From an ancient tall ship named Sea Venture that left her crew maroooned on these deserted shores, to the ultra-modern cruise ships that boost our economy, sailing has always played a key role in Bermuda life.
Boats of all shapes and sizes have been the lifeblood of this tiny island and Masterworks is marking the significance of Bermuda's maritime heritage with a special exhibition celebrating our island's 400th anniversary.
Paintings selected from the gallery's collection feature everything from sloops, schooners, tugs, and pilots to ferries, whaling boats and cruise ships. Depictions of life on the sea will also be a prominent part of the exhibition.
Queen of Bermuda
Bermudian filmmaker Lucinda Spurling has made a living history video about the classic liner the Queen of Bermuda, in which a number of former crew members are interviewed. There is another film by Panatel about indigenous sailing on the island, including fitted dinghy races.
"The sea has traditionally been part of our lifeblood. Before Cable and Wireless laid down its cables you waited for the boats to get your mail and newspapers and everything," explained collections manager Elise Outerbridge.
"After World War II, commercial air travel became more prevalent we didn't rely as much on it but for most of our history, the sea has been crucial to us. The exhibition is a social studies show. The paintings date back as far as 1797 by George Tobin (the earliest in the exhibition) of the boats in Flatts.
"He was attached to the British Navy and because of his artistic expertise he went with Captain Bligh [of Mutiny on the Bounty fame] on his second expedition to the South Pacific and did a lot of sketches there.
"We have some lovely Edward James water colours and some Thomas Driver of Hamilton Harbour - some of the earlier depictions of Bermuda as a maritime community."
Historical references
The exhibition starts with some historical references to the sea as depicted by the Royal Navy while the rest of the exhibition is connected to areas such as yachting and commerce.
The upper mezzanine will be devoted to the Queen of Bermuda and her impact on the island until 1966 when she last came here. The Queen brought visitors and products and was a huge part of our community.
Some other well known names include Marsden Hartley who has an abstract painting called Movement Bermuda inspired by sailboats, Winslow Homer, with a painting of the first purpose-built ship for Bermuda, SS Trinidad, and there is a contemporary painting called Bermuda Petrel by Frank Stella, one of the leading American artists of his era. British artist Malcolm Morley, the first winner of the Turner prize in the U.K., is also featured.
While there are many pictures of boats, the exhibition explores other aspects of Bermuda's relationship with the sea.
For instance, there is a painting of people gathering seaweed by Grant Simon which shows that even our agricultural lives were dependent upon the sea because islanders used it as fertilizer.
There will be three model boats on display; The Golden Rule, which first brought the Portuguese settlers to Bermuda and also two made by Captain Musson, the captain of the Queen of Bermuda.
Screenings
Ms Outerbridge said the screening of films has been proving successful at the exhibition: "We have discovered we have been very successful with intriguing people with these short videos such as the one with (artist) Charles Lloyd Tucker. They seem to draw people in."
Masterworks encourages schools to organize special tours of the exhibition to increase young people's knowledge of this important part of our heritage.
Want to explore our
nautical heritage?
- When: June 19 -
December 31
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm
- Opening reception: June 19, 5pm for dignitaries and 5:50pm for others. Exhibition officially open to the public on June 20
- Where: Masterworks at the Botanical Gardens, Paget. Bus route 1, 2 and 7
