Watermarks

Watermarks was an exhibition dedicated to the art of watercolour and featured works by many of Cayman’s leading watercolourists, including Joanne and Jeremy Sibley, Debbie Chase van der Bol, Lois Brezinski and John Broad. As a medium synonymous with the early history of the visual arts in Cayman, the enduring popularity of watercolour is a testament to the contributions of these artists, and a reflection of the medium’s unparalleled ability to capture the shifting effects of light, as well as the inherent beauty of our Islands’ natural surroundings. Conceived in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan—a storm which devasted Grand Cayman and the island’s natural landscape in September 2004—the exhibition’s ultimate goal was to facilitate the rebuilding of the National Gallery’s collection through partnering with local firms and corporate supporters— each of which sponsored a featured artwork. Through this collaborative initiative, individual artworks were loaned to the host sponsor for a period of time before subsequently being donated to the National Collection. Ultimately Watermarks contributed to the significant rebuilding and expansion of the Gallery’s collection, replacing lost or damaged works with key acquisitions by some of Cayman’s most prominent artists. Celebrating the resilience and beauty of nature in the face of the most significant of challenges, Watermarks was on view at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands from 2 April-11 May 2005.