Merging Art, Merging Cultures

This group exhibition brought together the work of Cayman’s own traditional artisans – Annalee Ebanks, Colleen Gibson, L. Rosaline Ebanks, and Rose May Ebanks – alongside contemporary pieces by seven British fibre artists. Seeking to introduce local audiences to both emerging and traditional techniques within the field of fibre art, the exhibition offered insight into new design possibilities for local practitioners, encouraging the preservation and teaching of these craft forms, as well as fostering experimentation with this centuries old medium.

Represented alongside the craft pieces of leading British artisans, a group of contemporary Caymanian artists – among them John Doak, John Broad, and founding Director of the National Gallery, Leslie Bigelman – were encouraged to respond to this fusion of cultures and practices. The diverse selection of participating artists resulted in unique explorations of the myriad assortment of media and materials that the term ‘fibre art’ encompasses—including the ubiquitous silver thatch palm frond, coconut husk, cane, metal fibre, feathers, and horsehair.

Merging Art, Merging Cultures was curated by former National Gallery Director Nancy Barnard and was on view from 25 March– 29 May 2004 at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.