Impressed and moved by One Family’s 2011 Boxing Day tribute to the late Jackson Burnside, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (NAGB) decided to stage its very first Junkanoo related exhibit.
Opened last Friday under the theme “As Knew We Him – A Tribute to Jackson Burnside III”, the exhibit celebrates Junkanoo and an important Bahamian cultural icon at the same time.
NAGB director Amanda Coulson said One Family’s performance during the Boxing Day parade was so “touching, artistic and creative”, that she and the staff at NAGB felt the need to bring that same Bay Street flavour to the gallery and suitably honour the men and women who made it happen.
Ms Coulson said Mr Burnside invested so much in Bahamian cultural life, including in the One Family Junkanoo group and the NAGB itself, and her hopes are to continue in that spirit.
Presently on display at the gallery during the six-week exhibition are selections of One Family costumes, Mr Burnside’s own Junkanoo-inspired paintings and writings, a recreation of his creative work space and objects of inspiration from his office.
