Dis ‘n’ Dat | Made in Cayman

30 September 2021

GIG – A CAYMANIAN TING

It’s Cayman’s version of the spinning top and one of the most beloved of the traditional toys.

Carved from wood, and shaped like an upside-down teardrop, the gig is prized by children, collectors and cultural custodians.

Deal Ebanks, well-known on Grand Cayman for creating heritage arts and crafts, has been making gigs since boyhood in West Bay.

Deal Ebanks shows off gigs he has carved at his grandfather’s traditional wattle and daub home in West Bay.

“Gig – it’s a Caymanian ting,” he says. “We took the ordinary ‘spinning top’ and added a long metal nail to it, changing the characteristics.”

Turtlers and sailors then introduced the gig to nearby islands and countries, where people adopted the name for this new version of the popular toy. In Cayman, it is carved from guava as the wood of choice, although sometimes made from guinep, lime, calabash or tamarind.

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A TO Z OF CARIBBEAN ART

‘A to Z of Caribbean Art’ is a visual overview of Caribbean art from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day and features four of Cayman’s own talented artists: Davin K. Ebanks, Wray Banker, Bendel Hydes and Pippa Ridley.

The book features art from a mix of genres and artists from the four major linguistic areas of the Caribbean.

“It serves as a leading source of information on some of the greatest artists of the region so it’s very significant to have four Caymanian artists as part of the prestigious line-up,” says contributing author and A-Z of Caribbean Art director and chief curator of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, Natalie Urquhart.

All four of the featured artists have a local and international presence, which was a key prerequisite for inclusion. ‘A-Z of Caribbean Art’ Published by Robert & Christopher Publishers and edited by Melanie Archer and Mariel Brown.

Available at The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. $45.