A new exhibit is coming to the San Pedro House of Culture, featuring works of artist and island resident Bernadette Damper. The show’s main purpose is to benefit fundraising events in San Pedro Town, thus, everyone is invited to attend and support a worthy cause. The exhibit opening will be on Thursday, November 9th at 7PM and will be open to the public from 9AM to 5PM through the 23rd.
About Bernadette Damper
Originally from the Bronx in New York City USA, Damper had visited Belize numerous times in the past nine years. She loved coming to scuba dive and eventually became a dive master. It was until March of 2016 that she decided to move to Ambergris Caye for good.
She is a registered nurse by profession, and before she got into painting, she had no experience whatsoever, and never even thought she could paint! According to Damper, she discovered the hidden gift due to her current illness. She has been diagnosed with colon cancer, which has spread to her brain and bones. “Before the disease spread to my brain, I had no artistic ability,” says Damper. “After the brain tumor was identified, in lieu of further treatment which could extend my quantity of life, but destroyed the quality, I moved to San Pedro Town.” She stated that her heart and soul belong on La Isla Bonita, where she discovered her painting talent.
Damper plans to continue painting and donate the pieces for future fundraising events on the island. She hopes that the paintings on the upcoming exhibit at the House of Culture bring the joy, peace, and inspiration that they have brought to her. Her main mediums are watercolours and acrylics. “I love to include dimensions with the use of natural elements like feathers, strings, foils and gels,” she says. “I do both realistic and abstract works.”
The art of painting has given Damper the strength to forget the pain and anxiety cancer can cause. According to her, prior to her illness, she was an avid marathoner, triathlon competitor and trail runner. Today, she is living a new beginning as a painter. “I paint also, to show my love for San Pedro and to help in important causes. You are my people now and I love you,” she ended.
The San Pedro House of Culture is located at Angel Coral Street, right across from the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex.
