 Written by Kacie G. “You can use anything to make a living, and you can be as creative as much as you want.” -Bridget Davis, 2018. What a beautiful message of inspiration Bridget Davis tells us! I’m really excited to share the work of Bridget. She is an entrepreneur and artist in Freeport, Bahamas. I had the opportunity to meet and interview Bridget in June. Thanks to my role model Lenore Hosier who also introduced to me to Bridget, invited me to come see the beautiful Bahamas, and let me be part of these relationships in Freeport. During my interview with Bridget she stated she had the opportunity to start a small business when hurricanes happened in 2004. She said many were out of work. Her sister Gina did a course in coconut jewelry making. Gina started the business at home. She then got the opportunity to bring the business to Port Lucaya. Now Bridget and Gina have locations in Garden of the Groves and Port Lucaya in Freeport. They sell to visitors and locals. Bridget and her sister Gina make beautiful jewelry from coconuts. Bridget said she wished more people knew they can use nature to make beautiful things and make a living. In her shop in Garden of the Groves she sells work from other artists in the Bahamas as well. She has traveled to one of the family islands and bought hand woven baskets from women on a family island. She sells these in her shop as well as a piece of educational material about the family islands. She is creating sustainability on the islands with honoring the artwork from other women. She is passionate about lifting the voices of other artists and supporting communities on other islands. I asked Bridget, "If you could help Bahamian women in any way, what would that be?" She said, "We want to encourage Bahamian women to understand they are hard workers and deserve to say that their piece of work is valuable." She is part of a sustainable tourism committee in Freeport and passionate about helping Bahamian women market their product and skill sets! Thank you Bridget for all you do! Pictures above: Bridget with good friend Lenore and Bridget with Kacie after the interview. LEo Brown's Art I am now telling the story of artists in Freeport, Bahamas. Here it begins! The Bahamas is a beautiful place. Most of us who do not live there dream of going on a relaxing vacation to the white sandy beaches with crystal clear water. I hope anyone who is reading this gets this opportunity at some point in your life. And if you do, you must stop in Freeport and meet our friend Leo Brown! Leo Brown is a local artist in Freeport who has quite the inspirational story! He is a man of faith and just a lovely person to meet. He serves his community through his artwork, helps other artists in Freeport, and shares his culture through art with many tourists everyday! I want to tell you more though. How did I meet Leo? And how does his work inspire Wildflower Enterprises? I was asked to go on a mission trip to Freeport by my good friend Lenore Hosier. She is now a pastor in central PA and served as a pastor in Freeport as well. Lenore is passionate about healthy cross-cultural relationships and having conversations about race, faith and culture. Therefore, she designs mission trips to fit these purposes! I was blessed to go with her to the Bahamas. I learned the importance of sustainable healthy relationships while on a mission trip. One out of many ways I saw this was learning how Lenore and Leo became great friends!  This picture of the children holding hands is titled "Unity" Leo describes this picture with the words from the song Jesus Loves the Little Children. "Jesus loves the little children, all the children in the world; red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight; Jesus love the little children of the world." (Leo, 2018). Also, Lenore’s passion for equality shines through this picture. This picture is how I was introduced to Leo. Leo makes custom work for people as well. I have seen how he has blessed families with custom pictures such as the painting on top. This was painted for Sandi. It is her son Nathan. Both Sandy and Nathan were part of the church group I was with. Leo's art speaks about his culture. He helps people from all backgrounds understand themselves with his art as well. With all of this he shares the message of faith through his art, and he is not afraid to tell this story. However, one special painting of Leo’s now hangs in the Wildflower Enterprises PA office.  The title of this piece is Field of Joy Leo says, "Field of Joy is about the celebration of women, women can accomplish enormous things individually and particular as long as they come together. I use seven women because seven is a spiritual number depicting completion. This represents the complete woman out of many. They are one."
What a perfect message for Wildflower Enterprises! Leo is truly inspiring our work! What’s going happen with our new relationships in the Bahamas? Stay updated for more stories!
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10/9/2022 05:35:43 am
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