From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Arts & Culture
Dwight Laadan Ferguson prepares for his Third Solo Exhibition “Hope”
By Pam Burnside, Doongalik Studios Art Gallery
Oct 29, 2019 - 10:15:59 PM


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Doongalik Studios is pleased to announce the Opening of Dwight Laadan Ferguson’s annual Exhibition entitled “Hope” on Friday, November 8th from 6-9pm.

Ferguson started working for this show mid-year with a different theme in mind. However, the passage of the monster Hurricane Dorian last month changed the dynamics of many of his works. As an artist, he also feels deeply and is able to relay those feelings through his art. Because he feels so strongly that the visual arts should also speak to the soul of the viewer, he felt compelled to add another dimension to his exhibition in order to create a greater awareness of life, and to speak about its value and quality, particularly with respect to those persons affected by the storm. His own reaction on seeing the devastation wrought by the hurricane has inspired many of the more recent pieces as he, himself, needed to infuse a positive quality of hope in them.

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Dwight Ferguson Hope image

Ferguson stated that the concepts of hope and healing are a constant part of his calling as a practicing pastor. His active work in the church has provided an opportunity to reach out - physically, mentally and spiritually - to the many hurricane victims they minister to who, as friends and family members of their congregation, are now evacuees to Nassau and are experiencing a great deal of anguish. By providing them with a quiet space and a place in which they can vent, they are offered emotional support, a sense of dignity, healing and hope. Ferguson is making plans for them to attend the exhibition.

The “Hope” exhibition will feature a variety of mixed media pieces - from sculptures made from copper, aluminum and wire, to tar paper reliefs and abstract paintings. As varied as his artistic offerings, so too is Ferguson’s life journey as he spoke passionately about his dual roles as pastor and artist: “I will leave the opening on Friday evening as an artist, and don robes the following day to eulogize Bruno, yet another young man from my neighbourhood who was gunned down on the street. This scenario is like a recurring nightmare.  Where are these guns coming from that continue to decimate our young men in senseless killings? The gun violence is much too common! In the midst of these hails of gunshots I have to speak up, and I can do so through my art!

“Hope is a concept that provides humanity with a view of the future. Hope gives you the opportunity to reflect on your actions, weigh your choices, and to make plans. It is distressing that for so many of our younger persons, there seems to be no future, there seems to be no hope. We have to address this issue!

“This is one of the main reasons why my volunteer art classes with the youth at the Lend A Hand Bahamas Community Center on Lewis Street is so important to me. Maybe, just maybe, they will be inspired by the power of art to transform their outlook on life in a positive way by imparting a sense of hope.”                  

The “Hope” exhibition will be on display for the month of November with an Artist Talk scheduled for Friday, November 15. Gallery hours are Monday to Wednesday from 10am – 4pm. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Gallery at 394-1886 or by email at pam.burnside@doongalik.com



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