Do you think of a box of supplies gathering dust in the back of your closet? Or does your mind jump with dread to the inevitable search for batteries when the power goes out? Or do you yawn and turn the page, sick of reading the same old advice yet again?

Or does your mind start racing, wondering how you will get by on your own once more?

How we react to news of an oncoming storm can depend very much on our personal circumstances. It’s one thing to know that, whatever happens, you and your family will be safely sheltering together. It’s another matter entirely if you are a senior living alone, a stressed-out single parent, someone managing a chronic illness that depends on constant access to oxygen, or a person already struggling with housing insecurity long before the first hurricane warning is issued.

“In a small community like Bermuda, many people are reluctant to ask for help, and storm season can be particularly challenging for those in our community who don’t have a strong support network,” said Red Cross disaster manager Diane Gordon.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of making a personal emergency plan for yourself and your family that details who will be responsible for each task and then sharing that plan, complete with all necessary contact information, with everyone in your circle.”

Ms Gordon said it’s critical to identify who will be responsible for your pets, who will be checking on your elderly relatives, and what children should do in any sort of emergency.

“It is also important to take stock of your hurricane supplies to see what needs to be replenished, or replaced, and to make sure that you have an adequate supply of necessary prescription drugs on hand,” she added.

CedarBridge Academy shelter

Whether you are elderly, medically vulnerable, homeless, pregnant or simply anxious about facing a storm alone, the hurricane shelter at CedarBridge Academy, staffed by Bermuda’s emergency support organisations, stands ready to provide help and reassurance whenever hurricane conditions threaten the island.

“In a severe weather situation, people tend to focus only on, or reach out only to, people or services they are already familiar with,” Ms Gordon said.

“But there is a lot more help available than they realise. The Salvation Army, for example, can pick people up who are alone or stranded without transportation.”

She advised setting your radio to 100.1 FM and listening for updates from the Bermuda Government

“The time to decide to go to the shelter is not in the middle of the storm,” she said.

“You really need to start heading there as soon as it has been announced that it is open.

The shelter is manned by representatives from the Department of Child and Family Services, the Salvation Army, the Department of Health, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St John Ambulance.

Ms Gordon added: “As soon as it is announced that the shelter has been opened, people are welcome to start showing up.

“There are a lot of services available at the shelter, including oxygen tanks, diabetic and medical assistance, showers, cots and extra clothing, and there’s even a family room.”

Emergency contacts

Child and Family Services: 296-7575

Red Cross disaster manager: 236-8253

Salvation Army: 292-0601

Emergency Broadcast Radio: 100.1 FM

The post Help is on hand appeared first on RG Magazines.

But while we are cooling our bedrooms, we are also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and sending our electricity consumption soaring.

AirCare Ltd general manager Brendan Stone said there is hope for a greener future, as advances in technology lead to more efficient models.

That’s right, we can reduce our environmental footprint without sacrificing comfort – while also easing monthly utility bills.

“Historically, there have been two major issues with the refrigerants used in air-conditioning units: their global warming potential and their ozone depletion potential,” Mr Stone said.

“Thankfully, the industry no longer uses refrigerants that deplete the ozone layer, but it’s important to understand that the GWP of older air-conditioning models is still quite high.”

Mr Stone said the industry is being driven to improve its technology because governments mandate yearly reductions in the number of harmful emissions associated with refrigerants.

“Whereas older units once had GWP ratings of around 2,000, newer residential and commercial systems can have ratings as low as 466,” he explained.

The hidden cost of holding on

We’re increasingly aware of the harmful effects of older refrigerants, but many of us postpone replacing our air conditioners because of the costs involved.

“Longevity is a double-edged sword,” Mr Stone said.

“Older units will continue to exist until the gas supply needed to operate them is depleted, but they consume more electricity and don’t operate efficiently. In fact, Government energy guidance indicates that HVAC systems typically account for 40 to 50 per cent of household electricity use.”

He explained that all air conditioners work by drawing air across cooling fins to remove heat from a room.

“If an older window unit has rusted out and developed holes in the casing,” he said, “the motor may still be running, but the system can end up pulling hot air in from outside instead of cooling efficiently.

“Failing to install the correct size unit for the space you are trying to cool can also significantly impact energy consumption. Units that are too small for a room will run constantly in an effort to reach the desired temperature, while units that are too large can short-cycle, reducing dehumidification and leaving the room feeling less comfortable.”

Importance of regular maintenance

The best and cheapest way to maintain the air quality inside your home is to keep your system clean and serviced regularly.

Failing to clean the coils and filters causes the system to run longer and less efficiently, while neglecting annual servicing of split-system units can lead to a multitude of headaches.

According to Mr Stone, a filter clogged with dust or mould doesn’t just reduce the efficiency of an air-conditioning system – it can also circulate dust, allergens and mould spores throughout the room you are trying to cool.

