Papua - AI Redo

Something I sketched many years ago and had it redone with AI. I used no reference image so there are some elements that may not fit, but I do what I like.

"Papua" - After AI - Water colours

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 Download full size: 1024x1536

 

 

"Papua" - Before AI - Pencil
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 1024x1536

Newsband - Carlito Catalano: Dancing Odissi Across Oceans

 

Newsband - Carlito Catalano: Dancing Odissi Across Oceans

 

Our son Carlito makes the news again! Featured in an interview in Newsband, another newspaper in India. Well done son. We love you. 💗

 

---------------------------------- 

 

From the verandas of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas to international Odissi stages, Carlito Catalano's journey is one of devotion, resilience, and cultural bridge-building. As the sole practitioner of Indian classical dance in his homeland, this artist has turned solitary passion into a global pursuit.

 

Read full interview>> 

 

More articles about Carlito Catalano.

The Bahamas Dances Odissi: Carlito Catalano

 

The Bahamas Dances Odissi: Carlito Catalano

 

 

Our son Carlito has been featured in the Indian DCN News Epaper today. Read it in their dance column "Rhythms and More".

 

Congratulations again son. You make us all very proud.

 

More articles about Carlito Catalano.

Introducing Bahamian Artist Carlito Catalano & Odissi

 

Carlito rehearsing in India

 

Introducing Bahamian Artist Carlito Catalano & Odissi

 

By Winston D. Munnings/ChatGPT

 

Bahamians exhibit an incredible versatility that is truly remarkable.

 

It’s likely that you, like many of us, have never encountered Odissi, an ancient and intricate form of Indian classical dance. I was introduced to this captivating art form only recently (sort of), thanks to a dear friend (𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐰 ~ Bit.ly/4n31U1c) from my television days at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas. His son, Carlito Catalano, is a pioneering Odissi practitioner in The Bahamas. 

 

Carlito has devoted himself to mastering this expressive dance, known for its graceful movements and rich storytelling rooted in Hindu mythology. His passion not only highlights the beauty of Odissi but also enriches the Bahamas' cultural tapestry, offering a unique fusion of traditions that celebrates both this Indian heritage and the Bahamian spirit. Through his performances and teachings, Carlito fosters greater awareness and appreciation of this centuries-old dance form, enabling audiences to experience its elegance and profound emotional depth. 

 

Carlito Catalano is celebrated for his unconventional path in the arts, having taught himself the intricate and graceful movements of Odissi and Bharatanatyam through a wealth of online resources and instructional videos during his teenage years. His self-directed study reflects a passion for classical dance and a commitment to mastering these traditional art forms.

Beware of the Megalomaniac

 

 "The Megalomaniac" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

 Beware of the Megalomaniac

Observe the man upon the height, who claims to own the very sun,
Who views the world as mere domain, and life a race already won.
Behind the gaze of frozen glass, where empathy has gone to die,
There dwells a mind of grand design, built on a tower of a lie.
So harken now to every verse, and let the warning bell be struck,
For those who walk within his path shall surely find a bitter luck.

The Golden Mask of Vanity

He walks with heavy, arrogant stride, a king without a noble cause,
Demanding all the world obey his whims and self-invented laws.
His ego is a bloated sail that catches every passing breeze,
He does not walk upon the earth; he expects us on our knees.
An idealized vision of the self, a god carved out of common clay,
He believes the light was made for him to herald in the coming day.

The Delusion of Invincible Might

He counts himself invincible, a titan who can never fall,
To him, the highest mountain peak is but a short and simple wall.
No obstacle can block his path, no river deep enough to drown,
For in his warped and fevered mind, he wears a permanent, bright crown.
But this is not a courage found in hearts of gold or spirits brave,
It is a madness of the soul that leads him closer to the grave.

Don't Label Me

 

"Labeled" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Don't Label Me

You see a face, a style, a stride,
And think you know the soul inside.
You reach for stickers, ink, and pen,
To sort me in a little den.
With narrow terms and boxed-in thought,
You seek to trap what can’t be caught.
But look again, and look more deep,
Before you take that mental leap.

Don’t label me with shorthand words,
Like silhouettes of phantom birds.
I am a map with shifting coast,
A living breath, no hollow ghost.
I am the sum of all I’ve been,
The wars I’ve lost, the grace I’ve seen.
There is no tag that you can buy,
To pin me like a butterfly.

I am a river, not a lake,
Defined by every turn I take.
Today I’m fire, bright and bold,
Tomorrow, water, deep and cold.
I carry lineages of light,
And shadows from the blackest night.
I am a scholar and a fool,
A jagged edge, a steady tool.

Govern Your Tongue

 

 " Govern Your Tongue" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

 Govern Your Tongue

 

The gate is small, the passage thin,
Where all our outward thoughts begin;
A muscle slight, of flesh and blood,
That holds the power of fire or flood.
Behold the tongue, a restless spark,
That lights a hearth or chars the dark,
A rudder on a mighty ship,
That steers the soul with every slip.

