Related poem: Let Nothing Hold You Back
Friday, February 20, 2026
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Don’t Be A Copycat
"Copycats" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Don’t Be A Copycat
Don’t be a copycat, carbon and thin,
Tracing the outline of somebody’s skin.
Don’t wear a voice that was never your own,
Or live in a shadow where nothing has grown.
It’s easy to echo what others have said,
To borrow their dreams and sleep in their bed.
To mimic their laughter, their swagger, their stride,
And tuck your own spark safely inside.
But what is a mirror that never looks back?
A face with no features, a sky that is black.
A song with no tremor, no crack in the tone,
A house full of people that feels like a loan.
You weren’t born blank like a page to be filled
With copies of others’ ambitions and wills.
You came with a rhythm, a pulse in your chest,
A pattern of thought that won’t match the rest.
Maybe your laugh is too loud for the room.
Maybe your plans don’t fit in with the gloom.
Maybe your questions make some people squirm.
Good. That’s your fire. Let it burn.
Offshore Storm - AI Redo
I had a pic of a storm I took some time ago and made it a black & white in Adobe Photoshop. Then I used AI to colorize it and add lightning bolts.
"Offshore Storm" - AI Redo
©A. Derek Catalano
©A. Derek Catalano
Download full size - 1536x1024
"Offshore Storm" - B&W Photo
©A. Derek Catalano
View and download original photo
BHRA Breakout Event!
BHRA Breakout Event!
This Friday the BHRA will be having its membership drive at the facility at 7:30pm-11pm.
For more info visit the BHRA on Facebook
Support our Student Matinees of Gun Boys Rhapsody!
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The Runner Stumbles Opens TONIGHT!
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Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Culture & Couture Fashion Show
Culture & Couture Fashion Show
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:30pm
The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas
For more information follow
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Bahamas on Facebook.
Take It As It Comes
"Contemplation" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Take It As It Comes
The sky does not announce its every turn,
It shifts from blue to gray without concern.
No whispered memo, no engraved decree,
Just drifting clouds that move because they’re free.
The tide rolls in, then slowly rolls away,
It doesn’t beg the shoreline let it stay.
It meets the rocks, it foams, it breaks, it runs,
And trusts the moon to guide what’s to be done.
So why do we, with furrowed brow and fist,
Attempt to map each fog that might exist?
Why strain to choreograph the unseen dance
Of futures balanced on a thread of chance?
Hibiscus in Yellow Vase - AI Redo
A piece I did in colored pencils back in 1990(bottom). I redid it with AI as a watercolor(top) and tweaked in Adobe Photoshop.
"Hibiscus in Yellow Vase" - After AI - Watercolors
©A. Derek Catalano
"Hibiscus in Yellow Vase" - Original - Colored pencils
©A. Derek Catalano
©A. Derek Catalano
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
The Cascarilla Tree and Its Bark: Nature, Uses, and Value
"Cascarilla Tree" - Bahamas AI Image
©A. Derek Catalano
The cascarilla tree — its biology, geography, harvesting, uses (traditional, commercial, scientific, and industry), and what it would take to establish a lucrative cascarilla processing/export business in The Bahamas.
The Cascarilla Tree and Its Bark: Nature, Uses, and Value
1. Botanical Description
Cascarilla refers to the dried bark of Croton eluteria, a small aromatic tree in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The plant is native to the Caribbean region, including The Bahamas, and also grows in parts of Central America and other tropical areas. It typically grows as a shrub or small tree up to about 12–20 feet tall with pale yellowish-brown fissured bark, scanty lance-shaped leaves, and clusters of small white fragrant flowers (often in spring).
The name Croton eluteria reflects its botanical lineage: Croton from the Greek for “a tick” (referring to seed shape) and eluteria said to reference the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas.
In the field, the bark is easily stripped from twigs and branches, then dried before further processing.
WRY ‘CUDA . Abaco Bahamas
WRY ‘CUDA
By Rolling Harbour, Abaco
There’s no doubt about it, barracudas have a particularly unwelcoming look to them. They exude menace. There’s something about the torpedo shape, the primitive head, and the uncomfortably snaggle-toothed grin-with-underbite that suggests a creature not to be underestimated. Read more>>
Neon Junkanoo Sun - AI Redo
Many years ago I created this image(bottom) in Microsoft Paint, then tweaked it in Adobe Photoshop. I redid it with AI using two different AI image creators(top and center).
"Neon Junkanoo Sun" - After AI
©A. Derek Catalano
Visit my Junkanoo and Carnival Concept Art
Grand Bahama Student Eco Art Contest: From Waste, We Create!
An Eco-Art & Sculpture Contest for Students
Awarding Young Artists & Visionaries who want to help bring awareness to how climate change and global pollution affect our island nation.
The From Waste, We Create! Eco-Art & Sculpture Competition is a dynamic, island-wide movement that empowers Grand Bahama’s youth to take action for our island and ocean - through creativity, teamwork, and environmental pride.
