The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

Even being selected as a finalist in the international Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series has opened up a myriad of opportunities for Vancouver-based Bahamian artist Gio Swaby, who needs the votes of supporters to advance in the competition.

In the middle of finding time for herself and remembering not to "eat chicken nuggets for dinner every night", the young artist has been churning out new work and jumping on opportunities that can expand the reach of her art.

Gio was selected to be a Vancouver semi-finalist in the series with her mixed media piece entitled "Going Out Clothes".

The series is a search to discover the next great class of emerging visual artists from North America.

It gives artists the opportunity to compete for a chance to exhibit at art gallery events across the US and Canada. Regional winners will have the opportunity to showcase their work at SCOPE Miami Beach, one of the largest global art fairs in the world.

The grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 stipend and a collaboration with Artsy to create a public art installation in New York City in 2019.

The second place and People's Choice Winners will each receive a $3,000 stipend to create a solo art exhibit in their home city.

"This competition is really popular, tens of thousands of people enter from all over North America so I felt like my chances were slim to be chosen as one of the semi-finalist in my current city (Vancouver). I just thought, it's better to enter and not be chosen than to have no chance at all if I didn't even try. You know that thing about missing 100 percent of the shots you don't take," said Gio.

"Going Out Clothes" is the piece Gio entered in the series and is a celebratory exploration of blackness, womanhood and personal style.

"This stitched textile portrait investigates the use of personal style as a tool to resist and challenge the myth of black inferiority and highlights the concurrent rejection of Europeanized beauty standards. It honours and celebrates the self-love, acceptance and appreciation black women have worked fiercely to develop," she said.

The art piece was continuation of pieces she created for the "Rooted" exhibition earlier this April at The Current Gallery, Baha Mar. "Going Out Clothes" was created shortly after the showcase and celebrates blackness and womanhood," she said.

"I felt like it was a very fitting representation of my current practice and I am so proud of this piece. It really shows the progress and direction as an artist."

Gio is encouraging Bahamians to show their support as voting ends today.

"Even being selected as a finalist by getting the most votes would open so many doors for me as an artist," she said.

"I would be able to represent The Bahamas on a much larger platform which is my primary goal. To continue, like so many other fantastic Bahamian artists before me, to bring Bahamian art to the world. Winning this competition would mean all of that but times ten."

Gio was born and raised in Nassau where she obtained her Associate of Arts degree at The College of The Bahamas in 2012. In 2014, she moved to Vancouver to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree majoring in Film, Video and Integrated Media at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Swaby completed the programme in 2016.

"Nassau is where my practice started, so I've exhibited at home long before I moved to Vancouver and many times since I've lived here. I showed in the last two National exhibitions amongst others. I also recently participated in an exhibition in Leipzig, Germany for "Overseas/Übersee: Cuba and The Bahamas, Contemporary Art From The Caribbean" alongside other Bahamian and Cuban artists. Keeping my connection to home and the art community in The Bahamas is very important to me," said Gio.

As a mixed media artist Gio's practice encompasses installation, textiles, collage, performance and video.

"I have an upcoming exhibition at The Central Bank of The Bahamas TBA next year along with another Bahamian artist Samantha Treco. I'm very excited to share another body of work at home with my Bahamian people," she said.

"Also, hopefully, I will be a part of the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Finals this December at Scope Miami Beach."

To vote for Gio log on to www.bombaysapphire.com.