The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands’ (NGCI) latest exhibition will feature a collection of images by celebrated musician and author D. Randall Blythe titled, From Whence We Came. Drawing upon the John F. Kennedy quotation “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it- we are going back from whence we came”, it is a celebration of the artist’s deep visceral connection water and waves.

Blythe defines his craft as capturing those split-seconds of beauty that constantly occur all around us, yet all-too-often quietly pass by unnoticed in today’s hectic world. Looking through the view finder of his camera, he attempts to step outside his own self to pay true attention to his surroundings. He says, “Photography is a method for becoming more aware of the world around me, and while I enjoy photographing all different sorts of landscapes and people, none catches my eyes as much as the sea and those who live by her.”

As a surfer, Blythe spends as much time as possible in the ocean, which he feels is the most protean landscape on earth. “She [the ocean] provides endless and constantly changing artistic subject matter,” he explains. “The variations of light, texture, and color that the sea provides are infinite. Shooting photos of the ocean and those who ride her waves is my attempt at artistically sharing that connection, and hopefully inspiring respect for that universal place “from whence we came.”

The exhibition is the third in NGCI’s photographic series that celebrates the medium of photography. It is also an important fundraiser for the organization with 100% sales of Mr Blythe’s works being donated to NGCI collections and education programmes. The exhibition and fundraiser is made possible by the generous support of The Mill Cayman. NGCI Director Natalie Urquhart explains, “This beautiful series is an ode to the ocean, something we as islanders can deeply relate to. Ranging from the calm beauty of still seas to the immense power of waves in a storm, it is a true reminder of the awe-inspiring power of nature. We are delighted to feature Mr Blythe’s remarkable work and very grateful to The Mill Cayman for supporting the project.”

The exhibition, From Whence We Came opens to the public Saturday, 10 March 2018 and closes Friday, 26 April 2018. A special Members’ Reception will be held Friday, 9 March 2018 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Mr Blythe will also be hosting a free photography workshop for teens on Saturday, 10 March. For more information on the workshop and other programmes related to the exhibition, email [email protected] or visit www.nationalgallery.org.ky.