And then there are the critters.

Believe it or not, lizards, slugs, tree frogs and flying insects that favour dark, damp spaces can make their way inside the wall unit of a split system, damaging the circuit board and shorting it out.

Energy conservation

The more you use an air conditioner – and the greater the gap between indoor and outdoor temperatures – the harder the system must work and the more energy it will consume.

“A high-efficiency unit used badly can still waste a lot of energy,” Mr Stone said.

“The traditional advice is to set the temperature on your unit to 72F. However, you can potentially save up to 10 per cent simply by raising the temperature by three or four degrees.”

AirCare have some units with smart sensors that automatically raise the temperature in the room by several degrees if you leave for 20 minutes and then lower the temperature again when you return.

Mr Stone added: “Some of the newer systems even have Wi-Fi controls that allow you to use your phone to turn them on and off at specific times during the day, as well as multiple thermostats that can trigger the system to automatically turn the AC on and off in specific areas of the house based on need.”

For maximum energy efficiency, think of your whole house as a cooling system rather than simply focusing on the AC units themselves.

Installing blackout curtains on west-facing windows that receive direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day is one simple, cost-effective way to reduce energy consumption.

As well as blocking out light, these lined window coverings can reduce heat transfer through windows by as much as one-third, depending on the fabric, fit and window type, making a noticeable difference in both room temperature and energy savings.

Solar system considerations

There has been considerable publicity surrounding solar-assisted air-conditioning units that come with their own solar panels. While these systems can help reduce energy consumption, Mr Stone advises consumers to do their research before making a purchase, as many models use solar energy only to power the condenser fan and often operate less efficiently than traditional high-efficiency units.

For truly meaningful energy savings, he believes the better option is to install a rooftop solar panel system configured to help power the home’s air-conditioning units.

However, there is an important caveat.

“You really need professional guidance before installing a new solar system for your house because the number of panels required to power a household is calculated based on your current energy consumption,” he said.

“This means that if you install a new solar system while still using older air-conditioning units, which consume far more energy, you could end up installing more solar panels than you would actually need if you upgraded your air-conditioning systems first.”

The post Be cool to the environment appeared first on RG Magazines.

But imagine what life was like for our island’s early settlers, who sheltered in dwellings built from mud and stud with palmetto-thatched roofs.

From the moment the Sea Venture grounded on the reef in 1609, survival in Bermuda depended on exploiting natural resources to construct dwellings capable of withstanding the dreadful and hideous storms that accompany life in a hurricane zone.

Early building techniques

Speculation still exists regarding the location and nature of the earliest dwellings constructed by the island’s early population. But we know that architectural techniques in Bermuda evolved through the combined influence of weather, necessity and lived experience.

“The evolution of how people did things depended very much on where they were situated,” said Larry Mills, director of the St David’s Historical Society.

“In Bermuda there are even instances where people growing up in Somerset learned different techniques from people living in St David’s.

“A lot of men worked on ships and travelled to foreign settlements, so it is also very likely that they adopted ideas and techniques they encountered during their travels.”

When the first settlers arrived in 1612, resources available included cedar, palmetto leaves and stone. According to the Department of Planning’s Traditional Building Guide, these materials “were unfamiliar, and each presented problems”.

It explained: “Cedar was dense and strong, but it only grew to a limited height and thickness. Palmetto leaves dried out and sometimes caught fire in the hot weather. Bermuda stone was far softer than any the settlers had previously known.”

Although we know little about how these first buildings were constructed, we do know that wood was the favoured material, and settlers bound for Bermuda were advised to bring “sawes, hammers, pearcers, pincers and nailes of all sortes so many as will serve to build a house with”.

Richard Spurling, chairman of the St David’s Historical Society, said: “The first settlers would have quickly realised that traditional European building styles were ill-suited to Bermuda’s climate.

“In those early years, they drew heavily on the experience of settlers in Jamestown, Virginia who had already learned to work with whatever materials were at hand.”

In Jamestown, homes were put up in haste using rough, bark-covered logs.

Mr Spurling said: “Because the timber was uneven, gaps formed between each course which were filled, a process known as chinking, to make the structures more weathertight.

“Here in Bermuda, they needed small, secure, weatherproof dwellings and they discovered that cedar, clay, palmetto and lime were readily available. After digging post holes, a wooden frame was most likely erected and then covered with cedar lathes which they plastered with a lime or clay mixture.”

Mr Mills said: “We also know that they would have understood gable roof design and thatching techniques as they existed in the UK at that time.

“These people were incredibly resourceful and quickly turned to palmettos, which were plentiful in the St George’s and St David’s areas, as a material for thatching.

“However, the thatch was most likely not nailed down but rather secured with handmade palmetto rope or thin strands of the frond which they used to tie the thatch to the underside of the rafters, none of which held fast under hurricane conditions.”

