Limited edition charity print goes on sale

TORONTO, ON (June 11, 2020) – To commemorate Bourdain Day on June 25th, Cayman Islands-based artist, Shane Aquârt, also known as ‘Dready’, will release a limited edition charity print of a portrait he was commissioned to create in 2018 of the world renowned chef and author, Anthony Bourdain. All sales proceeds will go to The Cayman Food Bank, a core hunger-relief organization working to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the Cayman Islands.

Dready’s ‘how to cook curry goat – 3 amigos cayman cookout’ was commissioned in 2018 by the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the annual Cayman Cookout, an event spearheaded by Eric Ripert and attended regularly by Anthony Bourdain and José Andrés, all of whom feature in the colourful piece. The two chefs, longtime friends of Bourdain’s, discussed their collective love for the Dready piece in a recent (May 30th) Instagram Live video. 

“Bourdain Day”, announced last year on what would have been Bourdain’s 63rd birthday, was created by Ripert and Andrés for fans around the world to toast and celebrate Bourdain and his legacy on the day of his birth, June 25, rather than on the day of his death, June 8. The day of celebration is shared on social media using the hashtag #bourdainday.

“Drawing the ‘three amigos’, as they often referred to themselves, was a highlight for me,” said Shane Aquârt. “So it is my honour to offer this limited edition print to celebrate the late, great Anthony Bourdain, and to help a charity that’s close to my heart, the Cayman Food Bank. Food, shelter and a little love are very important things right now.”

The work of Cayman Islands-based artist Shane Aquârt, aka Dready, famed for his use of large blocks of simple colour, a healthy touch of whimsy and the breaking of things down into their most simple essence, is collected globally. With its Caribbean heritage, Dready’s playful pops of vibrant colour and the simplicity of the images – which are digitally and graphically hand drawn (on and into a computer programme using a method popularized by artists like David Hockney) – have become a distinctive modern art form. 

The Dready piece, which depicts the last time all three chefs were together, is available in a limited edition run of 250, 16×5 inch prints. The print is available for $315 USD from [email protected].

About Shane Aquârt – Dready
Shane Aquârt is a Jamaican born, now Caymanian artist, who signs his art ‘Dready’. With a unique style that is highly influenced by his West Indian and international upbringing, his art is bright and whimsical, with a frequently humorous take on the familiarity of life. Hand drawn in digital format, Shane combines bold blocks of colour with as few lines as possible to create what has become known as, ‘a Dready’. A prolific digital fine artist, Shane’s simple yet bold pieces are highly sought after and collected internationally. Commissions have been completed for hotels, corporate offices, government buildings and projects, festivals, sports organizations, charity foundations and more. His art has been featured in group and solo shows since 2008, and a selection of his work is part of the permanent collection in the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI). Presently, his work can also be found in many public and private collections around the world.
www.dreadyworld.com 

About The Cayman Food Bank
The Cayman Food Bank is a core hunger-relief organization working to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the Cayman Islands, located in the Western Caribbean. It is a centralized food bank that provides food support for individuals, non-profit social service organizations, and food pantries serving families in need across the archipelago comprised of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. 
www.caymanfoodbank.com