Celebrating Bahamian Talent, Smart Tech, and Project Opportunities
Smart Tech Choices, Sharade Taylor's Upcoming Show, and New Opportunities in March
For Safer Internet Day 2026, BTC hosted a youth forum at Fusion Superplex to promote the theme “Smart Tech, Safe Choices.” Students from seven schools met with experts and law enforcement to talk about AI, cybersecurity, and how to act responsibly online. The event focused on giving young people real-world advice for staying safe in a digital world. Read more>>
Monday, February 16, 2026
Call Out Foolishness
"Reckless" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Call Out Foolishness
In the bustling square where the voices collide,
Where the ego is loud and the logic has died,
There’s a duty that falls to the brave and the bright,
To stand as a beacon and shine out the light.
For silence is fertile, a soil for the weed,
If we do not confront every dangerous deed.
So lift up your voice, let the clarity ring,
Against every foolish and fraudulent thing.
We live in an age where the fiction is sold,
In whispers of silver and headlines of gold.
The merchant of myths and the weaver of lies
Will look at the truth with disdain in their eyes.
They peddle the rumors, the "facts" they’ve designed,
To poison the well of the innocent mind.
But a citizen knows that the truth is a shield,
And to blatant deception, we never shall yield.
When they speak of the "secret" that nobody knows,
While the shadow of doubt and conspiracy grows,
Don't nod in agreement to keep at the peace,
For that is the way that the follies increase.
Call out the fake news and the data they’ve blurred,
Let the weight of the evidence always be heard.
To make up a story is easy and cheap,
But the harvest of lies is a bitter to reap.
BREEF: Our first Community Snorkel of the year is here!
BREEF: Our first #communitysnorkel of the year is here!
Join us this Saturday, 21st February 2026 at Saunders Beach, New Providence from 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon for a morning of ocean exploration, learning, and community connection.
Whether you’re brand new to snorkeling or already love being in the water, this is your chance to experience our beautiful marine environment up close. Best of all, it’s FREE, and snorkel gear will be provided!
* Bring your family & friends
* Refillable water bottle
* Reef-safe sun protection
* Positive vibes
Participants must be 8 years or older to snorkel. Community service hours will be provided.
Let’s start the year the best way we know how, in the ocean! See you at Saunders Beach!
Join us this Saturday, 21st February 2026 at Saunders Beach, New Providence from 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon for a morning of ocean exploration, learning, and community connection.
Whether you’re brand new to snorkeling or already love being in the water, this is your chance to experience our beautiful marine environment up close. Best of all, it’s FREE, and snorkel gear will be provided!
* Bring your family & friends
* Refillable water bottle
* Reef-safe sun protection
* Positive vibes
Participants must be 8 years or older to snorkel. Community service hours will be provided.
Let’s start the year the best way we know how, in the ocean! See you at Saunders Beach!
Visit BREEF on Facebook
#BREEF242 #communitysnorkel #saundersbeach #OceanStewardship #marineconservation #bahamas #protectourreefs
#BREEF242 #communitysnorkel #saundersbeach #OceanStewardship #marineconservation #bahamas #protectourreefs
Still Life - AI Redo
Here's a still life I did in colored pencils back in 1989. I redid it with AI as an acrylic painting.
"Still Life" - After AI - Acrylics
©A. Derek Catalano
Download full size: 1536x1024
"Still Life" - Before AI - Pencils
©A. Derek Catalano
©A. Derek Catalano
Sunday, February 15, 2026
The Rick Fox Debate: AI Analysis
Rick Fox - FNM Canidate for Garden Hills
The Rick Fox Debate: AI Analysis
Introduction
Rick Fox — internationally known as a former NBA star, actor, businessman, and Bahamian sports ambassador — has emerged as one of the most intriguing figures in the current Bahamian political landscape. In late 2025 and early 2026, he moved from high-profile global careers into frontline politics in The Bahamas. His decision to seek election under the Free National Movement (FNM) banner has sparked debate nationally about citizenship, political eligibility, motives, qualifications, and the possibility of electoral success.
This analysis explores Fox’s background, his multifaceted career, the specifics of his emerging political ambitions, issues of dual citizenship and eligibility, public perception, and a reasoned assessment of what his involvement means for The Bahamas.
Poinciana by the Sea
I created this piece back in 2002. It's a digital painting I did free-hand using only a computer mouse with various brush tools in Adobe Photoshop. I had it redone with AI in acrylics.
"Poinciana by the Sea" - Original - Digital
©A. Derek Catalano
©A. Derek Catalano
Full size: 701x527
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Friday, February 13, 2026
Too Late for Regret
"Facing the Truth" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Too Late for Regret
The shadows stretch across the floor, a cold and concrete cage,
The final chapter written now on life’s embittered page.
