National Gallery exhibition opens in Little Cayman
(CNS Local Life): An extension of the National Gallery’s (NGCI) Cayman Islands Biennial exhibition, “Cross Currents”, was formally opened at the Little Cayman Museum by Governor Martyn Roper and his wife, Elisabeth, on Friday 15 March. This latest showcase is a continuation of the partnership between NGCI, Little Cayman and the Cayman Islands Legacy Fund (CILF) which enables the gallery to continue its commitment to making art and art education accessible through travelling exhibitions to venues in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
“Cross Currents” replaces the inaugural travelling exhibition, “Coral Encounters: Photographs from Our Underwater World”, which is now on display at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort, the NGCI said in a press release.
The Biennial Project, which is supported by Butterfield, seeks to showcase the latest developments in the contemporary art scene every two years and is conceived as a multi-venue project in which exhibitions, public art, and programming take place across all three islands simultaneously.
Following an open call for participation and a rigorous juried process, 42 local artists were selected for the Grand Cayman element of the exhibition, which opened on 8 February at the National Gallery’s main venue. Works selected for both sites include a wide variety of media, from painting, photography and video, to collage, textiles and sculpture.
Additional artists were selected for the Little Cayman extension: Davin Ebanks, Kaitlyn Elphinstone, Paige Jordison (emerging artist category), Kathryn Elphinstone, Jeremy Walton, Julie Corsetti and Claire Musser.
“Honouring tradition while reinvigorating historical themes, the 40 participants in this year’s Biennial each represent, in their own distinct way, different approaches to the question ‘what is contemporary Caymanian art?’,” said the NGCI in the release, with the Little Cayman artists specifically addressing environmental and marine themes. Through their innovative use of new media and techniques, as well as their engagement with timely social, political and environmental concerns, the artists in “Cross Currents” offer a window into contemporary art making on these shores, the NGCI said.
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Little Cayman Museum and to travel an element of ‘Cross Currents’ to the Sister Islands,” said NGCI chairperson Susan Olde. “This landmark exhibition represents a diverse survey of the best and brightest contemporary artists in Cayman and is a true watershed moment for the islands’ burgeoning art scene.
“Just as the National Gallery has entered its third decade, this exhibition reflects the growing maturity and sophistication of contemporary art in the Cayman Islands, as well as the crucial role played by NGCI in supporting the arts, both through the institutional platform it provides for creative practitioners to showcase their work, as well as through the ongoing opportunities it offers to both young and established artists to develop their careers, both locally and abroad.”
Each exhibition is designed with related programming ranging from school tours to workshops, lectures and screenings, along with pop-up art classes in Little Cayman. Entry to these programmes and the exhibition is free.
For the full Little Cayman schedule email littlecaymanmuseum@gmail.com or go to the National Gallery website
Category: Arts, Visual Arts
