Native Grand Bahamian Shanelle Taylor has gone from balancing numbers and organizing ledgers to cleaning out conch shells and hot gluing coconut bark. This journey from the world of finance to the creative arts began decades ago, but Shanelle only realized this after she finally put down the adding machine and picked up the paint brush.
Shanelle Taylor is the proud owner of Island Diva Creative Design, an authentically Bahamian pop art gallery located in Port Lucaya on the island of Grand Bahama. This unique space offers visitors an opportunity to view and purchase original works of art and create their own original art pieces.
The moment you walk into the front door, you are enveloped in the colours of the azure tinted seas of The Bahamas. Shanelle has taken the shells, sponges, coral, and other materials washed up on shore and turned them into ornaments, practical household items and aesthetically pleasing pieces to enjoy.
Much of the uniqueness of this space lies in the fact that it is a service and retail store all wrapped into one. Store visitors can purchase 2D and 3D one of kind pieces that were created from straw, seashells, sand, crepe paper and Bahamian made fabrics. Additionally, patrons can participate in a curated art tour that provides insight about Grand Bahama specifically and The Bahamas generally.
As Shanelle walks you through the gallery, you are transported back to a different time as she shares the personal stories connected to how each piece on display was created. After the tour, visitors can then sit at the Grand Bahama work bench (it is literally carved in the shape of the island!) and let their creative juices flow as they create their own works of art.
Be warned, as you sit at the work bench, you will not have a paint brush handed to you, but rather, you will use tools from the sea – sponges, sea fans and even shells become your paint “brushes”! You can also enjoy a cool beverage (Goombay punch, of course!) while you tap into your inner creative.
Island Diva Creative Design opened its doors in April and has already had visitors from almost every continent on the planet visit and experience the uniqueness of its space. Shanelle is very proud to boast of this fact as she points out their signatures on the Grand Bahama Island shaped workstation.
Shanelle is excited to share this one-of-a-kind experience with locals and tourists. So, what are you waiting for? Get on down to Island Diva Creative Design now so you can create your own one of a kind works of art!
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