tribune Arts.

"I have attention deficit disorder and it made me hyperactive and I rushed my work. When I rushed my work it did not look good and it was not done properly."

This incident made Joshua rethink his plans. Instead of becoming a professional artist he decided he had a better chance of pursuing a career in medicine.

"I did not understand a thing in biology class and I said to myself what am I doing. I realised I loved art and it wasn't until I met an amazing art teacher at Lyford Cay School in the tenth grade who inspired me to keep pursuing art. She saw that I had raw talent. She pushed me and if she did not like something I did, she told me in a positive way and she helped develop whatever idea I wanted to bring to life," he said.

Drawing inspiration from the work of artists like Max Taylor, John Cox, and many others, Joshua was motivated not give up.

"My art has transcend my ability. I feel I still have more work to do even though I have progressed so much."

In a few months, time Joshua will make his way to Sheridan College in Canada to major in Visual Art Foundation and Visual Creativity.

Kirkwood Deal, soon to be graduate of Kingsway Academy and second prize winner in the PTAP exhibit, said the arts will also be his "bread and butter".

"I do plan on pursuing a career in the arts, but not just painting. I plan to try out the numerous fields of art like photography, directing, fashion design and much more. I do not want to limit myself from the endless possibilities available for my craft."

"I believe an art career is both rewarding and can pay the bills. I have seen it. From the art competitions I have entered, I can personally say that there is no better feeling than hearing your name being called for an award. It makes you realize that all those late nights of painting did not go to waste and that the rewards are encouraging financially as well," he said.

Kirkwood also got a start in art when he was young. When he was in primary school he discovered he was good at drawing. Now that his skills have developed, he is more passionate about abstract work.

"I believe what really got me interested in art was when I enrolled in Sonia Isaccs School of Art on Saturdays and began learning how to paint.

"I love art because it allows me to express my feelings. It has also given me the ability to create alternate locations and characters that do not exist which is like bringing my imagination to life."

Out of all of his art renderings, so far he is most proud of his abstract piece entitled Who Are We 2.

"This is the artwork I won the Central Bank "Governors Choice Award 2011" for and is now owned by the bank. I love this piece because it is one of the largest I have done and the painting and design concept of it came so effortlessly to my mind. It made me finally consider my self as a true abstract artist."