Students’ artwork on display at National Gallery
(CNS Local Life): The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) and Walkers are presenting an exhibition of student artwork created during the Walkers Art Club programme, which runs at the gallery for the full school year. The five weekly afterschool art clubs support 75 public and private school students comprising foundation, primary (in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac), secondary and teens who are studying for their final exams.
The art club, in its 14th year, attracted students from 19 schools across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, ranging in age from 5-17 years old. Classes combine hands-on instruction and individual experimentation with art foundation principles, said an NGCI press release. Through in-studio education and visits to gallery exhibitions, students learn techniques, art history, self-confidence and how to form and articulate opinions about the work they are creating.
In addition to individual art projects, students work collaboratively on group projects which connect participants to one another across socio-cultural divides and encourage them to appreciate the unique abilities of their peers, the NGCI said.
This year’s end-of-year exhibition concept is ‘Imaginarium’, which refers to a place devoted to the imagination. More than 150 artworks are featured in a variety of media, including printmaking, fashion sketching, silk painting, ceramics, collage, origami, weaving and recycled art. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the curatorial process directly this year by selecting some of their featured works and writing their own artist statement for their piece.
Jessica Ebanks, NGCI education coordinator, said of the clubs, “Every week since September, students have come to the Walkers Art Clubs to learn new art techniques, experiment with a range of materials, and collaborate with their peers under the guidance of experienced art instructors. In the process, they develop self-discovery, self-confidence, self-expression, and make lasting friendships.
“The resulting showcase demonstrates the breadth and depth of these students’ imaginations, explored through creative projects touching on diverse themes of nature, maritime heritage, recycling, fashion and identity, among others,” Ebanks said, adding the public is invited “to step into Imaginarium and journey through the vivid imaginations of our Islands’ talented young artists”.
Prasana, partner at Walkers, said of the initiative, “The Walkers Art Club is a creative, engaging, and accessible afterschool programme which enables students of different age groups from both public and private schools to meet and interact over art…We always enjoy seeing the inspiring array of artwork on display and witnessing firsthand the remarkable talent of Cayman’s young artists, thanks to the dedication of the National Gallery and its team of experienced art teachers.”
NGCI director Natalie Urquhart said of the efforts of the young people in this year’s programme. “The students have shown tremendous commitment to learning and developing their works over the course of the year, and this exhibition is a wonderful showcase of all that they have achieved, individually and together,” she said. “We commend Walkers for their long-term commitment to this programme and are grateful for their ongoing support.” The exhibition, which is free, runs until 6 July 2018. For more information about the Walkers Art Clubs call the National Gallery at 945-8111 or email
Category: Arts, Local News, Visual Arts
