Bernard K. Passman
Passion of a Sculptor - Bernard K. Passman’s Black Coral 
As mankind goes about his work as a creator or innovator, it is often relatively easy to look back and trace developments. We know when the first plane flew, who invented the stoplight, and how penicillin was discovered. But in the case of black coral jewelry, coveted by the rich and famous, most people agree that the shift in development as an art form began in the Cayman Islands 30 years ago. It is now known around the world for the evocative and masterful works Bernard K. Passman has created using the material. “Passman made it into a truly artistic medium by creating abstractions or imaginative pieces, in effect, works of art.”
He began working as an artist during World War II and following his retirement as a land developer in 1961, Passman turned his full attention to his first love, sculpting. In short order, he acquired an international reputation and distinguished commissions in wood, stone, metal, and clay. Among his most notable works is the 21-foot Presidential Tree that received recognition from the President of the United States. The sculpture was featured at the Republican National Convention in 1968 and the Democratic National Convention in 1972.
Honors followed throughout the years. Three of his art works were chosen for a master showing along with Rodin and Monet. He received a US patent for a method he used in his art. His commissions of the 1972 Miami Dolphin Super Bowl Champs were featured on Montage, an affiliate of CBS-TV. Passman loves sports. You can see the original Dolphin sculptures, along with his project of a football stadium, at the Passman Museum on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. You can see and learn more when you visit his galleries.
Passman was working on commissions for Nabisco and Polaroid when he moved to Grand Cayman in 1974. He thought the move would bring him closer to nature and values for his family. Even though he was retiring to design his own home, he felt he would continue to do commissions in the States, which was only an hour away. Little did he know he was launched in a direction which would alter the black coral industry and move it into the high priced world of Art.
It is doubtful whether you would have ever seen these rare galleries of magnificent black coral art without the appreciation of an extensive background Passman had in so many art forms. In 1981, he was chosen to create the Cayman Islands’ gift for royalty, a wedding present for Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The royal family loved beautiful art and no one else could create it like this artist. The Governor of Florida wrote Passman that “this commission of international goodwill reflects a personal honor to you.”
He may be sculpting a black coral and gold violin or a likeness of a child. His most recent work has been challenging, as well as inspiring, for him. He is creating a three dimensional scene of Maui in black coral, with the magnificent whales swimming and splashing in the water.
His love of animals is most prevalent in the sculptured horse and two Corgi dogs he was commissioned to create for the royal family once again in February 1983. Bernard Passman’s excitement in life triggers originality. He strenuously opposes plagiarism and has always felt that life was too short and tedious without the challenges of creativity.
His pieces range in price from moderate to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the intricacy and imagination imbued in his approach is a salient ingredient in the work of all the talented artists who have contributed to Cayman’s multi-million-dollar black coral industry.
Passman’s part in that story has played out on two levels. He has been successful as an individual artist producing his designs for sale in his own business. And, even more importantly, he has been instrumental as an influence on almost every sculptor who works in the Cayman Islands carving and sculpting the gleaming ebony into precious works of art. Bernard Passman’s works of art and jewels can be seen at his galleries on the island of St. Thomas on Main Street (340) 777-4580 and in the Havensight Mall, Building #1 (340) 715-5328
