Fisherman in Catboat
The Caymanian catboat is described by H.E. Ross in his book Love’s Dance as “a beautiful, low-sheered vessel” whose design was “an engineering marvel.” Following their introduction in 1904, the boat soon became central to life in the Islands, being principally used for catching and transporting turtles. As Powery’s nostalgic depiction conveys, the catboat evolved into a ubiquitous mode of transportation, remaining prevalent until the late 1950s. All but disappearing from our waters until the 1990s, the catboat has since enjoyed a resurgence thanks to the Cayman Catboat Club and its members.
About the Artist
Miguel Powery
b. 1957
Born in Grand Cayman, Miguel Powery is a self-taught painter and sculptor who carves black coral and semi-precious stones. A founding member of the Native Sons artists collective, he was recognised with a lifetime achievement award from CNCF in 2003 and as a Cultural Heritage Pioneer at the 2014 National Heroes Day ceremony. His work can be found in the permanent collections of NGCI, the Cayman Islands National Museum and the Cayman Islands Government. His work has been featured at NGCI in a solo exhibition (1999) and in numerous group exhibitions, including Native Sons’ Fahive (2005), 21st Century Cayman (2010), Founded upon the Seas (2012), All Access (2015), Native Sons – Twenty Years On (2016), Saltwater in their Veins (2017), and Tropical Visions (2019).