Early colonial records describe powerful storms in 1619, 1629, and 1669 that damaged homes, ships, crops and public buildings.

Over time, these hurricanes exposed the weakness of Bermuda’s early mud-and-stud houses, creating a desire for stronger storm-resistant dwellings. By the end of the century, settlers in St George’s were only being granted land on the condition that they build houses of stone.

The Settler’s Cabben

The Settler’s Cabben, designed by local architect Stephen West, is a heritage project at the Carter House Museum to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first settlers in St David’s in 1612.

Tools authentic to the period were sourced locally and in the United States, and every stage of construction proved a learning process.

Mr Spurling said: “There is quite a bit of speculation regarding exactly what these first dwellings looked like, so the design was based on a small woodcut image visible in the corner of John Smith’s 1624 map of Bermuda.

“The rough cedar frame is covered with a crude stucco composed of a Bermuda clay, sand, and twig mixture and is very similar to the ‘wattle and daub’ building techniques that the original settlers would have used.

“The only real difference is that we used nails to secure the thatch instead of simply tying it to the rafters.

“We initially hoped that the structure would last three years, but we have just rethatched the roof for the third time and the building is still in remarkably good condition.”

The Cabben itself has now lost its roof twice during major storms, in 2019 and again in 2025, further illustrating the vulnerability of early Bermudian dwellings.

Shark oil

Survival in Bermuda depended not only on dwellings to shelter in, but also on learning to read the signs of approaching weather.

Eager to devise a way to predict the arrival of hurricanes, early residents noticed that a clear glass jar containing liquid shark oil extracted from a young shark’s liver appeared to respond to changes in atmospheric conditions, turning cloudy or milky with the onset of deteriorating weather. By the early 1700s, it was common practice to hang a bottle outside one’s house.

Over time, the most seasoned observers began to discern subtle variations in the sediment, movement and opacity of the oil, giving rise to increasingly accurate predictions of approaching storms and wind direction.

In Bermuda, nature has always both destroyed and enabled. Passing storms continually tested building techniques resulting in an architectural style born not from theory, but from lived experience.

The post Our storm-weathering forefathers appeared first on RG Magazines.

That’s about 20,000 cruise passengers whose dream visits to our island were scuppered by storms in about three months.

While the air and hotel sectors fared better, they too remain vulnerable to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and the ripple effects these disruptions create across the wider tourism economy.

These disruptions have renewed calls for Bermuda to further diversify its tourism model beyond its traditional reliance on the summer season.

Against this backdrop, members of the Bermuda Hotel Association shared their thoughts on ongoing efforts to reinvent Bermuda as a vibrant year-round destination.

Show our strength

As much as the threat of rain or severe weather can dampen anyone’s spirits, BHA members also view weather disruption as an opportunity to demonstrate Bermuda’s resilience.

“Bermuda’s building standards and infrastructure are exceptionally robust compared with many other island destinations, uniquely positioning us to recover quickly and restore guest services with minimal disruption,” said chief executive Stephen Todd.

“That ability to bounce back rapidly after major weather events speaks not only to the island’s resilience, but also to the tourism industry’s long experience in preparing for and managing storms effectively.”

In today’s world of social media, industry leaders believe it is essential that Bermuda communicates accurate, timely information that clearly distinguishes between periods when the island is operating business as usual and occasions when there is a genuine or imminent hurricane threat.

“It’s essential that we focus on clear communication before, during and after storms, both locally and within our key visitor markets,” Mr Todd said.

“A lot of people don’t really appreciate the difference between a tropical disturbance and a hurricane, and it’s not unheard of for foreign news agencies to sensationalise circumstances.”

Diversification

While Bermuda’s tourism industry has always had to operate with a degree of agility during hurricane season, industry leaders increasingly believe that diversification will be critical to the sector’s long-term resilience and sustainability.

Although many hotel guests are repeat visitors to Bermuda, a considerable number were first introduced to the island during a cruise stopover, often experiencing only a glimpse of what Bermuda has to offer. Many are keen to return during the less crowded months of the year to explore the island further.

In addition to strengthening demand during traditional shoulder periods, there is growing emphasis on developing “event-driven” tourism initiatives that strategically showcase the island to targeted visitor groups and international markets.

Stakeholders within the BHA see opportunity to strengthen year-round visitation through experience-driven tourism built around sporting events such as golf and sailing, wellness retreats, cultural programming, executive meetings and conferences.

Industry leaders agree that the conversation today is less about guaranteeing weather and more about positioning Bermuda differently by season.

As the general manager of one of the island’s larger resort properties said: “In markets such as New York, Boston, Toronto and London, there is a strong opportunity to tell the story of Bermuda as a sophisticated escape offering fresh air, blue water, space, calm and a more relaxed atmosphere away from crowded peak-season destinations.”

