Medium Basket
Rose May Ebanks’ Medium Basket evokes a simpler time when Cayman’s reliance on the sea for sustenance and economic livelihood was embodied in the vocations and labours of both men and women respectively. Within the context of the domestic sphere and life for those left at home during the ‘Southwell Years’, the production of thatch wares reflects the substantial cultural and economic contributions of Cayman’s women over the years. As a contemporary example of this plaiting tradition, Ebanks’ work represents its evolution and continued relevance in the cultural life of our Islands today.
About the Artist
Rose May Ebanks
b. 1951
Born in West Bay, Grand Cayman, Rose May Ebanks was taught thatching techniques by her mother, who in turn had been taught by her own mother. A prolific weaver who creates mainly traditional functional items, she regularly demonstrates the craft at local arts festivals such as Art@Governor’s and CNCF’s Red Sky at Night cultural festival. Her work is included in the permanent collections of NGCI and Cayman Islands National Museum and was featured in NGCI’s exhibitions Merging Cultures (2003), 21st Century Cayman (2010), All Access (2015), Revive: Contemporary Caymanian Craft (2017), and Island of Women: Life at Home During our Maritime Years (2020).
