Erica James

Nassau, Bahamas - The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas Announces the Leave of Absence of its Current Director, Dr. Erica James and the appointment of David A. Bailey as Acting Director and Visiting Resident Curator in her absence.

The founding director of the National Art Gallery Dr. Erica James will take a year long sabbatical to serve as a Post Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri beginning January 2010.

Dr. James returned to The Bahamas in 2003 after being retained as Visiting Resident Curator by the Committee to Establish the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. She was tasked with overseeing the final stages of the restoration and renovation of Villa Doyle, the official opening of the Gallery, the curation of the Inaugural National Exhibition (INE) and the coordination of the installation of the three major exhibitions that open the gallery in July 2003.

Dr. James was appointed Chief Curator in 2003 and Director of the Gallery in 2005. During her time at the NAGB, she has drafted policies to govern the operation of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas both curatorially and institutionally, curated more than ten exhibitions including three National Exhibitions, the popular "What is Africa to Me?", "The Awakening Landscape" and the current "Max Taylor: Paperwork." 

Under her direction, the Gallery has also developed a vibrant public programme offering that includes, lectures, concerts, artist talks, children and family workshops, films, teacher workshops, etc. Perhaps most important to her has been the development of the Gallery’s Art Library intended to assist, students, teachers and artists with resources on Bahamian, regional and international artists and art movements.

A graduate of the College of The Bahamas and a proud recipient of the Sir Gerald Cash award for the highest GPA in her graduating year at COB, Dr. James received her BA (honours) from Vassar College, the Master of Fine Arts from the University of Chicago and an earned her PhD in Art History from Duke University. She is the recipient of numerous awards including research fellowships from the International Association of University Women and the Ford Foundation, The John Hope Franklin Fellowship and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Research Fellowship at the Clark Institute in Williamstown, MA.

Washington University is considered the twelfth ranked University in the United States. While there, Dr. James will mentor students, work on several projects including personal research in Caribbean Art, a new teaching text on Bahamian Art and a new curriculum for a degree program in Art and Visual Culture being proposed as a partnership between the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and The College of The Bahamas. 

The Board of Directors and the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture are proud of Dr. James’ accomplishments and dedication to Bahamian Arts. They support her in her desire for continued growth and admire her commitment to remaining current in her field. Dr. James recommended that Mr. David A. Bailey be appointed as Acting Director in her absence. After careful analysis of the situation, the Board supports this appointment and will welcome Mr. Bailey to the NAGB in 2010.

David Bailey

Though not a Bahamian, in the increasingly internationalized world of Visual Art and Culture, Bailey is recognized as a top curator and gallerist. Dr. James states that “The NAGB is almost seven years old. This is a very symbolic year for us. For the first seven years we have concentrated on building an institution, establishing and enforcing clear policy guidelines on which the NAGB can operate. We have shown our ability to produce exhibitions that have relevance. We have contributed to building the archive on Bahamian Art and Culture through our publications and have established ourselves as a regionally recognized and admired institution. However, listening to our artists and really seeing what is being produced by Bahamian artists inside The Bahamas and across the world has made us realize that the next seven years will be about building the Bahamian Art historical canon, teaching Bahamians about our rich artistic history while simultaneously gaining a foothold for Bahamian Art in international exhibition spaces.”

“Unfortunately for us though - and we are working to change this - few Bahamians have sought careers in the Arts at this level. Fewer have the training, vision, international exposure and contacts necessary to help us make this leap. There is a need to craft a public discussion that looks dispassionately at what it means to be a Bahamian artist, is It necessary or even possible to create “Bahamian Art” in an increasingly globalized culture. When planning my leave, the intention was to make certain that the Gallery continued to operate at a high standard. Having worked with Bailey at Duke University and knowing of his level of success and dedication to Diasporic curatorial practice, he seemed a perfect match in this transitional moment.” 

Mr. Bailey will oversee the curation of the 2010 National Exhibition and continue projects Dr. James initiated such as the Gallery’s acquisition of the Amos Ferguson home, the Livable Neighborhoods project and its extension with the Artists for Peace Initiative.