The wider goal is to create a more balanced tourism model — one less dependent on peak summer leisure travel and better positioned to withstand disruptions associated with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

Weatherproof experiences

Central to that strategy is the development of experiences that remain attractive regardless of seasonal weather conditions.

One of Bermuda’s greatest opportunities lies in continuing to develop compelling year-round experiences ranging from wellness offerings such as yoga retreats and spa experiences to culinary initiatives including Bermuda Restaurant Weeks and wine tastings, alongside cultural programming such as theatre performances, live music and heritage events.

Indoor recreational activities are also becoming part of the evolving tourism landscape, including the recently opened pickleball courts on Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton. Together, these experiences help broaden Bermuda’s appeal beyond the beach, while creating stronger incentives for visitors to travel throughout the year.

“Bermuda is much more than sun, sand and sea,” Mr Todd said. “The BHA is working very closely with the BTA and our airline partners on a range of initiatives centred around sporting and cultural events.”

Strong reasons to travel

A broader year-round tourism model creates greater resilience for the island overall because visitors travelling for a specific event make the destination less vulnerable to disruption tied to any single period of weather.

The SailGP competition, in early May, and the annual PGA golf event in October, are examples of off-season events capable of attracting tourism investment, visitors and international media exposure while showcasing Bermuda to a high-value audience.

Beyond filling hotel rooms and restaurants, both help position Bermuda as a sophisticated destination for elite sport, luxury travel and maritime experiences, strengthening the island’s reputation outside the traditional summer leisure market.

Industry leaders also point to the broader economic ripple effect generated by international sporting events, with visitors often extending their stays to explore Bermuda’s dining, cultural attractions and natural beauty.

A sustainable future

The BHA believe initiatives such as these will be key to building a more sustainable tourism industry capable of weathering future uncertainty.

By working in partnership with onshore and offshore organisations to bring high-quality entertainment and events to the island and pairing them with creative local pre- and post-event experiences, Bermuda has an opportunity to build a resilient year-round tourism product that visitors will not only seek out but return to again and again.

The post Bringing people to Bermuda … appeared first on RG Magazines.

When something feels off, there’s little appetite for downtime. We reach for a quick fix like an over-the-counter remedy or the latest supplement promising fast relief.

But in our search for convenience, have we become overly reliant on these solutions? And, in the process, lost sight of our body’s own remarkable capacity to restore and rebalance itself?

More importantly, is there a smarter, more intentional way to approach supplements and midlife health – one that works with the body rather than simply masking symptoms?

Dr Ayesha Peets Talbot, co-founder and medical director of Ocean Rock Wellness, offered her perspective on achieving a more sustainable path to wellness.

“People – and even some doctors – often underestimate the body’s ability to self-regulate and repair itself,” Dr Peets Talbot said.

“I think it’s important to understand that each generation views their health, and even their relationship with their doctor, quite differently.

“In many cases, people in their 50s, who are at the tail end of the baby boomer generation, look to their doctor for advice and are often willing to take prescription medications for longer periods of time.”

She said people in their 40s tend to question more things and are often hesitant to take medications for the long term.

“In fact, the younger a person is, or the more tech-savvy they are, the more likely they are to do online research and question a doctor’s recommendations.

“They are also more likely to run to the pharmacy for a quick fix if they have a stomach issue, rash or temperature in an effort to cut out the middleman, and often only go to the doctor when these remedies don’t work.”

Knowledge is empowering

Humans were not designed to cope with the constant stress of modern life that people typically experience.

Invisible chemical and environmental stressors in air, products and food can further compound the situation.

“Due to the current state of the food industry, nutrient deficiency is a very common issue in Bermuda,” Dr Peets Talbot said.

“Most people need a combination of food and supplements for optimal wellness.”

She said about 80 per cent of people are magnesium deficient due to a lack of nutrients in the soil, meaning “just about everyone can benefit from taking it on a daily basis”.

Several different types of magnesium supplements are available, and it can also be found in everything from lotions and sprays to bath salts.

“It’s important to understand that all these products work in different ways, and to identify which type would be most beneficial for you personally.

“Magnesium citrate can aid constipation, for example, while magnesium glycinate can help relieve anxiety, PMS symptoms and support sleep.”

Be proactive

“It is really important for people to be proactive when it comes to their health and to recognise that the body can heal,” Dr Peets Talbot said.

“I love that people are able to manage their own small concerns. If they had more knowledge, they could get relief even faster and more effectively, because the areas that you focus on most are where you will see the greatest improvement.

“My advice would be to start your wellness journey sooner rather than later.”

For more information, visit www.oceanrockwellness.com or call 295-5100.

The post Rethinking midlife medicine appeared first on RG Magazines.

Here in Bermuda, physical inactivity is a growing threat to public health, fueling high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes and a host of other non-communicable diseases.

The answer might seem simple – just get back in shape – but for many people over 50 this is easier said than done.

Often, it’s not a lack of awareness but a combination of factors holding them back, including lack of energy, time and the seeming enormity of the task.

