It’s all about bold, bright batik art at the Visual Arts Society’s upcoming exhibition.
The Artist of the Season exhibition opens on Thursday, 14 March. Titled “The Art of Dyeing”, it will feature the works of two local batik artists, Shirley Scott and Pat Nicolson.
Although batik originated as a means of applying designs or patterns to fabrics, it is also used to create works of art. Through a process of applying wax to fabric and then submerging it in dye, simple, colourful images and patterns emerge. As the dye does not penetrate the waxed areas, successive layers of dyes and wax give rise to increasingly complex pictures.
A collection of batik pieces by the two artists will be on display at the Watler House, Pedro St. James from 5 to 8pm on Thursday.
Both artists have exhibited their work previously and are well known in the local arts community.
Shirley moved to Cayman from Jamaica in the 1970s and has worked in various media over the years including watercolours, ceramics and stained glass. She likes to depict her Caribbean roots, nature and people in her work. Batik, she says, is skilled work and requires discipline, time and patience – but it’s worth it for the end result.
Pat Nicolson is originally from Canada but has been in Cayman most of her adult life. Originally working in ceramics, she was captivated by batik as soon as she was introduced to it.
“Batik is an adventure,” she says. “Until the work is completed, submerged in the final dye bath and the wax removed, the outcome is not certain. This reveal is the most exciting part of the process and no two works will ever be exactly the same.”
Often whimsical, her work features abstracts, floral images, landscapes and the creatures of the sea she has encountered while scuba diving.
The Caymbridge Ensemble will be providing the musical entertainment and refreshments and nibbles will also be provided.
The exhibition will remain in place over the weekend and will be open to the public between 11am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Both artists’ work is also for sale at Pure Art Gallery and Gifts. Pat’s work can also be seen at the Kennedy Gallery, the Design Studio and the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
For more information, contact [email protected]
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