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Lifting the Spirit and Healing the SoulPost-Ivan Art: Lifting the Spirit and Healing the Soul Many residents who experienced the traumatic events of September 2004 continue to experience an emotional build-up that needs to be released. Finding outlets for personal trauma allows room to heal — and it can be helpful to others who may be having similar feelings to know that they are not alone. But what may be surprising for some is the realization that self-expression through art can be as therapeutic as they are enjoyable. Whether painting, singing, dancing or writing, the simple act of creating can help purge some of the pent up emotions that are Ivan’s legacy. Throughout the community, organizations such as the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) and the National Gallery have striven to continue programmes that pre-dated the storm. Their efforts have provided a means to take a break from reality and enter the realm of art and culture in activities that lift the spirit and heal the soul. The CNCF has managed to continue its scheduled events, albeit with modifications. Barely three months after the storm, the foundation hosted Gimistory, an annual event of storytelling and comedy, featuring artists from all over the region. Storytellers from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago combined with a wealth of local talent to make it, some said, better than ever. “We went to the West Bay show and it was pure comic relief,” recalled one audience member. “It was lovely to just sit under the stars, listening to the comedians and storytellers poke fun at Ivan and seeing families enjoying themselves. We laughed and ate fish and fritters, we mingled with the crowd…It was nice to simply relax and enjoy ourselves within the community after being so stressed from the storm. I was glad they decided to have it still, because by then everyone needed some distraction!” Gimistory ran from 27 November to 5 December, with shows in each district. December also saw the continuation of auditions for the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, a prestigious event known internationally as the leading performing arts festival for youth aged 12-25. The CNCF held auditions and, once the 30 dancers were chosen, began workshops in preparation for their journey. The troupe will be practising four days weekly until July, when they leave for the festival in England. They will be presenting five locally choreographed dances, along with five more choreographed by overseas professionals. (For more information on this internationally renowned festival, please visit WWW.AIYF.ORG.) The National Gallery also called on people throughout the community to express themselves through art by hosting an exhibition entitled Emergence. In her curator’s statement, Deputy Director Natalie Coleman said: “Art has powerful therapeutic and transformative qualities and, in the wake of disasters and social upheavals, it is often used to help understand what has taken place and to further the process of recovery. As a cultural centre whose mission is to promote and protect the visual arts in the Cayman Islands, we felt that we could best serve the recovery process by providing a venue for people to express their reactions and, subsequently, by promoting healing through creative expression.” Emergence opened at the gallery in December and became one of the most popular exhibitions in terms of visits from residents, visitors and schoolchildren. The CNCF also took part in the sixth annual National Gallery initiative called Art@Governors, a popular showcase of local artistry highlighting everythingfrom painting and dance to drumming and dee-jaying. The theme for the 29 January event was “Art’s Healing Properties,” and over 2,000 people attended. As usual, children played a major role in the day as they participated in the “My Best Blue Dragon” competition, performed dances, and volunteered in various booths. Neither the CNCF nor the National Gallery has reduced the availability of artistic programmes in the Islands; instead they are pushing forward with plans laid prior to Ivan and are creating new undertakings for people to enjoy. The following are details of future cultural and art events. CalendarMarchCayman National Cultural Foundation Rundown opens 9 March and runs through 20 March, playing 5 days weekly at the Cayman Prep Hall. Annual playwriting competition: the deadline is now 11 March. Poetry Workshop: Local writer Leonard Dilbert will be hosting a literary arts workshop, from 14 to 18 March. Classes are free. Interested persons should contact the CNCF for further information. National Gallery1st March - ART TREK: The National Gallery presents Art Trek for primary school students. Learn all about China and create your own Dragon mask! West Bay Town Hall. 2nd – Voyage to the South Pole - Adventures in Antarctica (Lecture) Amateur Adventurer Andrew Moon gives an insight into the journey of a lifetim as he and a team of seven battled the elements and temperatures down to -50 degrees to reach the South Pole on skis. Wednesday, 2 March, from 6:00-8:00pm, at the National Gallery. RSVP Jane Moon 945 4383/916 1504 janemoon@candw.ky 16th — Art Flix: The Impressionists - The Other French Revolution (Pt. I). Each month the Gallery presents a public screening of art films and documentaries relating to the history of art. Learn about the Impressionist movement that changed the course of art history. 5:30 pm at the National Gallery. 23rd — Art Flix: The Impressionists - The Other French Revolution (Pt. II). 5:30 pm at the National Gallery. 31st — WaterMarks. This new exhibition will feature some of the Cayman Islands’ most renowned water colourists, capturing the vibrant flora of the Caribbean landscape. 6:00pm at the National Gallery. AprilCayman National Cultural Foundation Cayfest runs April16-23. It is a multi-disciplinary exhibition featuring numerous initiatives from local artists. There will be between 12-15 components for the public, ranging from events and/or competitions in areas such as the culinary, performance, visionary, and written arts. Contact InformationThe Cayman National Cultural Foundation is currently located on 3rd Floor Elizabethan Square (until further notice). Persons may visit the office, call 949-5477 or fax: 949-4519. Programme Manager Michelle Mogg may be reached via email at cayfest@candw.ky. For general information, the public may also contact Managing Director Marcia Muttoo atCNCF@Candw.ky The National Gallery is located on the ground floor of Harbour Place, George Town. For information on events or directions, call 945-8111.
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