But there is hope, said Lornelle Amory, owner of Longevity Athletics Bermuda.

Reclaiming your health and vitality does not require a complete life overhaul all at once – a small but strategic shift in mindset can be all it takes to start your journey toward improved health and wellness.

“In Bermuda, a lot of the problems people are experiencing are simply due to the fact that our lifestyle has changed and people are not moving their bodies as much as they used to,” Ms Amory said.

“When we don’t move our bodies, we burn fewer calories, which leads to increased weight gain, stiffness and high blood pressure, resulting in a feeling of lethargy. That, in turn, gives us a tendency to move even less.”

This sedentary lifestyle, combined with a poor diet, can also hasten the deterioration of our bones and joints, making us more prone to injury.

“We are always in a hurry in modern life, so we convince ourselves that we need to park right in front of each building we go into because we don’t have time to walk,” she said.

“And this sort of thinking can lead us down a path in which our bodies just get weaker and weaker.

“What most people miss is that they often wind up circling the block numerous times to get a spot close to the entrance, which can actually take more time than if they had parked further away and walked.

“To make matters worse, the frustration of hunting for that ideal spot just adds to the stress and pressure people experience.”

Shifting your mindset

Often, shifting your mindset is the first and largest hurdle.

In midlife, it’s common to experience both physical and psychological barriers when contemplating getting back in shape. People may feel embarrassed or tell themselves that change is too hard or it is simply too late.

“Attitude counts for a lot when it comes to fitness,” Ms Amory said. “If you are apathetic and tell yourself that there is little point in trying, it will be very hard to improve your situation.

“In Bermuda, we tend to normalise things like diabetes and obesity, but when we start to view our overall wellness as a time-management issue, everything becomes easier.

“Real change begins with an understanding of what the body truly needs as it ages and a willingness to start small.

“Instead of telling yourself that you don’t have time to go to the gym, simply look for small opportunities to move your body naturally throughout the day.”

Small changes that yield big benefits

Everyone is different when it comes to movement. Exercise does not have to be an all-or-nothing proposition, and it’s important to avoid comparing yourself to others, particularly in the beginning.

Trying to do too much too quickly can lead to frustration, burnout and injury. Instead, start with gentle movements and build your routine gradually as your confidence and stamina improve:

• If you work in an office, get up once an hour to walk around.
• Try standing during a morning briefing or conference call.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or park at the far end of the lot.
• If you are at home, stretch regularly, especially if you spend a lot of time watching television, to alleviate stiffness.
• Go for a walk around the block to get fresh air or catch up with neighbours – start by going three times a week and gradually work your way up to a daily outing.
• Hold on to the back of a chair and do a few squats or stretches while the kettle is boiling to strengthen leg muscles.
• Play with your grandchildren or walk with them to the park.

Sustaining healthy habits for life

“Motivation comes and goes over the course of our lives and can even waver from one season to the next,” Ms Amory said.

“The trick is to build simple habits that are easy to maintain, even when you don’t feel like it.”

As you begin to increase your stamina, the goal is to combine activities that exercise your heart and lungs with those that strengthen your muscles and joints.

Walking on the beach a couple of times a week, for example, can be combined with light hand weights or chair exercises while you watch your favourite show.

“You don’t have to do the same things every week,” she said. “Going for a walk on the Railway Trail if you normally work out in the gym, or signing up for a class, may be just the change you need to keep you going.”

Progress over perfection

“Never forget that fitness is a journey in which you learn about yourself and your body, and small steps do add up to big things,” Ms Amory said. “It is never too late to start if you remember that consistency is the key.”

It’s not about transforming your life overnight – it’s about making small, daily choices to transform your future.

For more information visit www.longevityathleticsbda.studio

The post Move it or lose it appeared first on RG Magazines.

As recently as 40 years ago, locally available art was largely dominated by stylised depictions of island landscapes and architecture – and you can still never go wrong with traditional images featuring those pink and turquoise hues that our island is famous for.

Today, however, what constitutes ‘Bermuda art’ is much more diverse, and in some cases a lot more experimental.

Many local collectors favour emerging artists who utilise abstract expressionism to convey political and social messages or push the boundaries of aesthetic conversations by introducing found or industrial materials into their work.

Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art

For more than 30 years, the mission of the Masterworks Foundation has been to discover new creative interpretations of Bermuda and to preserve and display that art for generations to come.

Nestled in the tranquil Botanical Gardens, the museum houses a wide spectrum of creativity, from vintage paintings by visiting artists such as Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Marsden Hartley and Ogden Pleissner, to contemporary pieces produced by gifted locals such as Charles Zuill, Graham Foster and Bill Ming.

“Masterworks was built around a core collection of Bermuda subject matter, including works by renowned international artists that carried no racial, social, economic, political or religious agenda,” said retired Masterworks founder and creative director Tom Butterfield.

