Tides of Change
Evoking the “cabinet of curiosities” and cataloguing habits of the nineteenth century, Tides of Change alludes to the precariousness of coral reef ecosystems, where coral bleaching worldwide has placed these environments in peril. The delicate nature of the work’s construction is achieved by numerous stitch and textile techniques, as well as its deliberately fragile yet tactile form which invites the viewer to interact with it. By the same token, the bell jar prevents interaction and serves as a metaphor for the need to protect our coral reefs.
About the Artist
Sarah McDougall
b. 1967
Born in the UK, Sarah McDougall graduated in Costume Design from Liverpool School of Art, after which she enjoyed 20 years working on costumes for stage and screen. She later re-trained and is now a teacher and subject leader at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre, where she has worked since her move to Grand Cayman in 2010. As a textile artist, Sarah uses vintage fabrics to re-visit some of the historical techniques she learnt for costume design, creating unique pieces in the process. As a strong supporter of community arts and art education within the Cayman Islands, Sarah was awarded the Silver Star for Creativity in the Arts by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation in 2017. McDougall’s work was featured in the NGCI exhibitions Traces: Activating the Art Curriculum (2019), Cross Currents – 1st Cayman Islands Biennial (2019), where it was runner-up for the inaugural Bendel Hydes Award, and Island of Women: Life at Home During our Maritime Years (2020).
