Island Archives

Island Archives Entry C-10: Frank Bowling: Art Imitates Life

On today's episode of the IAP, we will peer onto the canvas of an individual who certainly made his mark in the pantheon of art history. Frank Bowling was born in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1934, he arrived in London in 1953, graduating from the Royal College of Art with the silver medal for painting in 1962. Bowling went on to divide his time between the art scenes in London and New York, maintaining studios in both cities. This transatlantic orientation was to see his early engagement with expressive figuration and pop art shift to an immersion in abstraction which continues in his practice today. Visible in his work are the legacies of both the English landscape tradition and American abstraction from which Bowling honed a distinctive vocabulary, combining figurative, abstract and symbolic elements. For over six decades, Frank Bowling has relentlessly pursued a practice which boldly expands the possibilities and properties of paint. Ambitious in scale and scope, his dynamic engagement with the materiality of his chosen medium, and its evolution in the broad sweep of art history, has resulted in paintings of unparalleled originality, power and influence all which make him a certain stroke for the IA.

Island Archives Entry C-9: Bert Williams: No Blackface; No Case

Egbert Austin Williams was born on November 12, 1874 to parents Frederick and Julia in Nassau, the Bahamas. Due to an economic depression, the family decided to leave the Bahamas in 1884 and make a new home in Riverside, California. There young Bert became fascinated with medicine shows while his father was ambivalent about show business at first, but after watching his son delivering a confident spiel he knew Bert had a great talent. He later gained much success as an actor, comedian, playwright and recording artist. Bert Williams is not only a vital part of pop culture, but an inspiring figure in history. He was a man who against all odds had the perseverance to make it to the very top of his field. He patiently endured prejudice to lay the foundation for the many black performers to follow. His influence is extensive and his story is one that had to be included in the IA.

Island Archives Entry C-8: Al Horford: Ballin'

Alfred Horford Reynoso, more commonly known as Al Horford was born on June 3, 1986, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. His father's influence and guidance played a significant role in shaping his passion for basketball and laying the foundation for his future success in the sport, as his dad played in the NBA as well in the 1980’s. Horford has collaborated with Basketball Without Borders, the NBA’s fight against AIDS, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and local charities in the Dominican Republic. Overall, Al Horford's life and upbringing have been defined by his passion for basketball, his commitment to excellence, and his desire to make a positive impact in the world. From his early days in the Dominican Republic to his success in the NBA, Horford's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere and makes him a slam dunk for the Island Archives.

Island Archives Entry C-7: Carlos Acosta: 'Poetry in Motion'

Carlos Acosta was born in Havana, Cuba, on 2 June 1973, the eleventh and last child in an impoverished family. At the age of 16, he won a scholarship with the Turin Ballet, winning the Gold Medal at the Prix de Lausanne. Acosta is that rarest of things -- a ballet dancer who has pirouetted into the public consciousness. He often speaks of the need for ballet to take risks, to evolve and to speak a contemporary language -- ideals that Acosta embodies. Not just a virtuoso performer, it is Acosta's ability to connect with his audience that has made him an international star and a deserved leap into the Island Archives.

Island Archives Entry C-6: Forbes Burnham: "A slow burn: Can horses really vote?"

Forbes Burnham was born on February 20, 1923, in Kitty, Georgetown, one of three children born to poor but strict parents. Some individuals make for difficult subjects to write on. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham is such a person. He is either well admired or passionately despised. Either way, or altogether, he remains, unquestionably, one of the Caribbean’s most controversial personalities of the twentieth century and his tale is one that had to be told, in the Island Archives.