“Its role was pure and simple: pleasure, enjoyment, education and awareness.”

Jasmine Lee, curator of contemporary art at Masterworks, said: “Today, we have evolved to the point that we are a cultural hub and are always looking for new ways to interpret our collection.

“We inspire conversation by exploring themes that are relevant to our collection and encourage the expression of creativity in all its forms.”

Building a personal collection

A thoughtfully chosen work of art can transform a living space, adding colour, character and a distinctly Bermudian sense of place – but it can also speak volumes about the person who chose to display the piece.

“We all look at artwork in different ways with different interpretations and enjoy different subject matters but no matter what in my view it must be emotive,” Mr Butterfield said.

Ms Lee said: “Beyond its decorative function, art can have many purposes. It can inspire emotions such as joy or serve as a conversation starter. In that respect, each piece says a lot about the person who has chosen to bring it into their home.”

Attempting to balance personal taste, space, colour and budget while searching for a piece that not only complements your décor but also speaks to you on a deeper level can be a daunting task – unless you view it as a journey of discovery.

“If you are not an established collector, the easiest way to start acquiring Bermuda art is to simply start attending local shows,” Ms Lee said.

“Regardless of whether the show is at Masterworks, or one of the other island galleries, all you need to do is bring your sense of curiosity and see what sort of pieces you are drawn to.

“Once you identify a piece that catches your eye, challenge yourself to consider exactly what you are drawn to. Is it how the colours make you feel, or small details such as the type of medium being used, or the way that the brush strokes are composed?”

Finding a theme in what you love

“Art shows are a great opportunity to talk to artists and learn what interests and inspires their work, allowing you to select what resonates with you personally,” Ms Lee said.

“You might discover that you prefer art that challenges the viewer with a political message, or expansive multimedia pieces that leverage the bold use of abstract colour.”

Sometimes it is simply the thrill of being able to meet each artist personally that binds the pieces in a collection together.

The key is to appreciate that there is no wrong way to collect art for your home, but the more thought and energy you put into your collection, the more you will get out of it over time.

Ms Lee said: “You might even say that choosing art to adorn your living space is a subtle means by which we can each express our own creativity.

“Why did we choose to frame or not frame a particular piece? Why did we choose to group these particular pieces together – and yet leave another piece all on its own?”

Beyond paint and canvas

Collecting Bermuda art is about far more than filling an empty space on the wall or finding a landscape that compliments the tones in a beige sofa. Each piece is an opportunity to carry forward the story of our island, and the artist who created it.

While traditional Bermuda art was frequently created with oil, watercolour or gouache on paper or canvas, today the range of materials and media has expanded considerably and might include any combination of charcoal, acrylic, photography, digital imagery, collage, textiles, pottery, sculpture, wood, wire, welding, concrete, plant material, or found objects.

The range of what you can collect and ‘the why’ – your raison d’être for purchasing each piece and bringing it home – can also be as vast as your imagination.

When you purchase a piece of locally produced art, you don’t just enhance your own life – you support and inspire artists in their personal journeys towards excellence and the island art movement. You also add another chapter to your own evolving journey of creative exploration.

For more information on The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art and upcoming shows visit, www.masterworksbermuda.org

The post Painted in Bermuda appeared first on RG Magazines.

Cedar carvings, Hogge money coins, antique bottles, stamps, vintage Bermuda books, banana leaf dolls, maritime relics and Gombey memorabilia are all part of what collectors affectionately call Bermudiana.

But today, Bermudiana is no longer confined to antiques. Contemporary artists and craftspeople are increasingly embracing the tradition, creating works that capture the island’s essence by incorporating locally sourced materials and translating them into pieces infused with botanical, cultural and marine references.

Reimagining Bermudiana

Collecting pottery and sculpture might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of ‘objets d’art’ that embody the island’s heritage – but perhaps it should be.

Along the island’s coastlines, shards of historic pottery remain visible, representing some of Bermuda’s oldest surviving artifacts.

While Bermuda’s comprehensive environmental protection laws prohibit the removal of these items from their resting places, contemporary artisans offer an accessible way to bring that same sense of history, texture and place into the home through thoughtfully crafted pieces that reflect both Bermuda’s past and its present.

Potter Jon Faulkner and sculptors Stratton and Claire Hatfield create distinctive works that translate Bermuda’s colours, textures and natural forms into both functional and decorative pieces, offering effortless ways to introduce Bermudian elements into any living space.

Here, they share where they find inspiration and how they infuse the island’s raw elements into their designs.

Jon Faulkner Pottery: Bermuda in a bowl

“All of my pieces are thrown by hand on a wheel and fired in a kiln that I built myself,” Mr Faulkner said.

“I start each of my firings by burning casuarina wood, which covers all the work in the kiln with fly ash and starts the glazing process. I also like to experiment with mixing Bermuda cedar and casuarina wood ash into the glaze itself.”

