Davin Ebanks Unveils “Adjacent”

A special lecture about a permanent public artwork   that honours our maritime heritage

Special Lecture

Wednesday, 2 July 2014

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

National Gallery of the Cayman Islands

NGCI Dart Auditorium / Community Gallery

Admission is free. Donations welcome.

Join us this week Wednesday, 2 July at 5:00 PM for a special lecture by Davin Ebanks, artist and creator of the new public art sculpture Adjacent at the National Gallery.

Thanks to a generous grant from Cayman Water Authority, a new piece of public art in Grand Cayman has been created. The long-awaited sculpture, entitled Adjacent, won the national competition launched by the National Gallery and Cayman Water Authority at the end of 2013. The sculpture has been installed in the front entrance of the National Gallery, located on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway near Camana Bay and will be unveiled to the public 2 July 2014.

“We are thrilled to be unveiling this important piece of public art which stands as a permanent celebration of our maritime heritage, and are extremely grateful to Water Authority Cayman for their vision in partnering with us on this project. Public art plays an important role in society and is often a forum through which to express a country’s unique iconography. Importantly, by bringing artwork “outside” the traditional walls of an art museum and into the public domain it makes the work accessible to the public at all times,” said National Gallery Director, Natalie Urquhart.

She adds that the eye-catching 8ft sculpture will serve as a dynamic introduction to the other artworks in the National Collection which are housed inside the Gallery.

In his winning proposal to the judging panel, Ebanks stated that his piece aimed to blend past and present Cayman. To achieve that goal, he drew on the form a half-model of a traditional Caymanian catboat – an iconic shape that will resonate across all members of the community – and reworked this as a minimalist concrete and glass sculpture.

Ebanks describes the sculpture as being two halves of a bow and stern stood upright and situated side by side to create a dynamic form. He goes on to describe that the angle created where the two halves meet can be seen as “the intersection between two buildings, a passageway or crossroads.” The result is an impactful, compelling representation of our maritime heritage that will intrigue and engage viewers.

At the centre of Ebanks’ piece is a focal point made out of glass which will capture the light and beauty of the environment. The fragile reflective inset, encased by two onyx-coloured concrete columns, have been made even more striking by the contrasting solemnity and solidity of these two forms.

Whereas virtual images of this sculpture has been published, the physical sculpture itself has yet to be seen by anyone. “Being able to see it in 3D and walk around it will be an entirely different experience from judging it on paper,” says Public Art Competition organiser Emé Paschalides.

The public sculpture will be a reminder to Gallery visitors and passers-by of the importance of thinking creatively and passionately, allowing on-lookers the opportunity to meditate upon the beautiful whole that can be created when cultural variations are brought together.

For more information call (345) 945 8111 or email [email protected]