A man sits hunched in silence where the heavy silence dwells,
The king of nothing, ruling o'er a kingdom of small cells.
He counts the stones, he counts the bars, he counts the wasted years,
But all the water in the world can’t wash away his fears.
The clock upon the distant wall is ticking like a debt,
For mercy’s sun has finally set; it’s too late for regret.
It started with a simple thrill, a teenage, restless heart,
The sliding doors of grocery stores where he would play his part.
A candy bar, a pack of gum, a trinket tucked away,
The rush of blood, the secret win, the games he chose to play.
His mother saw the shifting gaze, his father felt the lie,
They begged him: "Walk the narrow path before your youth goes by."
But counsel was a heavy chain he sought to cast aside,
With arrogance for armor and a jagged sense of pride.
The stakes grew high, the pulse grew fast, the darkness took its hold,
He traded in his innocence for silver and for gold.
No longer just a shoplift thief, he walked the midnight street,
With iron tucked against his waist to make his power fleet.
He’d corner strangers in the park, beneath the moon’s cold light,
And steal the safety from their souls in the middle of the night.
The firearm was a heavy weight, a cold and lethal friend,
He never thought his chosen road would find a bitter end.
Schooner - AI Redo
An old pixel art image of a schooner(bottom) that I created using the Microsoft Paint program back in 2002 and redid with AI as acrylics(top).
"Schooner" - After AI: Acrylics
©A. Derek Catalano
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Facts Not Emotions
"Misinformation Row" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Facts Not Emotions
We live in a time when opinions travel faster than evidence. A claim can circle the globe in seconds. A rumor can harden into “truth” before anyone pauses to ask a simple question: Is this actually supported by facts?
If we want to make better decisions as individuals and as a society, we have to learn to separate feelings from facts. Emotions are part of being human. They help us care. They push us to act. But when emotions replace evidence, we drift away from reality. And when we drift away from reality, we become easier to mislead.
This essay is not about ignoring emotions. It is about putting them in the right place. Feelings can guide our values. Facts must guide our conclusions.
Native Stew Take-Away - AI Redo
A sketch I drew back in 2010. Had it redone with AI. Also did some tweaks in Adobe Photoshop.
"Native Stew Take-Away" - After AI: Watercolours
©A. Derek Catalano
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Face the World
"Fearless" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Face the World
When shadows lengthen 'cross the floor,
And doubt comes knocking at your door,
When skies of grey begin to loom,
And silence fills a hollow room—
Do not retreat, do not despair,
For strength is found in morning air.
Arise and shine, the day is new,
The light of hope is meant for you.
The mountains stand with jagged peaks,
To silence those whose spirit speaks,
But you were born with feet to climb,
To leave your mark upon all time.
Stand strong and tall, a sturdy oak,
That weathered every lightning stroke,
With roots dug deep within the soil,
Unbroken by the years of toil.
Be brave when winds of malice blow,
When progress feels entirely slow.
For courage is a quiet flame,
That does not need a loud acclaim;
It’s simply getting up once more,
To face what you have faced before,
To look the monster in the eye,
And tell the darkness: "Not today, not I."
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
The Versailles Gardens of Paradise Island: A Tropical Synthesis of History and Art
"Versailles Gardens, Paradise Island"
©A. Derek Catalano
The Versailles Gardens of Paradise Island: A Tropical Synthesis of History and Art
Introduction
Located on the narrow stretch of Paradise Island in the Bahamas, the Versailles Gardens represent one of the most remarkable architectural and horticultural feats in the Caribbean. A multi-tiered masterwork of landscape design, the gardens serve as a lush, formal sanctuary that leads toward the crowning "Cloisters"—the physical remains of a 14th-century French monastery. While the Bahamas is primarily celebrated for its turquoise waters and coral reefs, the Versailles Gardens offer a profound counter-narrative, blending medieval European stonecraft with the vibrant, untamed beauty of the tropics.
The Queen is Back! Sweet Emily Drops New Single
The Queen of Rake n Scrape, our very own Sweet Emily, has a special gift for everyone this Valentine’s season. She just announced her brand-new single titled “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”
Sweet Emily shared the big news on her Facebook page, showing off a beautiful new cover (check it out above!) and giving us the heads-up that this track is dropping just in time for the holiday of love. Whether it comes out right before or on Valentine’s Day, it’s definitely going to be the perfect song to set the mood.
A Bahamian Legend
We all know and love Sweet Emily for her classic hits that get everyone on the dance floor, like:
She’s been busy lately, too! You can find her featured in the 2026 Bahama Beat Calendar presented by BAF General. She’s standing alongside other Bahamian greats like Shine, KB, Juliet Believe, and Stileet. It’s amazing to see our legends getting the shine they deserve.
Spread the Love
Make sure you keep an eye out for the official release of “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” Once it drops, be sure to share it with your friends, family, and that special someone!
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