New Artists, New Friends And A New Beginning At Arteccentrix Gallery
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The gallery in Governor’s Square has now been open for a week and it has definitely been an exciting six days.
We have met with several of our new artists and for the most part we have some fine examples of their work on display. So, here is a quick summary of some of our week’s news and highlights.
Just prior to opening we had a visit from Bendel Hydes which was my husband’s first chance to meet with one of Cayman’s most famous artisans. Bendel had come to visit the gallery and gave us his candid assessment of how things were looking. Unfortunately we do not have any of Bendel’s work to share with you, but please visit his website if you are unfamiliar with his work. We entrusted into his care my Painting, “Father’s Eyes”, which is due to be auctioned for charity at the Art For The Heart gala event this month.
We mentioned one of our new partners in a previous post – Greg Lipton. We are currently offering four monochrome works by Greg and they are all quite stunning and interest in his paintings has been high. Judging by some of the complimentary feedback it will not be long before he makes his first sale with us. You can view some of Greg’s paintings at his own website through the above link but if you would like to admire them first hand, please call in to see us soon.
We also had the pleasure of meeting with Leigh Pawling a wonderful artist from Kingston PA in the United States and are currently preparing a beautiful nine feet by seven feet abstract work for showing. Leigh is a well established artist in her own right and works in a wide variety of styles. Her work also includes many murals in her homeland and she has recently been selected as one of several artists who will be working on the city of Philadelphia’s murals project which is going to be a huge and exciting venture. Leigh has an excellent website where you can view a good selection of her work and follow her on her blog. Be sure to look out for the impressive piece she has consigned to the gallery in the weeks ahead.
Cayman artist Joseph Betty has also signed with Arteccentrix and at present we have two of his pieces on display, adding a burst of his signature bold and bright colours to the current exhibition. When we make the next website updates we will have several examples of Joe’s work on display on these pages, but again, in the meantime, we invite you to drop by the gallery and enjoy his paintings first hand.
Cayman artist Luelan Bodden has not only consigned several pieces to us, he also did some amazing restoration work on an antique half table for us as an opening gift – thank you Luelan, it looks amazing!
Luelan’s abstract piece entitled “The Sting” is already attracting a lot of attention and is in stark contrast to his very original depiction of an old Caymanian Home entitled “Wattle and Daub” which we guarantee is an original piece the like of which you will never have seen before, painted directly onto a “canvas” which is a work of art in its own right, fabricated from course natural coconut palm. We also have two signature free standing lamps, that Lue has created lovingly from recycled natural materials, recovered from Cayman’s shoreline. The lamp stands are beautifully finished sturdy bamboo with a tactile high gloss finish and the shades have been painstakingly forged from coral and sponges. Again, the description does not do the intricate craftsmanship justice.
Cayman artist Chris Christian was a surprise visitor early in the week and we are pleased to say we now have a single piece of his work – it is one of his own personal favorites and we know that parting with it was not an easy decision for him but his offering adds yet another dimension to the quality and diversity on display. It is a rare chance for collectors to acquire a beautiful piece of work from another of Cayman’s Native Sons artists and, although we say so ourselves, at a very keen market price. We don’t think it will be gracing our walls for too long. A semi abstract piece that depicts a typical fishing scene from Cayman and evokes a feeling of peace, maybe a little nostalgia, it is a warm and relaxing offering in one of Chris’s signature styles of golden hues and warm earth tones. We are delighted to have been given the chance to share his work.
The close of our first day of business was marked by a surprise visit from artist Christel Ibsen and her husband Bob who very kindly brought in a bottle of champagne to celebrate – a lovely surprise and a great way to end our first day in business. Thanks Bob and Christel!
The gallery was featured in the Cayman Compass at the end of the week and brought visitors from as far afield as the UK – we actually met some people staying on the island who were from the small fishing village in Cornwall where my mother and father-in-law lived for almost 25 years and knew of us through a mutual friend! It turned out that their daughter has lived and worked in Cayman for as a teacher for the past five years. A small world indeed and it was a great chance for my husband to reminisce and talk about home for a while.
We also had the pleasure of meeting Carol Hay the owner of Pepper Patch in Grand Cayman. For those who don’t know Carol or are unfamiliar with her Pepper Patch brand of pepper jellies you can get the lowdown in the article from the Cayman Compass in the above link. We were delighted that Carol was interested enough in the gallery to offer some sponsorship in the form of providing for our guests at future shows and events – a great combination of Cayman art and delicious Cayman produced pepper jellies promises to be a “tasty” prospect .
