Run by artist Jason Kennedy and his partner in the venture, Janine Every, THE GALLERY in Camana Bay is a recently opened hub for creativity on-island.
“I’ve wanted to operate my own gallery for many years, so when the opportunity arose, I jumped on it,” says Jason. “The vision is to highlight the arts in Cayman, not restricted to visual art. It’s really all about the community and creating a space that encourages creativity for all artists in Cayman.”
They have already had an auction that spotlighted up-and-coming local talent, and are working on various charitable endeavours, including art therapy and generating funds for charities.
There are also plans for a fashion show in the first half of 2024, involving young Caymanian fashion designers and photographers.
On Saturdays, Janine opens the doors for artists to go in and be creative, allowing them access to other artists and guests who come into the gallery.
“People love seeing art being created, so this is great for everyone,” says Jason. “I’ve even taken to spending more time in the space to work on commissions and passion projects.”
BACKGROUND
Jason works mostly with acrylics, infusing the paint with sea water from Seven Mile Beach.
“This is a unique way of physically including Cayman in the work itself, in addition to trying to portray the beauty of the islands to the best of my ability,” he says.
Although he studied fine arts at York University, it wasn’t until he was in his thirties and living in Cayman that Jason took art seriously as a career.
“Cayman is where I found my style, my inspiration, and my direction,” he says.
A STORY
Jason has had several exhibitions that have allowed him to highlight the beauty of the islands through portraits.
“Everybody has a story to tell, and I try to tell these through capturing a moment in time within a canvas,” he says. “Like THE GALLERY, it’s all connected to the community.”
His last solo exhibition generated thousands of dollars for Meals on Wheels and The MS Foundation, during which he raffled his personal vehicle to raise awareness of those charities and generate further funding.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
“Through the gallery, there will be more focus on community support, including a fundraiser for Inclusion Cayman, helping families and individuals with developmental disabilities,” Jason adds.
Visitors to the gallery also have access to work from established and up-and-coming artists. “The arts in Cayman keep getting more impressive, diverse, and internationally recognised,” says Jason. “The future is bright for young Caymanian creators, and we hope to be a part in their eventual and inevitable success.”
This article originally appeared in What’s Hot winter 2023/2024 issue.
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