It’s Authentic! It’s Bahamian Art & Culture! It’s The Bahamian Art & Culture Tour!

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- The Office Family Restaurant and Lounge in conjunction with the Grand Bahama Artists Association will launch The Bahamian Art & Culture Tour Experience this Sunday May 19th, 2013 at 6:00 pm in the evening at The Office in the RND Plaza.

Locals and visitors to the shores of Grand Bahama can explore the world of art, wine and Bahamian Foods during the week-days and every Sunday between 5 pm – 10 pm.  Guests can be enraptured by the fine art display culminating with the rhythmic sounds of the Swingers junkanoo group.

This is a unique opportunity for guests and locals to experience the Bahamas through art and our varied cultural expressions. It also allows for exposure for our local artists to the international market. Well-known artists to be showcased include Sheldon Saint, Steve Stubbs, Theresa Lord Rolle, Boryana Korcheva, Lou Lihou, Portia Colebrooke, Bob Tarzwell, Ken Heslop and Del Foxton.

The Bahamian Art & Culture Tour addresses the cry by tourists from our exit surveys for an authentic Bahamian experience.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- The organizers of Islands of the World Fashion Showcase hosted some thirty specially invited ladies to an exclusive private viewing of creations by leading Bahamian fashion and accessories designers on Saturday, 4th May, at the home of founder, Owen Bethel.

Radio personality, Gandhi Pinder, served as commentator for the evening as she introduced the collections from selected fashion designers Brynda Knowles (Brynda), and David Rolle (House of Raphelita), and accessories designers Harl Taylor BAG, Chelsea Johnson (Autumn Crop), and Perky Lightbourne (Balinda’s Creations) from Andros.

Invited guests included a group of ladies from Texas visiting Nassau to celebrate the birthday of event planner, Lesia Ramsay, and attendees of the One Love Cruise and Gospel Concert at Atlantis.

Mr. Bethel stated that “the new format for the May event proved to be successful as it provided a trade sales opportunity for the designers, and allowed the guests to gain a more detailed scrutiny of the creations before committing to a purchase.

As the majority of guests were international they tended to focus more on those products which were easily transportable.” However, Mr. Bethel went on to commend all of the participating designers:

Brynda Knowles is a veteran in the industry and is now on an exciting revival of her line.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- This Whit Monday, May 20th, 2013, fourteen (14) beautiful little angels will take to the stage of the Wyndham Rain Forest Theatre for the 10th annual Little Miss Bahamas Pageant doors open at 4pm. Dubbed the 2013 Pink Pearls, the eager contestants from all across the Bahamas are hoping to capture the prestigious Little Miss Bahamas crown.

The contestants will compete in four age categories: (5-7) (7-9) (10-12) (12-14) with a winner in each category who then hope to be crown the overall winner, earning the title Little Miss Bahamas 2013.

They are:

Little Miss Tulips Ebonique Foster age 7

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Since capturing the attention of the judges as the challenge winner in the first episode of Mission Catwalk season three, Bahamian designer Theodore Elyett has stolen the hearts of Mission Catwalk fans securing the coveted ‘fan favourite’ title for three consecutive weeks.

Elyett emerged as the winner of the popular Caribbean design competition’s first challenge, wowing the judges with his interpretation of a look representing the Caribbean. His winning design was the first of the competition to retail at Lee’s 5th Avenue in Jamaica, which carries reproduced looks of each week’s winning design.

Following episode two, Elyett advanced as the week’s ‘fan favourite’ securing an overwhelming 52% of the votes tabulated in Jamaica by Mission Catwalk sponsor Digicel. The Bahamian designer remains at the forefront of the competition as the show’s ‘fan favourite’ for the third consecutive week securing 37% of the votes. Elyett placed second in episode four which aired May 4, dominating the runway with a risqué look complete with handmade horns in keeping with the challenge theme ‘art on the runway’.

“It's awesome to know that from day one, to date, I've captured the hearts of Jamaican MCW fans!” stated Elyett. “When you think of participating in a reality TV show, you are in the spotlight 24/7 and to know that viewers enjoy watching me showcase my craft and represent my country, it's fulfilling. A good thing to note as well is that these fans not only 'like,' me as a TV personality or a designer, but they seem to also respect my work. That's amazing because it is one thing to be 'liked,' but it's a completely different ball game when you are also respected.”

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama --The Arts Zone studios will present their second art exhibition on Friday, May 17th from 7:30pm at L'Utopia on East Sunrise Highway in Freeport. The opening night of "A Mosaical Montage - Individuals Coming Together in Creative Unity" will also provide opportunity to unveil the much anticipated Mosaic Floor-scape Community Project.

As with the first exhibition, Blue-Green (under the banner of Art Nucleus), the theme was chosen to showcase diversity of creative interpretations by local artists. The community project underscores the success of the floor-scape coming to fruition with the support, hard work and tenacity of many individuals found in Freeport's backyard. A true testament to the mosaic-nature of the project, the undertaking was accomplished by persons of varying action, skill levels, and distinctive backgrounds.

After the opening night, the exhibition will be open for viewing only once more, the following Saturday afternoon between noon and 4:00pm. The floor-scape will be available for infinite observation, after being dismantled and re-installed at its permanent site with assistance from the Port Authority.

"The concept behind the mosaic floor-scape project began with several goals," states Jacki Boss, founder of The Arts Zone. "To realize the mandate of The Arts Zone studios, a good deal of groundwork needs to be laid. Generating a stronger respect for various art forms and gaining support from the community presents the challenge of getting noticed. How better than to invite the creatively-inclined to the studios to partake in artistic process, and then gift the finalized artwork back into the community?"