Who we are
The Visual Arts Society was founded in the late 70's by a group of creative art enthusiasts who formed an association to support and promote the ARTS in the Cayman Islands. The Society was registered as a non profit organisation and is now a certified NPO in accordance to the new law set in 2017 by Cayman Islands Government.
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The Society is operate based on an annual membership paid by each member. The fee that is paid the to society is based on the type of member the holder chooses to have. The society is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. The society, as of 2021 had over 80 paid members who are made up as a group of artists and or those who support the arts in the community. The artist explore a wide range of mediums and support Art for Everyone, at all levels.
What we do
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The VAS Watler House Studio is located on the grounds of Pedro St James in Savannah, Grand Cayman, offers our members and the public a base meeting point to participate in all our events, including open studios, short courses and exhibitions. We also house our studio kiln here and offer firing/glazing services for ceramic enthusiasts to share our ceramic supplies for a fee.
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We welcome everyone to become registered members to benefit from our regular activities and services. Members’ events are listed on our Events Diary Online and we run both Facebook and Instagram accounts to which our members contribute. Membership details and registration can be found here.
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Our regular activities include the weekly art market in Camana Bay, West Bay and several others organised periodically and seasonally across the island of Grand Cayman. Members can have a table with a tent to showcase and sell their creations to the public. All items shown are for sale without commission and entry is free to the members and public.
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We hold an Annual Art Exhibition, usually taking place in the Summer where we co-ordinate a display of paintings, sculpture and other visual arts with member art groups. All items shown are for sale and entry is free to the public.
We currently also organise other art and craft events for our members at several locations in Grand Cayman throughout the year.
Our Board Members
Chairperson
Ivan Burges
Ivan became actively involved with VAS following Hurricane Ivan (no relation) in 2004 and assisted with the development of the Watler House and kiln shed which were officially opened in 2007. He served on the committee and acted as Treasurer before becoming Chairman in 2010.
Ivan's artistic abilities are within the realms of postage stamp montages and postage stamp related craft products.
He arrived in Grand Cayman in 1979 and is employed by Compass Media.
Secretary
Shirley Scott
Shirley relocated to the Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands in the mid 70’s with her family from Jamaica. After 7 years, the Scotts moved to Grand Cayman in 1984 where she subsequently became involved with the local art scene and became a member of the Visual Arts Society.
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As Secretary of the Visual Arts Society, she is responsible for updating the membership and record the minutes for each meeting. Behind the scenes at shows she also prepares the labeling for the works of art being displayed
Shirley was first introduced to watercolors and graphic designs, but the complexity and challenge of batik printing is her favourite. She also works with ceramics and stained glass.
Board Member
Deborah Van Der Bol
Debbie has been painting Cayman Island landscapes since she first visited in the islands in 1981 as a SCUBA diver. Debbie became a NAUI trained scuba diver in 1977 and continued to return to the island to dive until she moved to Grand Cayman. She has always been inspired by the beauty of the Cayman's tropical seas.
Debbie's sunny paintings have been collected internationally, and are part of the Cayman National Gallery's Art Collection. In XXX she was awarded by The Cayman National Cultural Society's the Radley Gourzone award for her contribution to the arts in Cayman.
In 1978 Debbie graduated from Magna Cum Laude with a BA from Edinboro State College (now University) after receiving a scholarship from North Allegheny High School 1974, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. She was in 'Who's Who in American High Schools".
For over 30 years Debbie has owned and managed Pure Art Gallery & Gifts on South Church St., which features Debbie's original Cayman paintings, prints, and fun "usable art items" (notes, place matts, coasters...) as well as local/Cayman artist's' works , art, gifts, collectibles. She paints weekly in her home studio, and enjoys painting pieces to contribute her annual desk calendar inspired by Cayman colors, culture, and seascapes. She has a deep love and appreciation for Cayman thatch palms and its woven products, caymanite stone gifts, the Caymanian homes, seas, and culture. She is an avid reader and enjoys cricket, gardening, and swimming.
Treasurer
Pat Nicholson
Pat is currently serving as Treasurer but has been a member of the Visual Arts Society since the early 1980s and became more involved in 1990 when she worked on a show program for one of our major exhibitions. She joined the Board shortly thereafter and has served as Chairperson on two occasions over the past several years. She took a leave of absence from the Board in 2012 and rejoined in 2016 to her current role.
Pat chaired our 25th Anniversary Gala in 2003 and was instrumental in working with the Tourist Attraction Board to reclaim the Watler House at Pedro's after Hurricane lvan destroyed our home at Eucalyptus Plaza.
As an artist with clay as her first love, she has enjoyed handbuilding for many years and has conducted several workshops. After H. lvan destroyed our kiln she took up batik printing.
" I believe that art in all its forms is crucial to our humanity and it is my pleasure to help bring art in Cayman into as many lives as possible."
Board Member
Gale Tibbetts
As an active Cayman artist, Gale is a member of the Visual Art Society and has served the board for VAS for several years.
Gale keeps busy making her jewelry "Bee Line Designs Jewelry". The designs incorporate a variety of beads and metal works of hand stamping, etc. Inspired thru the memory of her sister, Brenda to create beautiful things and donate a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer awareness. Her pieces are for sale at art shows and markets in Cayman. Along with a Pure Art Gallery & Gifts, Cayman Scents, and other Galleries.
She also collects drift wood and paints them as tropical signs or as Christmas ornaments for the holidays. She is grateful to live in such a serene island surrounded with so much beauty that is inspiring. Being creative & artistic is Gale's happy place.
Facebook: 24k-Mon Jewelers & Art Gallery
Instagram: beelinedesignjewelry
Email: 24k-mon@fordsar.ky
Board Member
Aimee Randolph
Aimee is a ceramic artist and visual arts teacher. She has a degree in Art Education with an emphasis in ceramics and photography from Pittsburg State University (Kansas). Aimee has been actively teaching the visual arts since 2007, most recently having taught at John Gray High School in Grand Cayman. She is a founding member of the art collective 3 Girls and a Kiln, who's work can be seen at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa and The National Trust of the Cayman Islands.