Hold Back the dawn for Independence

‘Hold Back the Dawn’, an exhibition of paintings by Betsy Karim, opens next week at the National Art Gallery, Castellani House.

Hawk’s Bill 2011, an acrylic piece by Betsy Karim

Subtitled ‘A Future Shared by Man and Animals’, Karim’s exhibition is in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence and will continue until July 30; it will also celebrate International Museum Day, which this year is being observed under the theme ‘Museums and Memory’

Karim’s work was previously selected for an exhibition staged during Carifesta X here. In 2009, Karim was among 16 artists whose work was displayed at the National Art Gallery under the theme, ‘Image and Identity – Guyanese Art Now’ for the 43rd Independence anniversary.

Though she was born into a family of craftsmen, Karim is self-taught and her work includes painting and fabric design. She is also a seamstress.

Her early work involved enamel on glass paintings, but she now works a lot with acrylics. Her previous work focused on ancient cultures and religion.