"Island Traditions" by David Berg and William Rhodes

TAGS: Art Contemporary Exhibit Family Friendly Gallery

Thru Thu 09/26/2024

“Island Traditions” revisits the work of two previously exhibited artists at The Studios – David Berg and William Rhodes. Their visits to Key West in 2021 and 2023 impacted the island through community events in Bahama Village as well as stunning contemporary exhibitions.

In 2023, Caribbean native David Berg visited Key West to teach stilt walking to children in Bahama Village and present a series of photographs documenting the carnival traditions of his island home of St. Croix. Berg has been surrounded by carnival traditions his entire life: first as child soaking up the annual Christmas-season festival, then training to be a Moko Jumbie – one of the carnival’s dramatic, athletic high-stilt walkers – and finally as a photographer and historian, documenting festival traditions. A series of these photographs are on view.

William Rhodes visited Key West in the Fall of 2021 to work with the Bahama Village community to create a pair of fiber works – a museum-quality quilt commissioned by The Studios, and a community-based collaborative quilt that has since become a Goombay tradition, with community members adding new colorful squares of fabric each year during the festival. Goombay showcases the rich heritage of the Bahamian people who have had a profound influence on the Keys. San Francisco-based artist Rhodes trained as a furniture maker with master craftsmen and as a folk quilter from his grandmother and other artists. He uses his talents and empathy to give voice to African American histories and communities before they are lost to time.

Beginning September 10th, The Studios of Key West will be open by appointment only.