On 28 October, NGCI opened Beloved Isles: A Photographic Celebration of Our Sister Islands. Rotating between NGCI’s two partner exhibition venues at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Museum, the exhibition seeks to showcase the unique environment, culture and communities of the Sister Islands. Collectively the images depict the natural landscapes, endemic species, expansive seascapes, historic architecture and cultural traditions of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The project was developed in celebration of our ‘land of soft, fresh breezes’, which provides a source of endless inspiration to our many talented artists.
The exhibition includes work by forty-one photographers who responded to NGCI’s ‘Open Call’ in July 2021 and were selected by a jury of Sister Islands representatives and National Gallery curators. From macro shots of our delicate local flowers by Leonard Bodden, to nostalgic Caymanian cottages by Dione Scotland Rivero, to expansive aerial views of our bluff by Thomas Williamson, the featured works celebrate our diverse Sister Islands culture.
NGCI hosted a digital opening of “Beloved Isles” on 2 November, which featured a Curators’ Talk with Paige Jordison (Assistant Curator) and Kerr-Anne Chisholm (Associate Curator), celebrating our Sister Islands photographers and partners that helped make this exhibition happen. Viewing all works in the exhibition, the event was a wonderful opportunity for artists and attendees to see the entirety of the exhibition and engage in one-on-one discussions.
Beloved Isles is part of the National Gallery’s “Travelling Exhibition” series , which complements NGCI’s wider Sister Islands programme that includes weekly afterschool art classes (the ‘Walkers Art Club’ for primary school students) and Seniors’ ‘Tour and Tea’ events. This exhibition will run from 28 October 2021 – 25 February 2022 and will be supported by a programme of special workshops, Art Talks and activities. The artworks will rotate between the two venues in December to provide residents of both islands with the opportunity to see the entirety of the exhibition.
The featured photographers are: Melissa Bennett, Leonard Bodden, Scott Brady, Maya Cochrane, Mariasol Danzinger, Alasdair Dewson, Brian Dilbert, Bryony Dixon, Sheree Ebanks, Megan Ehman, Lana Gilyun, Jennifer Goddard, Heather Holt, Maggie Jackson, Faye Lippitt, Shallyn MacDonald, Natalie Martin de Pablos, Lindsay McGill, Julian Menko, Jodie Miller, Phillippa Miller, Jessica Mittelman, Niranjan Nagaraja, Sebastien Nehme, Morgan Olley, Claire Pettinati, Ben Phillips, Beth Price, Reshma Ragoonath, Cherryl Ravina Arlante, Lisa Reid, Dione Scotland Rivero, Simone Scott, Ward Scott, Janine Scriven, Isabella Seguin, Judy Singh Hurlston, Alta Solomon, Tricia Sybersma, Debbi Truchan, and Thomas Williamson. The project is supported by the host venues, the Cayman Islands Legacy Fund and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage.