The word once loosed is like a bird,
That flies the moment it is heard;
You may repent and plead and pray,
And wash the bitter stains away,
But though the heart grants grace and peace,
The spoken word finds no release.
Like arrows sped from tightened bow,
You cannot stop where they may go.

The wound may heal, the scar remain,
A quiet echo of the pain;
For though forgiveness mends the soul,
And makes the broken spirit whole,
The memory of a piercing word
Is like a bell that’s once been heard—
The chime may fade into the air,
But knowledge of the sound is there.

National Coat of Arms Designer Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain Jr. (1942-2015)

 

Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain Jr. (1942-2015)

 

By Bahamianology.Com

To honour Majority Rule Day 2026, we remember Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain Jr. the designer of the Bahamian National Coat of Arms.

Hervis Leamonde Bain Jr., affectionately known as “Junior” or “Steeps,” was born February 5, 1942, in Nassau to musical parents Hervis Sr. and Helenor Bain. Growing up in Toote Shop Corner off East Street, he was raised in a home filled with family, friends, and music. Read more>> 

Some Go Up, Some Go Down

 

 "Fallen King" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Some Go Up, Some Go Down 

 

The world is a wheel with a restless spin,
Where the losses are thick and the victories thin.
On the golden rungs of a ladder tall,
Some scramble upward while others will fall.
For the winds of fortune are fickle and fast,
Turning the first into lonely and last,
And lifting the soul who was buried in clay
To the brilliant heights of a brand-new day.

I. The Ascent

Some are born with a spark in the eye,
With wings already fashioned to fly.
They climb through the clouds with a steady hand,
Surveying the riches of all the land.
Their names are etched upon marble and stone,
They sit for a while on a glittering throne.
With every endeavor, they seem to increase,
In a world of abundance and effortless peace.
They build up their towers of silver and glass,
Watching the shadows of lesser men pass.

II. The Descent

But the ground is a hungry and patient thing,
Waiting for those who have acted as king.
For some go down with a sudden crash,
When the markets fail or the empires smash.
A slip of the foot or a change in the tide,
A hollowed-out heart or a blinded pride,
And the man who was walking the edge of the sun
Finds that his season of glory is done.
He tumbles through darkness, stripped of his name,
To the cold, quiet valley of silence and shame.

Body, Space & the Cinematic Encounter

Our son Carlito's short film to be showcased in India.

 

 

Body, Space & the Cinematic Encounter

These works explore how movement is shaped by space—architectural, natural, urban, or imagined. The camera becomes a choreographic partner, revealing new relationships between body, site, and time. Here, dance film is less about documentation and more about spatial dialogue and cinematic composition.
Showcasing:

Dis Connection by Carlito Catalano (8 minutes 40 seconds)

Movements in Transition by Sudhir Ambasana and Sayli Kulkarni  (8 minutes)

The Whispers of the Cage by Vaishnavi Dhore (12 minutes 28 seconds)

Ceremony of the Crows by Nikolina Nikoleski and Priyasha Bhardwaj (3 minutes 55 seconds)

Mangalore – The Sky and the Sea by Luke Sydney (4 minutes) 

Apavarga by Sairam Kannan (4 minutes 13 seconds)

Read more>> 

My Father’s Obituaries by Bahamianology.Com

 

Collected obituaries by the Late Rt. Honourable Bradley B. Roberts.

 

 

My father collected obituaries.

In retirement, after twenty-five years in politics and sixty years of working life, the Late Rt. Honourable Bradley B. Roberts turned his attention to a project both humble and monumental: collecting obituaries. Not dozens, but thousands—each one a thread in the vast tapestry of Bahamian ancestry, each one a doorway into the interconnected lives that built a nation. Read more>>

MaCaBrLi Family Christmas Dinner 2025

 

 

 

MaCaBrLi Family Christmas Dinner 2025

 

Shot and edited by ©A. Derek Catalano.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S9+

Software: VideoPad Editor

Free MIDI music

Merry Christmas

 

"Merry Christmas" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

On the Way!

 

"On the Way!" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

Let Them Talk

 

"Talkin' Bad" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Let Them Talk

In every town and every street, where idle minds and shadows meet,
There lives a breed of restless soul, who makes the lives of others whole—
By picking at the fraying threads, by planting seeds in neighbors' heads,
By weaving webs of "did you hear?" and whispering in a willing ear.
They gather 'round the morning brew, with nothing better left to do,
Than catalog a stranger’s sin and let the weary games begin.

They watch the way you walk the road, they weigh the burdens of your load,
They measure out your every step, and count the secrets that you’ve kept.
With eagle eyes and sharpened tongues, they draw the air into their lungs,
To blow a spark into a flame, and tarnish every honest name.
For in their world of gray and small, they love to watch a giant fall,
To find a crack within the glass and watch the fleeting shadows pass.

