Now in its fourth year, Cayman Art Week (CAW24) is all set for 22 to 26 May and promises to be another brilliant celebration of Cayman’s incredibly talented and imaginative artists, across the three Cayman Islands.
The week comprises of gallery tours, open studios, pop-up exhibitions, and discussions, in more than 35 art venues, all geared towards showcasing the huge range of art that is being produced right here in the Cayman Islands. CAW24 acts as a connector between the artists and those interested in beginning or expanding their collection of local art by giving art lovers access into the artists’ world, be that in their own studios or public places where their artwork is being exhibited.
Inspired by international art shows such as Miami Art Week, Cayman Art Week was originally set up to support artists and galleries struggling during the pandemic, however its reach is expanding each year.
Cayman Art Week was founded by the National Gallery of the Cayman’s Islands Executive Director Natalie Urquart, who explained that the event has grown over the years and thus their aim with last year’s event was to continue building on the success to begin attracting visitors from overseas to come to Cayman specifically for this art experience and to engage with the Islands’ growing creative sector.
A glimpse of things to come
As ever, there is a host of exciting galleries and artists participating in CAW24, one such being Carlos V. Garcia Fine Art Gallery at The Grove & The Grove Too. The gallery will be hosting an ‘Art Chemistry Night’ exhibition with a late night event on Thursday 23 May, featuring artists such as Carlos Garcia, Ian MacRae, Kerwin Ebanks, Andie Lau, David Banegas, Annikki Hills, Steven Dann, Scott Gordon, Augusto Salazar, Alejandro Dominguez, Tiann Lewis, Arlen Avila, Alessandrio Garcia, Franc Garcia, Henry Hoy and Carlos Artiz. It will be open 11am-8pm Monday-Saturday, and until midnight on Thursday 23 May.
Then there will be the exciting ‘Havana Bazaar’, a pop-up exhibition at Paperman’s Coffeehouse Midtown which features a collection of local and international artists. Works will include those by Jorge Luis Gonzalez Yuque, Joel Oliva and Kender Santiago during regular opening hours, or join Paperman’s for cocktails on Friday 24 May for CAW Central.
Visit David Bridgeman’s Studio 3 Ltd. in Pasadora Place during Cayman Art Week by appointment only and get to learn about his highly collectable art as he explores the marks left by humans on the environment. Another gallery not to be missed is the marvellous Sandon Feat Gallery in George Town, which features work by the late CE Whitney including original and prints of the artist’s paintings. The gallery is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday, with late night hours on Friday 24 May for CAW Central/Art in the City.
‘Oceans & Shores of Cayman’ is one of 15 pop-up exhibitions, this time at Union Grill & Bar in Camana Bay, produced by Art by Ruby Marr who has created a unique collection of works using augmented reality. The art work is available to be seen 11am-3pm Wednesday through Friday, with a special event from 6-10pm on Thursday 23 May as part of CAW24. Private viewings can also be made by appointment.
Sculpture lovers should visit Cayman’s newest contemporary gallery, Ngara Galleries, which focuses mainly on this genre of art, located on North Church Street. Check out the ‘Stoned Identity’ exhibition for Cayman Art Week which features work by Josiah Manzi, Fanizani Akuda and Sylvester Mubayi, with live demonstrations by Macloud Chiwawa. The gallery will be open 9am-9pm on weekdays, and will also be on the bus tour for CAW Central/Art in the City on Friday 24 May.
For those able to visit the Sister Islands, Cayman Art Week begins with an opening celebration at the Gordon J Solomon Fine Art Gallery from 5pm on Wednesday 22 May. The gallery has two exhibitions running: Windows to the Soul with new works by Gordon Solomon and Little Things, a photography series by Alta Solomon. SimoneS Art Gallery in the Brac will also be open throughout Cayman Art Week, featuring her work and that of others.
In Little Cayman, the Seahorse Boutique has artwork and prints by local artists, Debbi Truchan showcases a range of creative genres at her studio D’Art of Living and the Little Cayman Museum is running an exhibition called Days Gone By with photographic collections of Aarona Kohlman, C. Bernard Lewis, George Roy, and others, produced in partnership with the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.