Ed Oliver was, by all accounts, largely responsible for sowing the seeds of what has become a thriving visual arts scene in the Cayman Islands.
A talented artist himself, he dedicated much of his time to encouraging and nurturing emerging artistic talents in Cayman, through regular painting classes.
Mr. Ed, as he was known, arrived in Cayman in 1969, at a time when art classes were not taught in schools.
Mr. Ed’s pupils include successful artists such as Bendel Hydes, Danny Ebanks, Raphael Bodden and Alpha Kozaily.
Mr. Ed also pioneered the postcard business in the Cayman Islands and during the course of the next 20 or so years he designed and published some five million postcards.
In celebration of his life and his great contribution to the arts in Cayman, the National Museum has staged an exhibition dedicated to him.
Mr. Ed Oliver – A Thousand Words, opened on Saturday, 19 May and will run until 31 August.
The exhibition will feature beautiful prints from the museum’s National Collection that were donated to the museum by Mr. Ed.
His inspiring drawings and prints are often an illustrative journey into Cayman Islands’ history.
In the Children’s Gallery, “Mr. Ed’s Pencil Keeps on Moooving” will be a fun and interactive learning experience.
The museum shops will also be selling copies of Mr. Ed’s book that include A Portfolio of Drawings, all generously donated to the National Museum by his wife, Barbara Oliver.
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