Thank you to everyone who joined us to say goodbye to The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet. On the final day of this landmark exhibition, we had a full audience join us to hear from Michael K. Frith, Lisa Henson, Jennifer Barnhart and Kathryn Mullen.
This exhibition exceeded our past attendance records, with over 17,000 people visiting in the 10 months it was on view. We gave over 100 free school tours and distributed over 1,700 BNG Kids Activity Books.
We are so grateful to Michael K. Frith for opening his never-before-seen private collection of sketches and entrusting BNG to share his life’s work.
The talk included performances from Cleo the Lion (performed by Jennifer Barnhart) and the Monstrosities, a group of puppets created in a 5-week puppet building and puppeteering course led by Kathryn Mullen.
This exhibition would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors.
The title sponsor of The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppetis Masters Limited. Exhibition also sponsored by Markel, Appleby, and the Durhager Family, with additional support from Athene, Chubb, Clarien Bank, Conduit Foundation, Nicole and Arie Haziza, Piran Strange, The Ministry of Education and various anonymous Friends of the Friths.
Each week, the participants spent two hours with Mullen, one hour building their puppet and one hour practicing puppeteering skills.
The participants started with just a piece of fabric and a simple pattern, then each used their creativity to create these beautiful and varied characters!
When the Gallery found out that Fozzie Bear would not be able to stay for the remainder of the summer, our team decided the best way to say farewell was to hold a goodbye party!
Due to the outpouring of community support for The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet, which was initially due to close in May, the exhibition has now been extended to the middle of August. We are still looking for financial assistance to cover the costs of extending this landmark exhibition. Please consider contributing at www.bng.bm/fraggles.
The only puppet unable to remain in Bermuda for a few extra months was Fozzie Bear. Fozzie Bear, along with the other Henson puppets on display, was on loan from the Center for Puppetry Arts. Fozzie Bear had to return to his home museum to prepare for his next commitment in the National Comedy Centre in New York City.
So, our team planned a goodbye soiree with themed drinks and Fozzie Bear temporary tattoos to send Fozzie Bear off in style! Thank you to everyone who attended and helped us celebrate Fozzie Bear, and the man who created him – Michael K. Frith.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Members’ Preview of Offerings by Soleé Darrell.Offerings is Darrell’s first solo show in Bermuda. The exhibition builds on Darrell’s inclusion in the 2024 Bermuda Biennial, a key turning point in her career which marked both her first time exhibiting in Bermuda, and in a museum setting. Later that year, Darrell was selected for the Emerging Artists Program at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) and her work is now held in several public collections including SFMOMA.
Offerings presents seven large-scale paintings created on stretched velvet which were first shown at MoAD, alongside a new site-specific installation created especially for the Bermuda National Gallery which pays homage to her home country and its enduring influence on her artistic practice.
Earlier this month, the Gallery hosted two additional professional development sessions for Bermuda’s Public School employees. In November of last year, Bermuda’s arts teachers spent a full day in the Gallery. Following that success, the Ministry of Education reached out to organize half day sessions for English Language Arts teachers and school guidance counsellors.
Over 20 guidance counselors also took part and were able to learn about the power of puppetry directly from Michael Frith and his wife Kathryn Mullen who, together with aid worker Johnie McGlade, founded No Strings Productions, a non-profit organization which produces short puppet films for audiences in at-risk populations.
Ms. Mullen said, “I was thrilled to see the genuine interest the teachers had in the idea of using puppetry in the classroom. I believe in puppets as a powerful teaching tool and feel strongly that anyone who really tries it will be converted forever. I was!”
Mikaela Joy Kawaley-Lathan, BNG’s Officer of Community Engagement, Programming and Learning, explained, “As an art gallery, many teachers assume that only art classes can come for field trips. In reality, we’ve had a range of classes come, each finding something in the Gallery to link to their curriculum.”
Michael K. Frith spoke with English teachers about his experience working at Random House “The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet is an exhibition worthy of any American or European counterpart. In a remote country such as Bermuda, it is easy for us to forget the pleasure of walking through an excellently curated exhibit, a privilege that so many others take for granted,” reflects Travis Chambray, English Language Arts teacher at Sandys Secondary Middle School. “I enjoyed being able to relax, learn, socialize and reflect all at once: such is the effect of a gallery where every piece has been considered for its audience. The students may benefit from knowing that art, its creation and creators are not something which exists abstractly in faraway places but right here at home.”
The Bermuda National Gallery hosted an engaging Professional Development Day for the public school arts teachers, organized by Mikaela Joy Kawaley-Lathan, BNG’s Officer of Community Engagement, Programming and Learning and Dr. Shannon Rose-Robinson from the Ministry of Education.
Visual art, music, and dance teachers came to BNG to have a tour of The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet. After the tour, they had a discussion with Michael K. Frith and his wife, Kathryn Mullen about the role of collaboration within their careers.
In the afternoon, half the teachers learnt a round from Fraggle Rock, and the other half learnt about different types of puppets from Kathryn and then tried their hand at making some!
The puppets came to life and joined the singers for a wonderful performance that helped show the power and joy of collaboration.
Thank you to all the teachers who joined and helped make the day so memorable. A special thanks to Michael Frith, Kathryn Mullen and Christina Frith for volunteering their time and expertise.
