The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

BAHAMIAN artist Andret John was inspired to represent men as nurturing figures after 11-year old Marco Archer was found brutally murdered last September.

He produced a sculptor of a man cuddling a new born baby to demonstrate the loving and caring dimension of manhood. It was displayed last week, during the Public Treasury's "Nurturing Brotherhood" exhibit, and sold.

"I did this piece around the time the Marco Archer situation was going on. Men can be in that instance very vile but I wanted to make a contrast. Yes we can be destructive, but we can affect each other positively. We need to show men in a protective, loving and caring way. The sculptor embodies that whole sense of love," he said.

Traditionally women are depicted in art in this form while men take on images of strength. Mr John counteracted that image to show that men can also be "nurturing, loving, and kind".

"The piece symbolises the connection between father and son, the loving nature in art that is not usually represented," said Mr John.

The Nurturing Brotherhood exhibit gave veteran artists the opportunity to mentor male high school students. The initiative was initiated to help uplift and unify young Bahamian men using the arts.

Keisha Oliver, organiser, told Tribune Arts, Andret's sculptor coincided perfectly with the theme of the show.

"We were pleased to have Andret John submit his piece as he was one of the few artists who chose to expound on the title and focal point of the event 'nurturing', which was not a requirement. By portraying the relationship between a father and newborn he illustrates a valid point on the importance men also play in the rearing of their children."

She said that Andret's piece was thought provoking and gave way for the roles of mothers and fathers to be appreciated much more.

"It is a rarity to see men represented in this way. I think a body of work that portrays fatherhood and the role the male figure plays in grooming their children and supporting their family will definitely be one that provokes thought, allowing us to appreciate equally the importance mothers and fathers play as nurturing figures," she said.

One attendee was very impressed with the way the artist used his material to bring to life the concept.

"I did not really know the reason why he did the nurturing piece. I did see that it was a male figure nurturing a child, which is rare in Bahamian art and art in general. Men are usually depicted as figures of strength so when you see something like that it is unique and it stands out."

"It is also parallel to the actual materials that he used. He used concrete and concrete is hard. He manipulated the material to be more or less soft. So everything was cohesive and made sense to what he wanted to do."