Artist: Valerie Bernat

Watercolor, collage, watersoluble media

17” x 13” framed

Bonaire is known for some of the best diving in the Caribbean. Centuries ago it was a valuable source of salt. The enslaved, brought from Africa, worked the evaporation ponds for Spanish and then Dutch profits. The slave huts have been preserved on Bonaire. It's hard to describe them - harsh cement hovels really. There is only one opening to allow a person to crawl inside, no doors. But at the overseers building there is a door - a very weathered red door.

I worked to capture the layers of history in this painting inspired by a weatherworn door.