The All Ceramics Exhibition (ACE) is a bi-annual exhibition that started in 2009 bringing together Bahamian Potters and Ceramicist under one venue. The exhibition opens the evening of Thursday, October 6th, 2011 at 6:30pm at Doongalik Studios Gallery on Village Road and will feature works by Mrs. Sue Bennett-Williams, Jessica Colebrooke and Quentin Minnis.

For the 2nd ACE, a theme was strategically chosen – “My Flamboyant Teapot.” As the decision was made to have this year’s exhibition at Doongalik Studios on Village Road, Ceramicist and Potter Jessica Colebrooke, founder of the ACE, thought it only fitting to put on an exhibit of just teapots. Her decision was influenced by Mr. Jackson Burnside several years ago. In 2003, Mr. Burnside visited Jessica’s studio, then on Arawak Avenue, and proposed to her the idea of developing a line of teapots specifically for the Doongalik Marina Village Gallery. At the time, she had left her teapot making days back at RISD (The Rhode Island School of Design). However, Mr. Burnside being a man of vision and persistence came fully equipped with a book entitled “100 Teapots” produced by Larks Publishing. Well, after that meeting and several teapots later, Jessica has yet to exhaust the possibilities of this domestic icon.

Alistair Stevenson

The theme “My Flamboyant Teapot” probably represents the first time teapots are the focus of a serious art exhibition.

The first ACE also took the opportunity to honour Mr. Denis Knight for his pioneering contributions in increasing awareness and bringing to light ceramics as a fine art in The Bahamas. And because of his profound contributions to the development of this medium in our nation, the ACE has established an award in Mr. Knight’s name called “The Denis Knight Choice Award” which is awarded to an outstanding student who displays consistent excellence in their ceramic work and is pursuing a career in ceramics. The award is intended to assist the awardee with his or her studies. The first person to receive this award was Mr. Alistair Stevenson.

Alistair Stevenson was born on the 13 September, 1990 in Salt Pond, Long Island, Bahamas and attended the N. G. M. Major High School, at the settlement of Buckley’s. He is currently attending the College of The Bahamas and hopes to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Education Degree in Art (BEA). He works at his art out of Popopstudios Centre for the Visual Arts, New Providence, Bahamas, having been awarded the Popop Junior Residency Prize (2011).

Seahorses, Alistair Stevenson

Alistair has participated in several exhibitions including: Pipes and Bodies, and showings associated with the following events and locales: Transforming Spaces, Pro Gallery, College of the Bahamas; Great Bahamian Seafood and Wine Festival, Jacaranda House; Colour of Harmony, 2010, 2009 and 2008 (annual music and art festival of the College of the Bahamas) and the Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Competition.

He has also participated in several craft shows including: Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival (2011), Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, U.S.A.; Christmas Jollification (2009), Bahamas.

Source: Smith & Benjamin’s Bahamian Art & Culture Newsletter No. 54 : 09.28.11