Nadine Gallery celebrates Bahraini female artists

Manama, Nov. 26 (BNA): When Bahraini artist Nadine Al Shaikh established Nadine Gallery, she wanted mainly to establish a platform for emerging Bahraini talents. "We simply wanted to bring them to a wider audience by exhibiting their works alongside established artists," Nadine, the founder of Nadine Gallery-Art and Design Lounge, said. However, with time, the ambitions grew and Nadine wanted her bold dreams to become a sweet reality for young Bahraini women with talent. "As we moved along, we widened our scope and linked with likeminded institutions, which are committed to a professional approach to art and to fostering cultural diversity and exchange," she said. "That is when we launched the Annual Exhibition for Female Artists, and I decided to make it the gallery’s mission to support fully Bahraini women," she said. This week, she stood proud as Nadine Gallery, in collaboration with the Capital Governorate and the US Embassy in Bahrain, organised the fourth annual art exhibition for Bahraini female artists, entitled “Boxes”, at Isa Cultural center in the capital Manama. The opening of the art exhibition on Tuesday was attended by a large crowd of art lovers, and included Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, and US Ambassador William Roebuck. The three-day exhibition features more than 35 Bahraini artists who displayed 60 works of their art. American award-winning female artist Laurie was also hosted by Nadine Gallery in partnership with the US embassy to showcase her unique brand of artistry in the exhibit. Laurie, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in Printmaking from Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, received the Armonk Outdoor Art Fair Award, Best in Mixed Media 2005, and the Bruce Museum Show Award, for second place, Mixed Media 2008. She has been published in a number of books and has participated in many art exhibits in the United States and abroad. Laurie was also one of the artists that contributed paintings to the U.S. Department of State’s program “Art in the Embassies,” showcasing her art in the residences of U.S. Ambassadors around the world. Nadine, the curator of the exhibition, said she was proud of the participation of the talented artists and looked forward to more opportunities in which they will share their artistic capabilities. "Bahrain has a strong history in the visual arts and continues to produce distinguished artists with each succeeding generation," Nadine said. "Our objective is to participate in the cultural promotion and development of fine arts in Bahrain and the surrounding region, and to take the artists into a new dimension throughout the world by participating intensively in the local and international arts events. We hold selective art exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and other cultural events. Although our members are selected talented artists from the region, our doors are open for all art lovers." The first Bahraini Female Artists Annual Exhibition organised by Nadine Gallery was held in 2013 under the theme "A women’s Story."