Bahama Mama

“Bahama Mama”, Painting by Alton R. Lowe

This painting holds so many memories for me. Let me tell you the story. The sailboat was made by my father for me when I was five. I played with it for several years in the sea in front of my house on Green Turtle Cay. The small conch shell was a gift from my niece when she was a little girl just before I went to New York to art school, I still have it. The flag, of course, marks me as a Bahamian. The block is made of ironwood and iron from the “Priscilla“, a sailing ship built at Green Turtle Cay. The wooden Haitian lady with the basket on her head was part of the collection I had acquired over many years. Finally, The Bahamian antique doll in the boat was a gift from the lady who first taught me to paint as a boy. What wonderful memories! This will always be a special painting for me. Who would’ve thought this still life could hold so many wonderful memories? - Alton