It matters not if truth be told, for stories turn from lead to gold,
When polished by a bitter heart that’s mastered every cruel art.
They’ll take a word you said in jest and put it to a grueling test,
Until it looks like something dark, a jagged stone, a burning spark.
They judge the clothes upon your back, and find the virtues that you lack,
While sitting on a throne of straw, identifying every flaw.

Shakespeare in Paradise on the move

 

Shakespeare in Paradise on the move Shakespeare in Paradise continues making international connections. In January, three members of our executive team will travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland for the Shakespeare Theatre Association Conference. Nicolette Bethel, Delores Adderley and Dorian Mckenzie will attend the week-long conference.

Miracle on Gully Wash Road - A Christmas Story

"Gully Wash Road" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Miracle on Gully Wash Road

The house leaned a little to the left, like it had grown tired of standing straight. One shutter hung loose, knocking softly against the wall whenever the breeze came through. The roof had been patched so many times with bits of tin that it looked like a quilt sewn by different hands, none of them matching. But the house was still standing, and that counted for something.

Inside lived the Rolle family.

Marcia Rolle woke before the sun most mornings, not because she wanted to but because worry didn’t allow sleep to linger. That morning was no different. She lay still for a few minutes on the thin mattress she shared with her youngest daughter, Leila, listening to the sounds of Over-the-Hill coming to life. A potcake barked somewhere down Gully Wash Road. A truck rattled past, its engine coughing like it needed medicine. The roosters that belonged to nobody in particular crowed as if they owned the place.

Marcia swung her feet to the floor and felt the cool concrete beneath her toes. The house had no tiles, just bare cement worn smooth from years of sweeping. She stood quietly so she wouldn’t wake Leila and padded into the kitchen, which was really just one corner of the living room separated by a sagging curtain.

She opened the fridge and stared.

Inclusion

 

 "Inclusion" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Inclusion

In every room where people meet,
Where voices cross and glances greet,
There’s space to notice who’s not heard,
Whose quiet fades without a word.

Inclusion starts with simple things:
A widened door, a chair that swings,
A hand held out before it’s asked,
A shared load when the road is masked.

It’s choosing not to turn away
When someone moves a different way,
Or speaks with pauses in their tone,
Or stands apart but not alone.

It’s making room at every start
For those who carry unseen parts,
The weight of worry, fear, or doubt,
The stories they don’t hand right out.

Education: Boys Behind Girls

"Up and Coming" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

 

Education: Boys Behind Girls

 

Why are Bahamian boys significantly falling behind girls in reading and writing proficiency?

Research on the wider Caribbean (including The Bahamas) suggests a mix of social, cultural, pedagogical and systemic factors that help explain why boys often lag behind girls in reading and writing. Here’s a breakdown of the main explanations researchers identify.

What do we know: the pattern holds in the Bahamas & Caribbean

• In the Bahamas specifically, reports show that girls consistently outperform boys in English-language (reading/writing) subjects in the BGCSE exams. Bahamas Local

• More generally across the Caribbean, studies find that though access to education is roughly equal for boys and girls, girls tend to do better academically — especially in language, reading and writing — while boys underperform, repeat grades more, drop out more often, or enrol less in secondary and tertiary levels. Inter-American Development Bank

• International evidence shows this is not unique to the Caribbean: globally, in many education systems, boys tend to lag behind girls in reading and literacy. UNESCO

So the phenomenon is well-documented. The big question is why.

The Darkness of Xenophobia

"Alien Xenomorph" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

The Darkness of Xenophobia

 

A chilling fog that shrouds the open mind,
A baseless dread of those we fail to find
Familiar in their custom, speech, or creed,
This is the fear called Xenophobia, indeed.
It is the hatred born of ignorance,
The sudden shiver at a foreign glance.

The Definition and Its Roots

It is not simply bias or dislike,
But deep revulsion striking like a pike,
Against the stranger, alien, or new,
A desperate drawing up of walls by few.
It is a mechanism, harsh and crude,
That sees all difference as an ill-intent, construed
As menace to the safety of the known,
A seed of malice that the heart has sown.

Causes: The Seeds of Anxiety

The fear takes root where understanding's slight,
And thrives upon the absence of the light.
One cause is economic anxiety's strain,
The false belief that gain requires loss and pain.
A local culture fears its way of life,
Will be consumed within a global strife,
And turns upon the newcomer in need,
Mistaking fellow humans for a greed.

The rhetoric of politics provides the fuel,
When leaders preach exclusion as a rule.
They paint the "other" as a cunning foe,
Distorting facts to make the hatred grow.
A lack of contact seals the hardened case,
When no shared meal or laughter sets the pace;
The human face, behind the veil unseen,
Remains a monster on a distant screen.