The art scene in the Cayman Islands is flourishing. There are more than 150 nationalities represented on the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and this inclusive cultural scene has led to a movement of artistic expression, enabling artists to tell their stories.
This May, Cayman Art Week (CAW) takes up its annual place in the events calendar with its week-long curated programme of gallery tours and open studios around the Cayman Islands. Taking place from 30 May, the event is designed to celebrate and encourage the collection of Caymanian art. CAW offers unparalleled access to over 30 art venues, providing an opportunity to showcase exhibitions and host a range of discussions with local and international audiences. www.caymanartweek.com
The art scene in Cayman is teeming with local talent, from the bright and bold colours of Shane Aquârt AKA Dready to the traditional ceramics of 3 Girls & A Kiln, an art collective championing fun designs, island-inspired ceramics and upcycled art, which also offers visitors the chance to create their own piece of artwork. British talent has also arrived here in the form of Jason Kennedy and David Bridgeman.
Art is considered hugely important to the Caymanian flavour and is represented in several hotels; namely the refurbished Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman and the recently opened Palm Heights.
The 2021 £40 million renovation of the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman means the property now includes artworks from Caymanian artists. From John Bird’s “Coconuts,” an installation made of ebonized wood reclaimed from the airport renovation, to the Cayman Islands’ largest art gallery (officially, “The Art Gallery at the Ritz-Carlton”). The space showcases the work of more than 40 local artists, divided by medium (photography, painting, mixed-media collage) and theme (abstract, portrait and landscape) and all curated by Caymanian artist Chris Christian.
Meanwhile, the luxury beachside hotel Palm Heights hosts an ongoing residency programme for painters, sculptors, musicians, writers, and chefs. Recent participants have included dancer and choreographer Gabe Stone Shayer (a soloist at the American Ballet Theatre in New York), the multidisciplinary artist Kenturah Davis (who splits her time between Los Angeles and Accra, Ghana), and Dina Nur Satti, a Brooklyn-based ceramic artist.
And the arts don’t end there. The destination is famous for its diving and with 365 dive sites, it was only a matter of time before the arts went underwater. In the summer of 2000, a 9-foot-tall bronze mermaid weighing over 270 kilos was installed on one of Grand Cayman’s most popular snorkelling and shore-diving sites. A representation of Amphitrite, the legendary queen of the seas and wife of Poseidon, the work was created by British-born Canadian artist Simon Morris and placed just offshore from the Sunset House Resort, where it can be viewed from the surface or enjoyed by diving. Three years after Amphitrite arrived, a second iconic bronze figure appeared on a reef eight miles to the north. The Guardian of the Reef, also created by Morris, is a 13-foot-tall creation that is half seahorse, half mythological warrior.
Above the water, and one of the best places to discover and to understand the evolution of Caymanian art outside of CAW in May, is at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands in George Town. Here, a pair of sleek two-story buildings surrounded by a series of gardens, including one dedicated to sculpture, honours the islands’ artistic heritage and provides a platform for local artists to share their work.
Travellers arriving in the Cayman Islands this May are in for another treat of the sense as the month also plays host to Taste of Cayman and will bring together a host of food festival experiences, as well as live music and entertainment – the perfect reason to explore more of the Cayman culture and its diverse range of restaurants and cuisine on offer.
To discover more about the Cayman Islands, head to visitcaymanislands.com
