Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
139
Finds
Caymanian Artist Miss Lassie
No retrospective of Caymanian art would be complete with-
out the artfully naive paintings of
Gladwyn Bush,
known to
most of Grand Cayman by her affectionate nickname,
Miss
Lassie.
Born on Grand Cayman in 1914, she left the Cayman
Islands only once in her life: to attend an exhibition of her
works in Curaçao. Displayed in galleries as far away as Balti-
more and Paris, her paintings depict, among other subjects,
God talking with Elijah and Nicodemus chatting with Jesus.
She once described her paintings as visions that came t o her
“in the state between sleeping and awakening.” She died in
2003, at age 89, and since then her works have become
increasingly difficult to find in the public domain. Count your-
self lucky if you see her work on display in a local gallery, but
don't count on buying one. Miss Lassie's paintings would sell
for upward of CI$8,000—when she was alive.
7
Kennedy Gallery
This art gallery—the most impor tant, visi-
ble, and influential in the Cayman Islands—showcases works by each
of the nation's recognized artists, including local masters J oanne Sib-
ley and Charles Long. Works by less widely recognized artists are also
featured. O ur fav orite among these lesser-kno wn ar tists is P etrina
Wright, who once taught ar t in a high school on Cayman B rac, and
whose works seem to incorporate r eggae, soca, Caymanian national-
ism, racial pride, sexual liberation, and adolescent trauma, all at the
same time. In the ar twork here, expect to find an ex cellent selection
of seascapes and tr opical landscapes, br onze castings of Caymanian
sea turtles by artists in California, and absolutely brilliant sculptur es
by emerging artists in nearby Cuba. Works of art range from CI$8 to
CI$50,000. Members of the Hill family, who are extremely articulate
spokespersons for the ar t scene on G rand Cayman, manage this fine
gallery.
West Shore Center, West Bay Rd., Seven Mile Beach.
&
345/949-
8077.
www.kennedystudios.net.
BEACHWEAR
Brazilian Point
Indulge fashion-plate tendencies at this stylish and
whimsical shop where all the garments (for women only) ar e imported
from Brazil. Each “minimalist” item here evokes a beachfront venue in
Bahia. Bikinis average around CI$35. There's also an inventory of belts,
bags, shoes, and flesh-r evealing “flirtware.”
In the Queen 's Court Shop-
ping Center, West Bay Rd., Seven Mile Beach.
&
345/945-5679.
