My curator Kurk was in Haiti again recently, so the gallery has received a small and well-chosen group of metal
sculptures for our colleciton. I LOVE this one – it’s truly one of the oddest and loveliest yet. It seems that the rooster has the man’s head as the bicycle’s horn – I can’t think of any other interpretation, but would really like to hear yours! Great bicycle spokes too.
I had to admit, I had to do a little geographical research to find out about “Les Saintes”. It’s a volcanic archipelago, lying immediately south of Guadeloupe, east of Marie-Galante. Jean-Pierre Straub was on Anguilla today, and brought this superb large marqetry work titled “Aux Saintes” into the gallery. I’m constantly amazed by his talent – he’s created mountains from the burl in the wood veneer, and calm seas from the grain
. Exquisite!
Wilson Bigaud (1931-2010) is considered by most to be one of the great founding masters of Haitian painting. His work was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art in New York in the 1950′s, along with the Haitian masters Gourgue, Obin and Liautaud. Also in the 1950′s, he was commissioned to create a mural in the famous Episocpal Cathedral of Sainte Trinite in Port-au-Prince, which was destroyed in the tragic 2010 earthquake.
This painting, “Garden of Eden” is also an early work, dating from 1967.
Jo-Anne Mason brought a painting into the gallery today, based on one of her computer-generated prints, which Savannah Gallery exhibited 15 years ago. The subject matter is similar, but the work simply sings when painted 
in oil. I find myself first drawn to the uber-romantic sky, then enjoying the beauty and calm of the old house in the field of tall grass. The title is “Sleeping. Long Path, Anguilla”, and it’s a lovely and mysterious painting…………
I think I have a new contender for one of the best desserts on Anguilla……… Joining the ranks of Lavender Ice Cream at Hibernia, Tiramisu at Dolce Vita and the Chocolate Trio at Blanchards, I would have to add this astounding Lemon Rice Pudding at Half Shell @ Viceroy. Creamy and lemony, it’s one of those desserts that have me moaning from the first spoon on…………
I’m heading down to the villa tonight for dinner, and decided to treat my guests and myself to an edible
work of art from Geraud’s Bakery in South Hill. Geraud is an astoundingly talented baker, and his creations never cease to delight. A piece of the crust “fell off” during photography. Such a pity!
For I am O’Malley, fierce boy-cat of my family, and guardian of the man who knows where the cat
food is kept. My vigilance and ferocity are legendary……………
Francis Eck knocks it out of the ball park again with this brand new painting “Eaux Limpides” (Tranaparent Waters). He captures the tranquility and beauty of the sea and sky down here, with his own magical brand of multi-colour horizon line. What a exquisite oil
!
Oh faithful blog readers, I’ve been keeping a deep dark secret for the last several months. Alas, last August, a rather sweet lady cat came up to the back porch, and with a few MEOWS!, had me feeding her kibble and such in the mornings. I named her “Augie” for the month she adopted me. A few weeks later, the inevitable mew mew mews came out from the bush. To that end, I now take responsability for (from left to right) Dr. Grey, Dr. Yang and Dr. O’Malley. Everyone’s been the vet now for a small surgical procedure, and they really do make a sweet family, and greet me with uber-meows every morning!
I can’t thank my curator in Haiti enough – he selected a superb collection of metal sculptures for the gallery, by a variety of artists. These “barrel top” sculptures compliment the new exhibition of Eugene Jacques. I don’t think the quality of these sculptures has ever been finer in Haiti.