This hands-on approach allows each piece to carry a direct imprint of Bermuda’s natural environment and underpins a journey of endless experimentation.

“I get a lot of unconventional inspiration from an old landfill located next to the sea-glass beach near the Dockyard,” he said.

“I’m fascinated by the flow, colour and texture of the rust on the objects I find there and have developed my own technique for infusing some of my work with a similar effect.”

His locally inspired products include Bermuda rockpool bowls with turquoise and deep blue glaze and a rough gritty exterior inspired by the coastline and coral reef system.

“Through trial and error, I have managed to develop a glaze that closely resembled the ocean. These pieces are literally Bermuda in a bowl.

“I also create historical reproductions of a Bellarmine jug composed of salt glazed stoneware that was excavated from the Sea Venture.”

Yart: preserving nature in all its forms

“I’ve always been interested in botanical plants,” said sculptor Stratton Hatfield.

His wife, Claire Peverelli, explained: “Our work is a blending of my interest in art psychotherapy and how we connect with nature and Stratton’s interest in 3D interpretive sculpture.”

Together they are developing a unique method of imprinting, or fossilising, local floral into handmade sculptural pieces for interior and exterior spaces. Their decorative and functional pieces are crafted using free form moulds that they fashion from soil and beach sand and then fill with white Portland concrete in stages.

They also consider the interrelationship between endemic, naturalised and invasive species in Bermuda, leading them to include anything from palmetto to banana, bay grape, elephant ear, Chinese fan palm or loquat leaves in the same piece.

“Initially many of the pieces were small wall sconces, bowls or table centrepieces,” Ms Peverelli said.

“We now do public installations that we refer to as collages in that they are composed of several individually cast pieces that are displayed in a harmonious combination.”

Mr Hatfield said: “Our work continues to evolve and involves a lot of trial and error.

“The challenge has been to figure out how to make increasingly large and complex pieces that are durable enough to be displayed outdoors and yet light weight enough to be mounted on a wall.”

An ever-evolving process

“Bermudian art is moving away from the pink cottage look that was popular in the 1980s,” Mr Hatfield said.

“Young artists are generally creating work that is more socially challenging but, on the whole, we belong to a different generation from those who have the funds to collect.

“What is considered ‘collectible’ in Bermuda is in the midst of transition.”

Mr Faulkner said art is a never-ending journey.

“The shapes of my pieces are quite consistent, but the end products can vary a lot depending on the techniques that I employ during the glazing process,” he said.

“Everything from the ingredients that I mix into the glaze, such as iron or cobalt and chrome oxide, to the position where an object is placed within the kiln when it is fired, can alter the resulting colour and texture of the finished object.

“I’m always surprised how things will turn out, and I find that very inspiring.”

As Bermudiana continues to evolve, today’s artisans and craftspeople are not only preserving the island’s heritage, they are also shaping what future generations will one day recognise as culturally significant and collectible.

For collectors, this shift offers an opportunity to acquire beautiful objects, and to participate in an ongoing collaboration – curating and shaping our heritage one piece at a time.

For more information on Jon Faulkner Pottery visit www.jonfaulknerpottery.com. For

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The Bermuda Construction Safety Council, which was formed in 2018 in connection with the construction project at Morgan’s Point, offers training and awards in 50 trade categories.

It’s run entirely by volunteers and there is no membership fee – meaning cost is not a barrier to improving safety standards and networking opportunities within Bermuda’s construction industry.

Brendon Harris, the Council’s safety coordinator, said: “Our primary objective is to prevent all job-related injuries by providing and maintaining the safest possible working conditions for all our employees and subcontractors.

“We recognise that our most important asset is our people and that production, quality and cost efficiencies can be achieved through the daily application of standardised safety management systems and processes.”

Bermuda’s construction industry operates under workplace health and safety standards laid out in the Bermuda Occupational Safety and Health Act 1982 and the Bermuda Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 2009.

The Act specifies that it is the duty of every employer “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees”.

It is the duty of employees to take reasonable care to protect safety and health of anyone affected by their actions or omissions at work.

Employees are required to cooperate with employers to follow the regulations. Workers also have the right to refuse work if they have reasonable cause to believe that conditions present an imminent and serious danger.

Benefits of investing in safety

Education in the construction industry is time and money well spent. The BCSC recommends viewing safety training as a long-term investment rather than a cost

Ongoing training remains one of the most effective pathways to safer jobsites and a stronger, more resilient construction sector for Bermuda.

According to the US National Safety Council, the economic cost of work-related deaths and injuries reached $167 billion in 2021 – underscoring the human and financial consequences of inadequate safety practices.

Mr Harris said: “The Bermuda legislation is relatively new, and we are working towards having standardised procedures on all jobsites.

“When you have standardised procedures such as morning briefings, daily stretches and continuing education, productivity increases and there also fewer work-related safety incidents.

