Vases
In this work, which was commissioned by NGCI for the 21st Century Cayman exhibition in 2010, Powell has used her skill and creativity as an expert thatch weaver to create a series of vases — objects whose purpose is first and foremost decorative. While the silver thatch palm was typically used for rope making, roofing, and basketry, the artist here removes the primary functional role of the traditional thatch basket — often used for “backing” or carrying provisions home — and instead highlights the inherently aesthetic qualities of her chosen medium, thereby elevating her craft to the realm of fine art.
About the Artist
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Powell
b. 1937
Born in West Bay, Grand Cayman, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Powell learned the skill of thatching from her mother, who made baskets for use on the family farm. In the early 1970s, she learned advanced techniques from a visiting teacher and became a professional basket maker. Powell is now a central member of the Cayman Islands Traditional Arts Council. Her work is featured in Art of the Cayman Islands, the Islands’ first formal art history (Scala Fine Art Publishers Ltd.: Fall 2016). She was a regular exhibitor at NGCI’s Art@Governor’s festival and NGCI exhibitions include: All Access (2015), Revive: Contemporary Caymanian Craft (2017), and Island of Women: Life at Home During our Maritime Years (2020).
