Roadtown, Tortola - The Archives and Records Management Unit of the Deputy Governor’s Office opened an exhibition of photographs by local photographers at a ceremony yesterday in the West Atrium of the Central Administration Building.
His Excellency the Governor David Pearey congratulated the organisers and expressed to the gathering his delight in being at the exhibition as it draws out the hidden and not so hidden talent of the people who live in the Virgin Islands(UK).
Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Ms. Julia Christopher, officially opened the exhibition and also expressed her pleasure in being at the exhibition as it “celebrates the unique contribution that photographs make in our society for today and for generations to come.”
Ms. Christopher noted that in addition to photographs from local photographers being displayed, pictures of the cultural life of the Virgin Islands (UK) taken in the 1950s by Fritz Henle, the internationally renowned photographer whose centenary is being celebrated this year with exhibitions of his work in the United States and in St. Croix, are also on display.
“I truly believe that the exhibition will contribute to the growing interest in photography and the arts. I hope that the participants will continue their good work and those who view the photographs would be inspired to create works of their own and capture the natural beauty that surrounds us,” Ms. Christopher added.
President of the Friends of the National Archives Mr. Douglas Wheatley told the gathering that “photography is very important in giving you an eye to the world and an eye to the past.” He recalled a number of known photographers in the BVI and the contributions they have made to the Territory.
Ms. Arlene Smith Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office chaired the ceremony and gave welcoming remarks in which she spoke about the accessibility of the exhibition and the location being ideal because it is heavily trafficked for more than 40 hours per week and will draw the anticipated number of visitors.
“This exhibition is accessible, too, in its content and its universal message–– photographs are invaluable records preserving for us much history and culture. Freed from the constraints of language, these images can indeed ‘paint a thousand words’ in any dialect,” Ms. Smith added.
The photographers whose works are being displayed are Marc Downing, Dexter Penn, James Scheiner, Troy Christopher, John Black, Elroy Turnbull, Dougal Thornton and Violata Clyne.
The exhibit will run daily until Friday, May 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
British Virgin Islands News