Don’t worry though, if your taste buds can’t wait for a gallery show you can find Pepper Patch at a wide range of outlets across the island and it is well worth seeking out. Carol has already converted two more people to her delicious product! A smart marketer and entrepreneur as well as a manufacturer of a fabulous traditional local product and a wonderful lady. So, big thanks to Carol, we can’t wait to spread the Pepper Patch experience to many more people in the months ahead. If you want to know more you can contact Carol on 526-6932 0r email her at chay(at)BrittHay(dot)com
As you can tell, we have met some amazing new people in the past six days and look forward to meeting many more. The response to the gallery space and the work on display has been very positive and encouraging and we thank everyone who came by to see us in our first week. We welcome anyone who wants to just come and browse – as a commercial gallery we are in business to connect artists with buyers but the art is there to be enjoyed by everyone who visits.
Some people may feel that a fine art gallery can be as intimidating as, let’s say, a gymnasium in some ways but rest assured you will receive a warm welcome and we love to see visitors studying and enjoying the paintings and sculptures. Rather than pressure, we hope and aim to offer a relaxing environment that anyone can enjoy and if looking is all you have in mind, do not let that stop you from coming into the gallery to see us. Art for sale is art to be appreciated too.
We should add that we may be able to provide a quality fine art print of the work you most admire, a much more affordable option if you’re budget for art is of a more modest nature. If you see something you like, please ask us if you are interested in a reproduction and, depending on the work in question, we may be able to offer you a more affordable way to own the painting you fall in love with. Our giclee prints are virtually indistinguishable from the original and can be produced in a range of sizes, both smaller and larger than the original work. If you would like to see an example, we will be happy to show you the results that can be achieved, to help you decide if a giclee is the right choice for you.
No doubt we have forgotten to mention several people and stories from our first week but as you can tell it has been a whirlwind of activity from start to finish and left us all exhausted and exhilarated. It is wonderful to know that we have brought a commercial fine art gallery back to Grand Cayman, for its artists, people, and art lovers from all walks of life.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Nickola & Maurice
Arteccentrix Gallery Opening Day
We are pleased to say that Arteccentrix has opened as planned today, February 8, 2010.
You can now find us in Governor’s Square, underneath the center’s clock. The following photographs will give you an idea of how things are looking. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the artists who have agreed to work with us, the owner’s of Governor’s Square who have given us the opportunity to finally open our doors to the general public and all the people who have contributed their time and offered their support. It has all been invaluable and we are grateful to you all for your messages of encouragement.
Cayman finally has a dedicated fine art gallery, a place where everyone can view and enjoy some of the most beautiful artwork that some of Cayman’s best artists have to offer.
We look forward to seeing you soon at The Arteccentrix Gallery.
Introducing Cayman Artist Luelan Bodden
Cayman artist Luelan Bodden has earned himself a reputation for his striking and often controversial choice of subject matter, but there is no doubt that he is one of Cayman’s finest talents.
Producing fine art and sculptures covering an eclectic variety of themes, his work is visually stunning and has certainly placed Mr Bodden on the fringe, or, depending on your viewpoint, the cutting edge, of Caymanian art. Not one to shy away from topics often deemed “avant guard” such as sexuality, he is equally at home producing detailed sculptures of a more neutral nature such as his Blue Iguana project for the less sensitive of his viewers. Luelan has the true spirit of an artist, with a devil may care attitude when it comes to his work, believing strongly that art should evoke a reaction, an emotional response, in the viewer, and his audience are rarely disappointed on that score.
In this video, Luelan takes us on a quick tour of his own workshop and gallery and talks about several of his pieces, and the inspiration behind them. If you are unfamiliar with his work, this provides a great cross section of his talent and a nice personal commentary by the artist.
With the new gallery only a few weeks away from opening its doors to the public, Arteccentrix hopes to bring some of Mr Bodden’s finest work to visitors in the months ahead, although what he will allow us to show will probably remain a mystery to us until this elusive talent feels he has something to exhibit. Whatever it might be, you can be sure it will be worth seeing.
