Freeport, Bahamas – As the Festival Noel committee strings the lights, restaurants prepare their menus and Bristol Wines and Spirits chills the wine, one of the most important aspects of Festival Noel is beginning to arrive at the Rand Nature Centre – the art!
This year’s featured artist is Matthew Wildgoose (aka Matt Wild), a Grand Bahama native who is well-known for his acting talents on Cable Bahamas and BTC commercials and is now showing off his passion for painting.
Wild has displayed his art both locally and internationally, with his first two art exhibitions paying homage to Bahamian pop icons. Matthew’s art has been described as ‘Drama on Canvas’ where he chooses to paint iconic personalities in a powerful and dramatic way. During his first international art show Wild’s inspiration came from classic cinema. His first buyers during that exhibition were actor Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya!
“I was thrilled to be asked to exhibit at Festival Noel,” noted Wild. “It’s exciting to have my work showcased at this very popular event. I don’t know who is more thrilled – me or my mother?”
Wild’s art can be found in countless homes as well as in art collections at Sapodilla Restaurant & Estate, the British Colonial
Hilton hotel and Towne Hotel, located in downtown Nassau. It is also part of the “Dawn Davies Art Collection” and the D’Aguilar Art Foundation. His art can be seen in murals at The Bahamas Humane Society in Nassau, Bahamas (New Providence) and the Junkanoo Museum in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
“Festival Noel is a wonderful avenue for artists to showcase and sell their artwork to over 400 guests that we annually attract to our event,” noted, Lakeshia Anderson, BNT Grand Bahama National Parks Manager. “Besides Matt, we currently have eight talented artists also displaying their work and this year we will welcome a young upcoming Bahamian artist, Lamaro Smith, who we hope will inspire others.”
To date, artists participating in Festival Noel 2015 are Adagio Art by Del Foxton, The Painter Poet – Aaron Hanna, Lamaro Smith, the Grand Bahama Artists Association, Paola Correa de Albury, Ken Heslop, Magnolia Designs by Orelia Bowe and Creative DeSigns by Stephanie Doland-Gilbert.
All of this art will go on display at the annual fundraiser for the BNT – Festival Noel – held this year on Friday, December 4th at 7pm at the Rand Nature Centre. Tickets are on sale for $50 in advance for BNT members and $55 for non-members and $60 on the day of the event for all. Tickets can be purchased at Rand Nature Centre, the Art of Giving, Bristol Wines and Spirits and Barefoot Marketing.
To see more of Wild’s art interested persons can visit the Festival Noel event page, which is also giving daily updates on all participants, sponsors and entertainers.
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