From bold paintings and abstract photography to fiber art and sculpture, “Bridges 2026” transforms Cane Roots Art Gallery into a meeting place where artistic voices from the Caribbean and the United States converge.
Now in its third year, the annual exhibition, on view from July 17 through Oct. 17, brings together a diverse collection of artists whose works reflect culture, identity, heritage and shared human experience. Through paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media and fiber art, Bridges offers visitors an opportunity to experience a range of artistic perspectives while fostering dialogue between the Caribbean and the United States.
Created and curated by Sonia Nahar Deane, founder of Cane Roots Art Gallery, the exhibition was conceived to bridge the gap between Caribbean and American artists while introducing Virgin Islands audiences to work they might not otherwise encounter.
“This is the third ‘Bridges’ exhibit,” Deane said. “Its foundation is bridging the gap between the Caribbean and America through art. Eventually, it will spread further throughout the Americas, but right now it’s the Caribbean and America.”
Deane said one of the exhibition’s goals is to expose local audiences to artists working in the United States while continuing to celebrate the talent found throughout the Virgin Islands.
Although many viewers may recognize Caribbean or Indigenous influences in artist BAI’s work, for instance, Deane said those characteristics stem from his lifelong fascination with masks.
“He has always loved masks as a child, so he would always draw masklike figures,” she said. “That’s why his work has that Indigenous look.”
Theda Sandiford’s work reflects deeply personal themes. Using natural materials and braided fiber, her sculptures pay tribute to the cultural significance of Black women’s hair and the memories many women share of family members styling it.
“We all remember grandmothers, mothers and aunts working with our hair. Today, as women of color, we’re not restricted anymore by how magazines thought we should look. That empowerment really began during the Black Power movement of the 1960s and ’70s,” Deane said.
The exhibition also continues to showcase artwork created through an arts program at the Virgin Islands correctional facility.
Photography is represented through the work of Jeff Condit, whose abstract images encourage visitors to slow down and discover details that are not immediately visible. One photograph subtly incorporates the Virgin Islands flag, a feature many viewers overlook at first glance.
“You don’t immediately notice everything,” Deane said.
She also highlighted the paintings of Victor Cepeda, whose colorful compositions feature floating islands, sugar mills and symbolic imagery that invite multiple interpretations.
For Deane, “Bridges” has become more than an annual exhibition. She said it provides an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to experience artists from outside the territory while continuing to celebrate the strength of the local arts community.
“It’s important to bridge that gap,” she said. “During the regular year, we feature solo exhibitions by local artists. But during these summer months, people get to experience artists from outside the territory alongside our own artists. You’re not bombarded with American artists, but you get to see different perspectives and different shades of art.”
This year’s exhibition features works by Yemaya Jones, John Obafemi Jones, Elwin Joseph, Theda Sandiford, Jeff Condit, Therese Trudeau, Rebecca Robinson, Silvia Khan, Mike Walsh, Gena Seroogy, Isobelle Yousef, Adrian Edwards, Victor Cepeda, Viviane, ZIVA and BAI. Together, the artists present works that explore identity, heritage, memory and place while demonstrating a wide range of artistic styles and mediums.
As the exhibition continues to evolve, Deane hopes “Bridges” will one day expand beyond its Caribbean American focus to include artists from throughout the Americas, further strengthening cultural understanding through art.
For more information on Cane Roots Art Gallery and “Bridges 2026,” visit the website.