Please feel free to leave your comments and feedback below – we hope you enjoy meeting Luelan Bodden.
Fine Art Gallery Arteccentrix Coming To Governor’s Square
Arteccentrix is excited to announce the upcoming opening of Cayman’s newest and only fine art gallery in Governor’s Square.
The past few weeks have been a flurry of frantic activity and meetings with Mr Bobby Bodden, the owner of the Governor’s Square complex on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. Mr Bodden and his staff have worked miracles to ensure that the long held dream of artist and Arteccentrix owner Nickola McCoy-Snell, a fine art gallery for Cayman, will soon be opening its doors to the public.
Since the closure of the Morgan Gallery in Galleria Plaza last year, art lovers on the island have been deprived of a place to view beautiful artwork by the island’s top artisans and the artists themselves lost the invaluable asset of a commercial venue to display their artwork.
With the opening of the Arteccentrix Gallery, a commercial venue for the viewing and buying public and a showcase for the leading artists in Cayman will once again a part of the local art scene.
At present, the gallery space is being fitted out by a great crew who have been working non-stop to create a wonderful environment for customers and artists alike. The opening date is still unconfirmed, but initial plans will see the gallery open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
Arteccentrix - A Gallery In Progress!
We will of course announce full details as soon as they are known, along with an official grand opening at a time and date to be specified. We don’t want to give too much away regarding the artists and the work that will be on display when the gallery opens – we hope that residents and visitors alike will call in to see us and rest assured, there is going to be some breathtaking work to view.
It is our hope that whether you come to buy or just to browse and connect with us, that any visit to the gallery will be a memorable one. We will continue to offer fine art giclee prints all made on the island, as well as original paintings, carvings and sculptures, aiming as we always have to make fine art accessible and affordable for everyone.
Arteccentrix will be the venue for solo exhibitions by a diverse range of local artists throughout the year and has already confirmed that it will host the annual Native Sons exhibition in 2010.
For notification of all Arteccentrix updates become a Facebook fan, subscribe to our newsletter or RSS Feed or add us to your Google toolbar – whichever suits you best! Watch this space for all the latest news news on the opening of Cayman’s newest fine art gallery and updates regarding all events and shows.
Facebook Fan Page – Art Prize Draw
UPDATE!!
Art Prize Draw For Facebook Fans Winner – Donny Connor, Cayman Islands
We did the random drawing on November 19 and the first name up on our digital “fruit machine” was Donny Connor who has been notified and whose print will be delivered as soon as possible. Thanks to all our fans and look out for more draws in the new year. We still have not had an international winner yet, but wherever you are in the world you can win prizes as an Arteccentrix Facebook fan – all it takes is the luck of the draw!!
We have decided that all our Facebook fan page members deserve something for their support and will conduct a random drawing in mid November where the prize will be a 12×9 paper giclee print, matted and ready for framing, just like those we sell on the site. The print will be “Humble Beginnings” by Nickola McCoy.
All you need to do to be eligible for a chance to win is to become an ArtecentrixGallery fan on Facebook. (See the link in the right hand menu of this page). If you are not a member already, just go and sign up and you will be automatically entered to win.
While on the subject of prizes, we will also be making a draw from our database of past customers to win an original Painting by Nickola so if you have bought a print from us in the past year you will be entered into that draw too. The painting that will be given away is still not decided but we will let everyone know the final decision soon. The draw will again take place around mid November so watch out for an email from us if you are the lucky winner.
Feature: Bodden Town Art Shop
Bodden Town Art Shop
The Cayman Islands have long been an art lover’s paradise and are home to a surprisingly high number of talented artists producing an immensely varied range of artwork from fine art to traditional crafts. The owners of Bodden Town Art Shop recognized the need for a place where artists and art collectors could be brought together to offer a uniquely Caymanian outlet for this vast range of talent and beautiful work produced only in Cayman.
Unlike other retail outlets on Grand Cayman, Krista Silcox, the owner of this beautiful store, decided that unlike her competition, she would offer customers only genuine Cayman artworks, produced locally and exclusively on the islands. Whilst Caribbean art is widely available in several stores on Grand Cayman, the Bodden Town Art Shop is the only place where you can be sure to find only Caymanian arts, crafts and other produce. If you are looking for a souvenir of Cayman, they do not come any more genuine than those to be found here.