“This benefits employers because fewer incidents means less time lost due to errors and work stoppages, which increases the likelihood that projects can complete on time and on budget.”
He noted that large projects involving international construction companies require all employees to have completed safety training before they are eligible to start work.

“When construction began on the new airport, for example, workers who had previously completed safety training were able to start working right away, but everyone else had to wait until they were able to complete the required courses before they were allowed on the jobsite,” he explained.

Strengthen safety through cross-training

Employees who work with heavy machinery depend on one another to remain safe. Because tasks are interconnected, everyone involved must share the same critical information and maintain constant communication.

Mr Harris said: “Moving large, heavy loads is a common occurrence on today’s jobsite. There are significant safety issues to be considered, both for crane operators and for any workers in proximity to them, because a crane operator never moves a pallet of concrete block alone.

“Each lift depends on continuous radio communication with people on the ground, whose clear, precise instructions are essential to manoeuvring the load safely and accurately, often into locations that are not visible from the crane cab.”

The people on the ground, known as bank workers, who have completed crane operator training become more effective communicators, and gain practical, hands-on insight into the operator’s responsibilities and decision-making.

This shared perspective enhances site-wide safety, reduces the potential for error, and can create a natural progression for bank workers to advance into crane operator roles.

Diversity and inclusion

Modern construction projects are increasingly diverse and inclusive, bringing together specialised workers from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

On many large job sites in Bermuda, the presence of non-native English speakers highlights the importance of clear, consistent communication practices and the use of standardised safety procedures.

The industry also employs far more women than is often assumed. Women now fill approximately 50 per cent of all office support roles, as well as a significant proportion of positions in architecture, surveying and engineering.

A safety culture that recognises and accommodates this diversity – through inclusive training, clear communication protocols and consistent expectations – strengthens shared accountability, reduces the likelihood of error, and helps ensure that safety is embedded in decision-making at every level of a project.

Mr Harris said: “Ultimately, keeping workers safe is not achieved through legislation alone, but through a shared commitment to learning, communication, and continuous improvement.

“I would encourage everyone involved in the industry to take full advantage of safety training whenever it is available – not just to meet employment requirements, but to build skills and confidence needed to recognize hazards, make better decisions on the job, and ensure that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.”

The post Keeping Workers Safe appeared first on RG Magazines.

Inaccurate measurements, poor preparation, or choosing the wrong flooring for the space can quickly lead to extra expense, and disappointing results.

So how can you get the job done yourself without it becoming a fiasco?

The range of products available has expanded considerably in the past two decades is probably research.

Sacha Bearden, CEO of Baptiste Limited, said: “These days you can choose between vinyl flooring, laminated wood, porcelain or ceramic tile and carpeting and there are pros and cons to each.

“Laminate or vinyl flooring both make a good DIY weekend projects because they are fairly easy to install.

“But tile is a multistep process with a much more permanent result, so you need to be prepared to do your homework and take your time in order to achieve a good result.”

Measure twice, buy once

Once you have settled on your type of flooring, the next step is to take accurate measurements. Whatever you do, resist the urge to eyeball it. A difference of only a few inches can impact how much supplies you need for each step of the project.

“Many people underestimate how much material they actually need,” Ms Bearden said.

“Particularly if you are installing tile, you need to allow for off-cuts and pattern repetition, and the amount of wastage can vary significantly depending on the installation design or pattern you choose.

“It’s also a good idea to buy a couple of extra boxes and store them for future repairs, as finding an exact match later can be surprisingly difficult.”

Laying the groundwork for success

“The amount of prep work, and the additional materials required, will depend entirely on what your existing floor is made of,” Ms Bearden said.

“Understanding that upfront can help avoid surprises, delays, and unexpected costs once the project is underway.

“In some cases, you are going to have to expend a fair amount of time and energy demoing the existing floor, and even once you have removed it, there may well be residual glue or grout to deal with as well as cracks to fill.”

It’s essential that the floor is perfectly level, particularly when installing large-format porcelain tiles which are currently popular.

That often means applying a layer of self-levelling mastic before the adhesive or cement which secures the tiles to the floor.

Ms Bearden said: “Another thing that a lot of people fail to consider is how they will transition through a doorway from one room to the next, particularly if you are connecting two different types of flooring.

“Manufacturers typically make tiles in families that feature a range of shapes and sizes in coordinating colours, so you can create a more seamless and intentional transition between spaces, rather than an abrupt visual break.”

Complementary tiles, border pieces, or transition strips can help improve the visual flow from room to room, giving the finished project a far more polished, professional look.

The difference between a successful flooring project and a costly or frustrating one often comes down to planning and asking the right questions in advance. Get that right, and you’ll have the confidence and supplies to achieve a result to keep you happy for years to come.

The post Flooring without frustration appeared first on RG Magazines.