The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

IN WHAT turned out to be a fateful coincidence, Bahamian artist and Lil Locals entrepreneur Anastasia Charlow started working on a wire sculpture inspired by the Absolut Vodka brand two years ago, long before news of the “Absolut Art Ambition” competition emerged and long before she participated and emerged victorious.

The Burns House Group last month held its ‘Absolut Art Ambition’ competition inspired by the global spirit brand. The contest challenged local artists to create works that told unique and relatable stories.

Anastasia entered her Lil Locals wire sculpture into the competition and beat out 16 other competitors. The Lil Locals piece tells a detailed story of how Absolut Vodka is incorporated in everyday Bahamian life.

In the sculpture, the Lil Locals are seen engaging in numerous recreational activities; some sitting at a table playing dominos, others riding a bicycle or playing the guitar. The figures are also surrounded by numerous Absolut bottles in various sizes and colours.

Anastasia told Tribune Arts and Entertainment that she was inspired to create the piece after getting into a debate with an Absolut brand manager some years ago about liquor preferences.

“I have to admit that this was something in the making for about two years. I have always loved the Absolut products. I was in an argument several years ago with one of the brand managers about the best way to drink Absolut and my preference was with ginger beer and his was lemonade. He then started talking about the art concept and I started to look at my pieces for a competition that could come up, not knowing that I would actually participate in it. I spent months putting the pieces together,” she said.

On the night of the contest’s unveiling at Sapodilla Restaurant, Anastasia said she was no where to be found when her name was called as the winner.

“I went to the bathroom to get something to wipe my face and when I came back out I noticed that everyone was standing centre court and one of the guys said, ‘Where have you been?’ They have been calling your name, you won.’ I was shocked,” she said.

As to why she won the competition, Anastasia had this to say:

“I think I told a story that captured the minds of some of the people that were there and they voted for me. It was a wonderful thing to know that people were able to identify with the characters in the art piece. There was some really strong and good artwork out that there that night. It was a wonderful evening and I think Absolut did a wonderful job,” she said.
The Lil Locals brand has been in existence for 20 years. It was one of the first products in the Atlantis shop and it won a Cacique Award for Best Bahamian Product in 1997.

The Lil Locals wire sculptures range in size from six inches tall to life sized. Several years ago, Anastasia created a 14-feet tall Lil Local sculpture that is currently owned by Bahamian destination management company Bahamas Fantasies.

Lil Locals pieces are sometimes on display at various Junkanoo parties and events the company hosts to create a festive atmosphere.

“Lil Locals came out of a need I saw within the Bahamian tourist items. I wanted to create something visual that people can take back to their homes, something that captivates some of the things here in the Bahamas. The Lil Locals are my depiction of the Bahamian lifestyle,” Anastasia said.

While the Lil Locals idea took off, not everyone supported the concept at first.

“One local man told me that they looked like Voodoo dolls. He then told me to get out of his store. As I was leaving and walking down Bay Street another lady saw me and was interested, and I sold some of them. After that I realised that there was a market for it. I then walked down to the Linen Shop and the lady who owned it told me that she would try a dozen and we’ve had a relationship ever since,” Anastasia said.

“It just takes that one person to believe in you and the rest is history. The key for me was to not be disillusioned and take note of what other people around me were doing. I wasn’t targeting the local market. I was targeting the tourist market, but it was the local person who shut the door.”

Anastasia does not have a store where the Lil Locals are sold, but relies on others to sell her products. Some of them can be found in the Linen Shop and Bahama Art.
“I had a stall in Festival Place and after my husband passed six years ago my creative juices were stifled with grief. I just couldn’t create. Due to some problems thereafter I lost the stall.

“I need people to understand that I did not disappear, and due to circumstances beyond my control I no longer have a venue where I actually sell my stuff directly to the public,” she said.

As for the future of Lil Locals, Anastasia is currently working with several Bahamian musicians to add some new elements to the brand for 2015.