Inside this wonderful little store, you will find art from some of Cayman’s leading artists with originals and prints from people like Avril Ward, Charles Long, John Broad, Randy Chollette, Nasaria Suckoo Chollette, Mark Frazer, Leulan Bodden, Horacio Esteban, James Webster, Joanna Austin and Nickola McCoy-Snell along with many other talented Caymanian artisans.
There is more than just paintings and prints however. The store carries sculptures, caymanite and jewelry, beauty products, gorgeous silver thatch yard baskets, handbags, fans and hats– pepper jelly and hot sauces, mango and other island flavored jams and jellies– just to list a few items…. stock is always changing as Krista says, because we are meeting new talented Caymanian artistans every day!
If you have never paid a visit to the Bodden Town Art Shop you will be surprised at the extremely high quality and tasteful range of items available. The owners have made sure that they carry only the highest quality art, gifts and souvenirs and there really is something for everyone – every taste and every budget.
Local people, residents and visitors alike can call in and browse around to their heart’s content and if you are looking for gifts to send or take home to others you really are spoiled for choice. You are always assured a warm welcome from Krista and the shop has plans to open a coffee shop in the near future, so you will also be able to relax and enjoy some great local flavours as part of your visit.
Located in such a beautiful part of the island you will also find a far more traditional island feel and if you are visiting you will thoroughly enjoy the slow paced atmosphere of Bodden Town itself as well as some of it’s deserted beaches, peppered with traditional roadside eateries and friendly local people. If you are driving from George Town we highly recommend a stop in the area to see what it has to offer.
If you are an artist there is another great side to Bodden Town Art Shop as they now carry an excellent range of art supplies too. You will find Liquitex acrylics, Grumbacher Max oils (washable with water– with all the capabilities of oils/ can mix with all oil mediums), Grumbacher Academy watercolor paints, Strathmore paper, Fredrix canvases of all sizes: 3″x5″ up to 36″x48″ gallery wrapped canvases available/ round and oval canvases as well as canvas paper and panels, stretcher bars, Princeton acrylic/oil and watercolor brushes/ drawing pencils and tools. Most artists know that finding quality materials on Grand Cayman has always been a problem but with the opening of BTAS, you now have an option to buy on island at very reasonable prices.
Don’t think however that only serious artists will want to shop here. The store also carries fun supplies for kids: sculpey model clay, watercolors, tempera paint, drawing books, markers… great idea for Christmas gifts! Krista tells us – “If we don’t carry it –we’ll get it in for you- whatever you may need”! We think it is great that this previously poorly served market segment has been filled and that parents and budding young artists can now lay their hands on everything they need to pursue their artistic endeavours.
Bodden Town Art Shop is really a little treasure and a great place to support local artists and at the same time find some truly quality items for your own home and to bring a true taste of Cayman to your own surroundings. With such affordable products on offer, it is now possible for everyone to enjoy some of the finest art that the islands have to offer without having to mortgage your home to do so!
If you are familiar with the island you will have no trouble finding this little artistic haven, which is located next to the Pirate Caves, 293 Bodden Town Road. If you are visiting simply head towards Bodden Town, and you should not have any difficulties -the Pirate Caves are a well known local landmark and if you do have trouble, most people will be able to point you in the right direction!! If you’re driving out to East End/Northside, why not take a quick break and pop in to browse around?
Bodden Town Art Shop’s fall/winter hours are Monday-Saturday 9:30-5:30 – closed Sundays and public holidays. You can get in touch with Krista on 943 2827 or reach her via email at btascf@gmail.com
If you tell Krista that you found them through this article, you will also get a 10% discount on all purchases, so please mention us when you visit.
Cayman Islands Art Videos
We have just uploaded a couple of videos of some of the beautiful art by Cayman Islands artists, using the work of Nickola McCoy – Snell, Randy Chollette, John Broad, Renate Seffer, Nasaria Suckoo Chollette, Gordon Solomon and Sue Widmer.
The first concentrates mainly on the sights and past of the Cayman Islands and can be seen below.
The second video contains a lot more abstract work and features the work of just three artists – Nickola McCoy-Snell, Gordon Solomon and Randy Chollette. The variety of art in the Cayman islands is well represented by these two videos and hopefully gives readers an idea of just what is available for all art lovers.
We hope you enjoy the videos and will share them with others. We welcome your comments and questions.
