Doongalik Studios announces the Opening of their first Exhibition for 2013 on Friday, January 18 from 6-9pm. Entitled “Nature’s Blessings”, it is a collection of floral paintings and Bahamian scenes by the late Josephine Marie Sherman, daughter of the late John Alfred Sherman Jr CPM, QPM, MBE, the first Bahamian Fire Chief, and Mrs Aurelia Levittie Sherman, nee Rahming, the sister of the late Sister Maria Rahming, one of the first Bahamian nuns.
Born on 19th February 1948, “Joey” (as she was affectionately called) attended St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School and then went on to Xavier’s College on West Bay Street. She was a superb athlete and always won top prizes in many sports events. In 1966, she was presented with a sports trophy by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Queen’s visit to Nassau.
Following her graduation from Xavier’s College, she attended St Benedict’s College in Minnesota, USA, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree. She then returned to the Bahamas and taught at Xavier’s Lower School. As her ambition was to become a medical doctor, she applied to study medicine at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom and Meharry University in Nashville, U.S.A. Since Meharry was nearer to home, she accepted a place there.
Having completed her medical training, she interned at Hurley Medical Centre in Flint, Michigan where she specialised in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She then settled in Beaufort, South Carolina, where she eventually became Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. She also had a private practice at the Medical Arts Centre on Ribaut Road in Beaufort. She was much loved and respected by her colleagues, staff, patients, and the many children she helped to bring into this world.
Josephine never forgot her roots. She regularly visited The Bahamas, and it was on one of these visits that she decided to start painting flowers and flowering trees as well as the lighthouse out east. Although not formally trained, she found painting relaxing and was soon invited to put on an exhibition in Beaufort. However, as she got older the desire to return home to exhibit her paintings became stronger. Unfortunately, during this period she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she died on 27 July 2004 at the age of 56 years without ever realising this dream.
Just before she died, she asked her sister, Effie Sherman-Wallis, if she would try and arrange an exhibition of her paintings in Nassau. “Nature’s Blessings” is the fulfilment of that promise decades later by Effie, who is also a cancer survivor. She has travelled from London specifically for the Exhibition Opening, paying homage to her sister’s talent as well as promoting further awareness of breast cancer. Effie also plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from sales at the Exhibition to a local cancer charity in her sister’s memory.
Pam Burnside, Manager of Doongalik Studios stated, “This Exhibition is quite a poignant one for me in several ways as my late husband and I met with Joey several years ago to see her work and discuss planning the Exhibition. It is amazing how life happens….Joey is no longer with us, neither is Jackson and February 19 and 14 are their birthdays. This month I am celebrating 30 years as a breast cancer survivor and I originally met Effie through my cousin because of the cancer connection even though she is living all the way in London! It is an honour in more ways than one, therefore, to be hosting this Exhibition. Coincidentally since a segment of the Marathon Bahamas Race which focuses on breast cancer awareness will also be taking place that weekend and they are located just around the corner, we hope both local and visiting participants will come and view the Exhibition.”
For more information, please telephone the Gallery at 394-1886 or check their web and Facebook pages at www.doongalik.com