Thank you to everyone who joined us last month to support the third annual BNG Run for the Arts 5K! Organised by Nhuri Bashir, Donna Raynor and Domico Watson, the event raised funds for the development of a vibrant public art programme in the North-East Hamilton area.
Over 250 runners and walkers came out for the unique North Hamilton route, which began and ended at the Parsons Road Playground on Sunday, October 26. The event was sanctioned by the Bermuda National Athletics Association and timing was supplied by Bermuda Timing Systems. The event featured a competitive run, along with a fun run/walk, and a newly added one mile kids race!
This was not just a race but a community endeavour. Participants helped raise funds for the arts, including BNG’s educational programming.
This event would not have been possible without support from our generous volunteers. We would like to extend a big thank you to:
Graphic Design Domico Watson
Our Sponsors Ariel Re Adrienne Smatt Designs Alexandra Mosher Belvin’s Variety Bermuda Jewellery Bermuda Tourism Authority Bermuda Sandcastle Butterfield & Vallis Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa Challenger Banks Ltd Dove & Butterfly Gosling’s Limited Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club Headz Up The Loren Bermuda Modern Gent Bermuda Paradise Mobile People’s Pharmacy Polished Rugged Rentals Sade‑Milan Skin Sports Source Tuck Shop Bermuda Waterfront Man
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the members’ preview of The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet. The exhibition is a chronological journey over the course of Frith’s life, which literally starts with a pencil and ends with puppets. Approximately 350 works are on display, ranging from advertisements drawn for Masters Limited in Frith’s teenage years to original character sketches done during his time at the Jim Henson Company.
The exhibition includes newspaper clipping from Frith’s childhood, covers designed for the Harvard Lampoon, concept sketches for Dr. Seuss and Sesame Street books, endless character designs and, of course, puppets.
The Charles Zuill Project Space has been turned into a Puppet Workshop and Theatre, with opportunities for visitors to design, make and then utilize stick puppets.
Free tours of this exhibition are available for schools and camps. Those interested in booking a tour are invited to sign up on our website or email Officer of Community Engagement, Programming and Learning Mikaela Joy Kawaley-Lathan at programming@bng.bm
An exhibition of this scale would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. This exhibition is sponsored by Masters Limited, with support from Markel; Appleby; The Durhager Family; Athene; Chubb; Clarien Bank; Conduit Re; Nicole and Arie Haziza; Piran Strange, The Bermuda Government – Ministry of Education and various anonymous Friends of the Friths.
The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppetwill be on display through to Spring 2026.
The Bermuda National Gallery is proud to announce the naming of the Charles Zuill Project Space. One of six galleries housed within BNG, the Project Space is being named after Dr Charles Zuill in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the Gallery. A Founding Trustee of the Bermuda National Gallery, Dr Zuill has played a pivotal role since the museum’s inception and continues to contribute as a member of the Collections Committee, exhibiting artist and curator into his ninth decade.
“I’m very grateful for the honour,” said Dr Zuill. “I’ve been involved with the Gallery from the get-go. At the very beginning, when I was asked to put together a steering committee, I said to Desmond Fountain ‘I don’t want to know if it’s feasible. I want to make it feasible’.” He received an MFA in painting and printmaking from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1969, and holds a PhD in Critical Studies from New York University (1984), where he studied colour theory under visiting artist Josef Albers.
An experimental mixed media artist known for his contemporary approach to abstraction, Zuill has exhibited in the Bermuda Biennial 12 times, most recently in 2022. He taught art and art history at the Bermuda College for many years and is the long-standing art critic at The Royal Gazette. He added, “If any space was going to be named after me, the Project Space seems to be the most appropriate because most of my life I’ve been experimenting with processes.”
Jennifer L. Phillips, Executive Director of BNG, said, “With Charles now in his 90th year, there couldn’t be a more appropriate time to do this. The naming of the Charles Zuill Project Space recognizes Charles’ role in establishing the Bermuda National Gallery; acknowledges his continued support of BNG through serving on committees, leading workshops and talks, and offering curatorial suggestions at every turn; and celebrates his undeniable talent as a practicing mixed media artist with a tremendous portfolio, whose work has been featured in numerous exhibitions both on-island and abroad.”
The naming of the gallery was made possible by an annual pledge from BNG Trustee Paul Gurtler and his wife Sharon. Jennifer L. Phillips said, “The relationship between Paul Gurtler and Charles Zuill spans decades, and the Gurtlers hold several of Charles’ works in their collection. On behalf of the trustees and staff at BNG, I thank them for this pledge, which honours a most deserving local artistic legend while supporting Bermuda National Gallery’s efforts in fulfilling our mission, as the Island’s premier art museum, to present world-class exhibitions, innovative programming and dynamic cultural experiences to inspire, educate and connect our diverse community.”
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Members’ Opening of Meditations on Form: Jewellery by Melanie Eddy, sponsored by Butterfield with support from the Bermuda Foundation.
It was a truly special evening, marked by overwhelming support for two major milestones: Melanie Eddy’s first solo exhibition and the Gallery’s debut jewellery show. The atmosphere was filled with pride and emotion as we celebrated Melanie’s remarkable achievements right here in Bermuda, the island that has been a constant source of inspiration for her stunning designs.
The exhibition, which is now open to the public, presents 3 of Melanie Eddy’s collections; the faceted collection, the high jewellery collection and the breakers collection.
