Mrs. Paulette Zonicle, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, D.C., was among the special guests at an art auction hosted by Exnihilo Art Center on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at the District Architecture Center. Pictured from left to right are: Ms. Faith Maycock, Third Secretary at the Bahamas Embassy Consular Annex; Michael Edwards, Bahamian artist; Consul General Zonicle; Blair Anderson, Exnihilo Art Center; Bryan Anderson, Exnihilo Art Center; and Katrina Cartwright, Bahamian artist

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Several projects for emerging artists in The Bahamas will benefit from an art auction hosted by Exnihilo Art Center at the District Architecture Center at 421 Seventh Street, N.W. on Tuesday, March 17, 2015.

Entitled “Out of Nothing Art Auction,” it featured art work from emerging artists as well as established artists from the United States and The Bahamas, and special guests included Bahamian artists Michael Edwards and Katrina Cartwright, who flew in for the event.

Other special guests included Mrs. Paulette Zonicle, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, D.C., and Ms. Faith Maycock, Third Secretary at the Bahamas Embassy Consular Annex.

Mrs. Dornell Watson Dean, Senior Business Development Manager, Bahamas Tourist Office, used the occasion to hand out promotional materials touting reasons why “It’s Better In The Bahamas.”

Exnihilo Art Center is a non-profit organization focusing on the arts, environment, and cultural exchange. Founded by Bryan and Blair Anderson, it is managed by working artists and provides opportunities for established and emerging artists in the U.S and The Bahamas through various projects, including a residency program in the Washington DC Metro area for metal smiths, a scholarship fund for deserving Bahamian art students, exposure for Bahamian artists in major U.S. markets, international residency experiences in The Bahamas, and environmental stewardship through creative reclamation on Bahamian islands.

The art auction was held to benefit the following Exnihilo projects: 1) Exnihilo: Nassau, Bahamas (in development) -- a future artist residency program for junior emerging and senior artists in ceramic arts; 2) Exnihilo Scholarship for emerging Bahamian artists -- providing a scholarship fund for Bahamian art students to attend the College of The Bahamas or tertiary institutions in the US and elsewhere; 3) Exnihilo: Long Island, Bahamas (in development) -- a future multi-disciplinary artist residency retreat facility and program for junior emerging and senior artists.

Pictured from left to right at the art auction hosted by Exnihilo Art Center are Bryan Anderson and Blair Anderson of Exnihilo Art Center; Dornell Watson-Dean, Senior Business Manager, Bahamas Tourist Office; and Katrina Cartwight and Michael Edwards, Bahamian Artists, who flew in especially for the event.